Great Green Idea: Green Eating: Eat Well, Live Green

Eat Well, Live Green

Living green does not necessarily mean becoming a vegetarian or a vegan. A green diet consists of a combination of different products in our daily lives, including fresh vegetables and fruits, less carbohydrates and moderate amounts of red meat. As a healthier alternative to red meat, one may also alternate between poultry and fish.

Eating well and living green can be easily achieved by following some simple guidelines. The next time that you go to the grocery store, keep the following tips in mind:

* Choose fresh products over those that contain preservatives. Although fresh products may not last as long as processed food, they contain more nutrients and are much healthier for you and your family.

* Avoid products that make use of extensive plastic packaging especially those that do not make use of recyclable packaging materials. In line with this, you should also stay away from packaging materials that emit toxic gases when decomposing as these may cause serious illness and aggravate global warming.

* Buy glass products instead of plastic. Glass can be reused while plastic takes decades to decompose.

* Read up on the toxicity of some processed foods.

* Be more vigilant about verifying whether a food product is genetically modified or not. There is still some uncertainty about the side effects that genetically-manipulated products may pose to our health.

* Lessen your purchase of food products that contain chemicals. Eating fewer chemicals in your house will help you maintain a healthier environment for everyone around you.

* Our daily intake of vitamins and minerals contribute in large part to our health. Always make sure, therefore to get adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals daily by carefully planning your daily menu. Purchasing food products which are rich in vitamins and minerals will make you stronger and healthier and are also necessary for the chemical processes within our bodies to function properly. Many bodily functions are regulated by minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. It is thus important that the levels of these minerals are within an appropriate range so you do not suffer from physical disorders brought about by an excess or a deficiency of minerals in your body.

* Keep track of your calorie intake. Calories provide nutrients and energy to our bodies, and the amount of calories that are required by an individual is largely determined by individual factors such as height, weight and gender. You may check various websites for the daily calorie intake that's appropriate for you and other members of your family.

* Make sure to include carbohydrates in your diet, as these provide energy to our body muscles. Carbohydrates are most commonly found in bread, cereal, grain, pasta, rice, and potatoes.

* Cut down on fat. Consuming huge amounts of fat can lead to obesity and can cause heart problems and diseases. Moderate amounts of fat, however, are still necessary for the body to process vitamins and minerals.