Posted on 09 August 2010. Tags: cooking, flavor, food, gardening, herbs, saving money
I like to think that I am this unique and super-thrifty college student, and in some ways I am. But sometimes I am a typical college student when it comes to food. Exhibit A: my inclination to order Chinese take-out especially during final exam week. Last year, I started watching The Food Network quite frequently as an attempt to get myself out of this slump. While watching, I noticed how much these chefs/tv-hosts used fresh herbs. I bought myself some fresh parsley and noticed how much of a difference it made in my most basic pasta dish (whole rye pasta, butter, a little milk, and Parmesan).
A year later, I started making legitimate attempt to start eating healthier and cooking more for myself. I figured it would help my waistline and my wallet. I picked up online recipes and cookbooks of healthy dishes using fruits and veggies that were in season and attempted to cook for myself. After I gained some confidence from watching countless cooking shows, I started making making my own recipes. I started experimenting with herbs because I learned how one of the simplest ingredients can yield a delicious and simply dish.
But while going to my organic grocery store, I was appalled at how expensive fresh herbs were-even in the summer! But then I realized that all of these herbs were grown from plants (duh!). My friend Lauren had previously started a small herb garden on her windowsill and I decided that this was a much better investment than paying 2-3 bucks for every small bunch. I had never realized before how expensive fresh herbs could be. I bought a pot and proceeded to my favorite organic store to buy organic soil and my three favorite herbs: rosemary, thyme and parsley.
At first this was a small investment. The good thing is that you don’t need a green thumb to maintain a herb garden. All you need is a windowsill. I know quite a few friends like Lauren who do the same thing, and they gave me lots of tips. For example, if your windowsill is in your kitchen, make sure you keep your kitchen clean. My friends who didn’t keep their kitchens clean seemed to attract bugs. When I made my herb garden, I had to make sure that I never left out any food and kept the area extremely prestine (a minor challenge for the average college student). Also I needed to make sure that I remembered to water the plant everyday, but it was not the most exhausting challenge I have ever encountered. I noticed that every so often a leaf started to dry out, but if that happened I just snipped it away.
It’s a pretty decent investment. It’s simple math: one time you buy a plant, and you have fresh herbs for the rest of the summer (and into the fall if the light is still decent). You add some green to your wallet and your household! I encourage other bloggers and readers to try this technique, and see how eating green can be healthier, cheaper and tastier!
Posted in At Home, Light Green, Medium Green
Posted on 25 June 2010. Tags: Allergies, food, honey, Honey Bees, local, organic, Raw
Here’s the claim: Local honey is more effective than conventional honey because of the pollen content. Your seasonal allergies are reactions to the pollen in your community; therefore, having honey with local pollen content helps you develop an immunity to that pollen. Most of your allergy symptoms should lessen. According to Flager Organics, taking local honey daily has similar effects to getting an allergy shot without the pain or redundancy of going to the doctors.
Local honey also is better for the environment and honey beekeepers. Shorter distances leads to lower carbon emissions, which I consider to be the obvious factor. But buying local honey also supports the natural ecological system between bees and pollinated produce. According to the National Honey Bee Awareness Day Homepage, 1/3 of all fruits and vegetables are pollinated by honey bees. It amazes me to learn of how many different factors there are to how local honey is better for one’s overall health, but also how much it interacts with the environment to create a interdependent cycle.
I never had allergies before until this past April and my nose completely clogged up. I had thought that it was some weird cold because of the change of seasons or something. I realized that I may have seasonal allergies when I walked out to my car and saw a green-yellow layer of pollen on my already yellow car.
As an experiment, I decided to try raw local honey, which appeared to be this new trend in the natural food world. When I worked at a natural food store, many mothers raved about how raw, local honey did wonders for their childrens’ allergies. I figured that it was worth a shot because of how horrendous my allergies were. The idea of sitting on a cold seat in an appointment room waiting for some doctor to give me some prescription meds or a shot freaked me out. So having a tablespoon of raw local honey seemed much more appealing.
I found I was pleasantly surprised by my results. I felt as if I were back in the tissue-free days. No more sneezing, no more clogged sinuses. All I had to do was check out the numerous local honey options at my natural food store. I was scared by the thought of local honey because I thought that would mean purchasing it in a beekeeper’s backyard, which seems slightly obscure. However, there are plenty of natural food stores that carry raw local honey and many of the products are fairly traded if you feel uncomfortable going to a local stand.
I will admit that raw, local honey isn’t always the cheapest. For me, it saved me money on doctors appointments and allergy shots. The investment seems scary if you only see the price while browsing the food store. But if you think of it in terms of how long the honey will last you versus how much a doctors appointment will cost you (even if it is only a co-pay), it doesn’t seem quite as bad.
If you have seasonal allergies, you may very well decide that using raw honey is not your choice. But I still would recommend incorporating raw honey into your diet. It has antibacterial qualities that help with a variety of health conditions. It could sooth a sore throat just as well as a skin burn. And even if you continue handling your allergies in your own ways, raw local honey will definitely enhance the effects.
I have also heard great claims about using bee pollen itself to reduce allergy symptoms. However, using bee pollen can be slightly riskier than using raw honey. Because it has the strength of actual bee pollen, if you take too much too soon it could cause a stronger allergic reaction. I would consult with a doctor before you tried something along those lines; however, I have heard when taken appropriately it has proven to be very effective.
Posted in At Home, Green, Light Green, Medium Green
Posted on 18 April 2008. Tags: carbon offset, events, flowers, food, gifts, invitations, wedding
There are many reasons people choose to be “green.” Some may want to be cool and be associated with the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, and Al Gore. Did you know there is actually the ecorazzi for all your green gossip?
Some of us want to truly save the planet we call home. There is a little part in all of us that wants to do the “right thing.” Well, what better way to show a large group of people what you’re out to accomplish than hosting an environmentally friendly event – wedding, baby shower, or dinner party!
Things to consider:
Place: If at all possible, consider using a venue that is most centrally located to the guests! Less transportation pollution! Or if there are a lot of people flying, support them in offsetting their carbon emissions!
Food: Choose local and organic. This reduces the effect of pesticides, and have you ever wondered how that Chilean sea bass gets to your dinner table? It didn’t swim to the nearest estuary!
Flowers: Can you believe it? You can also get these organic and local! Take them out of your special garden! Different countries regulate pesticides differently, so those South American orchids may not be so earth friendly…
Paper: Choose recycled, or better yet (if appropriate) use an electronic invitation! It’s cheaper too! You don’t have to buy a stamp!
Dishes, Napkins, Flatware- use the good stuff…don’t go for paper. Here’s the thing, you want to reduce the use of anything disposable as much as possible. Yes, yes it may create extra work if it’s a small gathering in your home, but take up that friend’s offer to help with the dishes! The environment will help you for that!
Gifts: If a couple already has everything they need, why give them more stuff? If the new mother already has 100 onesies, do something different! Make a contribution to a great charitable organization (check out their rating online), plant a tree in their honor, or offset the carbon emissions for their honeymoon flight (see other carbon offsetting gift options).
Posted in Medium Green
