Resolutions, Green Monsters, and Other Random Tidbits

Who here makes New Year's resolutions?  I, for one, do not! If I don't make them, then I can't break them. Great system, huh?

This year I made the mistake of making a resolution; Quite a few actually. Here is what I drunkenly promised myself when the clock struck twelve:

1. I would eat less meat. I'm a total omnivore. I enjoy meat, but I understand the impact that eating less of it can have on our environment. 
2. I would start eating better. This included eating more greens, buying more organic, cutting out the processed foods, ect...
3. I would make an effort to reduce my carbon footprint. 

As for #1... I fail. Throughout the end of 2009 I started instituting "Meatless Monday." I have somehow managed to stray from that. It just sometimes seems easier to make chicken, then it is to find a vegetarian recipe that everyone in my house can agree on. This is nothing more than pure laziness on my part. I plan on rectifying this. Starting next Monday I'm going to reinstate Meatless Monday's in our house! Anyone know of any bloggers that link up for that? If I can't find one and/or some of you are interested, I'll just start my own McLinky for it! 

(click it to see the full size version... it's funny!)

As for # 2... 

I have definitely been working more greens into our diets, as well as trying to make sure our meals are more well rounded! I've also stopped buying a lot of the processed foods that we normally ate. I've also started making Green Monsters. A lot of the blogs I read are constantly raving about them, so today I thought I would try them. They're not bad. I definitely need to tweak my fruits a little bit, just to get the taste right. Check out this post from The Clean Eating Momma to learn more about Green Monsters.

Last, but not least #3.... 

This one is something that I've always tried to do every day. We already recycle, and make sure that we don't keep random lights or appliances turned on, along with a so much more. My big this for this goal is to start buying locally more. I'm hoping to be able to get all of my produce and meats locally by the end of the summer. I'm going to do some more research on other ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and then do a big post about it soon. 

So there are my resolutions. I haven't been doing the best I could, but I am going to make a conscience effort to change that! 

What were some of your resolutions? Have you kept them? 

Wordless Wednesday

The true green beers out there..... 

All of these brewing co. have made a conscience effort to GO GREEN!

The Amazing Egg

On my breakfast burrito post I had started typing a side note about eggs, but then one paragraph turned into two.... Finally I decided to just make a new post about it!

Egg Trivia:

• Unsure if an egg has been boil or is raw? Spin it. A hard boiled egg will easily spin because it is solid. A raw egg will wobble because of the liquid inside. 
• The color of an egg's shell is determained by breed. Hens that have white feathers and earlobes will produce white eggs. Hen's that are red or brown feathered will make brown eggs. It has nothing to do with taste or nutrition. 
• Brown eggs tend to cost more because brown hens cost more to raise. 
• In Macedonia, an egg can mean the difference between life and death. According to local lore, if you share a birthday or even a birth month with a dying relative, your days are likewise numbered. The only way to cheat fate is to share the yolk of an egg with this relative while standing on opposite sides of a stream. Similarly, a dying man might save himself if he finds someone to share a sugared egg with him on the threshold of a house.
• Eggs will age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator.
• Eggs contain all the essential protein, minerals and vitamins, except Vitamin C. But egg yolks are one of few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D. Eggs also contain choline, which is necessary for healthy cell membranes in the body. Choline stimulates brain development and function and helps preserving memory. Eggs also are good for your eyes because they contain lutein which helps prevents age-related cataracts and muscular degeneration. In fact, eggs contain more lutein than spinach and other green vegetables.

Ok...  enough trivial knowledge! Have you looked at the choices of eggs in a grocery store lately? It seems like everyday someone comes up with another way to sell eggs! Let's take a look at some of the different choices you'll see out there....

• Certified Organic: These are produced by hens who have been fed an organic diet, free of any pesticides or hormones. Eggs labeled as this have to meet the USDA's guidelines.
• Free-Range: Eggs with this label are produced from hens who are raised outside, or at least have daily access to the outdoors. These eggs usually cost more because these hens normally produce a lower volume of eggs and the upkeep costs more. 
• Cage Free: This is a term that you should always be very skeptical of. It is not USDA regulated and therefore there are no guidelines or regulations as to how it can be used. It is usually mean to mean eggs produced by hens who are allowed to roam around in a barn, but not outside. 
• Fertile Eggs: This just means that the eggs came from hens who are in pens with roosters. You will usually find these at farmers markets, or if you buy straight from the farm. 
• Nutrient Enriched: These eggs, in my opinion are a waste of money. The hens are fed nutrient enriched feed, so that they will produce eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, or minerals, or that have less saturated fats. These usually cost over $4, and you really aren't getting much of a difference in your diet with them. 
• Pasturized: These eggs are flash-heated to kill off any salmonella. They're good if you have a compromised immune system. 

You have to be very careful what type of eggs you buy. Just because it says something on the package doesn't mean the company hasn't found a loophole, just so they can say that. Do your research!
              And no matter what.... Don't buy eggs in Styrofoam!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday Blog Hop: Serving Others

Today's topic is serving others. I've decided to put my wonderful green spin on it and tell you 25 ways you can help save your planet. What better way to serve people than by making sure they always have a planet to call home!

1. Recycle
2. Turn off unneeded lights in rooms you're not using.
3. Check that your water heater temp is set at 120 F, and wrap it with an insulated blanket. 
4. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use, so that it uses less energy. 
5. Wash clothes in warm or cold water, instead of hot. 
6. Use the compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only will they save energy, but they save you money as well.
7. Install weather stripping around doors and windows.
8. Plant trees to shade your home (and only trim them back at much as you HAVE to) 
9. Start buy "green-friendly" household cleaners. 
10. Have your home tested for Radon. 
11. Copy and print on both sides of the paper. 
12. When at all possible, use recycled products.
13. Use a low-flow shower head. 
14. Make a compost pile. 
15. Leave the grass clippings on the yard when you mow, so that they will decompose and return much needed nutrients back into the ground. 
16. Use natural fertilizer and pesticides. 
17. Walk whenever possible. 
18. Hang clothes up to dry instead of turning on the dryer. 
19. Start your own garden.
20. Fix all the water leaks around your home. 
21. Cut back on the plastic bottles.
22. Don't buy products that have a bunch of packaging.
23. Cut meat out of your diet at least once a week. 
24. Buy local foods and support local business'. 
25. Go paperless. Reroute all your bills and bank statements to your email. 

For more tips and info on going green, check out my Go Green page.