Soapbox item for today: Ignorance in the grocery store
Last week I was in the store at the self-check out line. The woman in front of me had roughly 8-10 small items. She proceeded to put these items into two plastic sacks. Normally, this would irritate me since it was clear all the item would have fit into one bag, and on occasion I have forgotten to bring in my reusable bags, and opt for the plastic. But this woman (who in all honesty had probably arrived at the store in a huge 12 MPG SVU) then did something that any eco-fan would loath. SHE DOUBLE BAGGED her purchase. 8 items in four bags that will probably not even be recycled, so will end up filling landfill space long after her productive life is over.
I know there are bigger fish to fry and I should not have been judging so. But honestly 4 bags, when she only needed one. It is just wrong. People need to pay better attention to the small details in their lives. These are where some huge gains could be made. It was all I could do not to say something to the woman, or offer to buy her a reusable bag. But it would have done me no good, she is obviously in an ecofobe who cares more about herself than the world around her.
As a side note, I had also forgotten my reusable bag that day (in the trunk of the car) so decided that I didn't need a bag at all for the four items I purchased. They easily fit in the purse I was carrying. I had made this decision before I saw resource sow in front of me, so I don't think that my decision even came close to offsetting hers.
Please, and I beg you, readers NEVER DOUBLE BAG.
Ok soapbox is done. I will stop contemplating slashing her tires (jk) and move on with my regualar eco-friendly life.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Happy Earth Day
Happy Earth day to all of you out there. I wanted to take a moment to celebrate that today is a day devoted to our great planet. I will encourage you all to do something good for the environment today, whatever will work for you.
I am planning a second annual Ravine Clean-Up. Where I live is surrounded on three sides by ravines leading to Lake Michigan. The racoons (and students) tend to spread the trash from the dumpsters down into the wooded landscape, potentially harming the bio-diversity of the area. This year we will be picking up the trash that now lines the walls of the ravines. Then having a BBQ to celebrate. Last year at the event we pulled out couches, tables, and a toilet... It will be interesting to see what we find this year.
But your effort doesn't have to be so invovled. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Turn off all your electronics and lights tonight. Instead light a candle and read a book. Chicago is hosting an all city Earth Hour this week, and encourages all its residents to participate. The facts on last years Earth Hour are astonishing (I wish I had them in front of me but they are easily found on-line).
2. Ride your bike (or walk to work). If you can't do that, try riding your bike for a few errands instead.
3. Have any weddings coming up? Look at the registry, then find an eco friendly gift similar to what they have on their wish list.
4. Ask about improving your recycling program at work. I did this two years ago (because we didn't have one to speak of) and now we have recycling in every resident hall room!
5. Create a meal of fresh food tonight. It will cut down on the packaging waste from your foods.
6. Talk to the children or young adults in your life about the importance in preserving our great Earth!!!
I could go on for hours, but I have to go back to work. I just love that my work today is working on Earth Day Events!
In Community,
Casey
I am planning a second annual Ravine Clean-Up. Where I live is surrounded on three sides by ravines leading to Lake Michigan. The racoons (and students) tend to spread the trash from the dumpsters down into the wooded landscape, potentially harming the bio-diversity of the area. This year we will be picking up the trash that now lines the walls of the ravines. Then having a BBQ to celebrate. Last year at the event we pulled out couches, tables, and a toilet... It will be interesting to see what we find this year.
But your effort doesn't have to be so invovled. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Turn off all your electronics and lights tonight. Instead light a candle and read a book. Chicago is hosting an all city Earth Hour this week, and encourages all its residents to participate. The facts on last years Earth Hour are astonishing (I wish I had them in front of me but they are easily found on-line).
2. Ride your bike (or walk to work). If you can't do that, try riding your bike for a few errands instead.
3. Have any weddings coming up? Look at the registry, then find an eco friendly gift similar to what they have on their wish list.
4. Ask about improving your recycling program at work. I did this two years ago (because we didn't have one to speak of) and now we have recycling in every resident hall room!
5. Create a meal of fresh food tonight. It will cut down on the packaging waste from your foods.
6. Talk to the children or young adults in your life about the importance in preserving our great Earth!!!
I could go on for hours, but I have to go back to work. I just love that my work today is working on Earth Day Events!
In Community,
Casey
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How do I get the real world to listen
Here's my issue:
I know about children's nutrition after working on my paper for a semester now. But I think that ANY parent can understand that fruit loops and donuts are considered to be of poor nutritional value. It should not be a surprise.
Well apparently it is. My children have started a new daycare (we were very sad to leave our old one...) and overall it is really good. But... what are they feeding my children. We have been there for 3 weeks and these are some of the things we have seen. Jay has gotten fruit loops, donuts, canned (HFCS syrup) fruit, and some acceptable cereals. Sophie has also has fruit loops and donuts at least once. For snack Sophie gets crackers in the morning and afternoon. All kinds of crackers (graham, cheese, saltines, etc.) They have beef at least three times a week for lunch.
So I try to talk to the director about it yesterday. I play alittle dumb and say, "We are new, so we are just wondering if their diet is what is typical here" and things like "Are fruit loops an item that we can normally expect to see?" The director says that they have been in business for 20 years and had thousands of parents in and out and no one has ever complained before. (If that is true shame on those other parents....) Also they follow the strict DCFS guidelines (the same guidelines that claim that ketchup and salsa are vegetables). She ACTUALLY defended giving the kids sugar cereal and donuts for breakfast, saying that they get board of the other stuff. Well I can tell you that I haven't yet seen them make a piece of toast, or a bowl of oatmeal. I beleive that there are a number of other options available that are extremely more healthly. Her solution is that I bring in food to subistute the meals I don't agree with.
My problem with this is ten fold:
1. I pay for them to feed my children, I don't want to pay extra to feed them again.
2. If Jay has the choice between a donut and yogurt, it is a toss up on what he will pick. And that is because he is generally a fan of yogurt. But why does he get "punished" for their poor choices?
3. What about the other children that are getting sub-par nutrtition? We wonder why our kids are becoming obsese, well look at what we are feeding them.
4. How are these things allowed by children's services? This problem is systemic...
I am not asking them to go organic, nor am I asking them to dramatically change their ways. But I simply cannot understand DEFENDING FRUIT LOOPS! They are so clearly a terrible choice. I even suggested that they mix the sugar cereals with heart healthy ones and she scoffed at that.
I mentioned a few studies that I had found that says food dyes and sugars in children's diets have been directly linked to hyperactivity. And she said that she has a son with severe ADHD and that her family easts junk food all the time, so they cut it out and it didn't help so they went right back to eating junk food. I get so frustrated with the ignorant arguement "Well we eat junk and I am healthy" Are they actually so short sighted to not see the generations of damage that can build up from a poor diet? Cancer rates are rising, Obsesity, heart diease, ADHD, mental health have all been linked to a lifetime of processed foods. And all I want is for them not to half-ass their way around feeding the children at the center. But to her, "they won't eat the other stuff" OF COURSE THEY WON'T WHEN THE OTHER OPTION IS SUGAR!!!!
In the end she did (begrudgingly) offer to have me come and do an educational session to the teachers, as they are required by law, on childhood nutrition.
To make matters worse after our discussion last evening (and after she mocked me to the other teachers when I went to pick up my children down the hall), they had donuts for breakfast...
HELP, suggestions?
I know about children's nutrition after working on my paper for a semester now. But I think that ANY parent can understand that fruit loops and donuts are considered to be of poor nutritional value. It should not be a surprise.
Well apparently it is. My children have started a new daycare (we were very sad to leave our old one...) and overall it is really good. But... what are they feeding my children. We have been there for 3 weeks and these are some of the things we have seen. Jay has gotten fruit loops, donuts, canned (HFCS syrup) fruit, and some acceptable cereals. Sophie has also has fruit loops and donuts at least once. For snack Sophie gets crackers in the morning and afternoon. All kinds of crackers (graham, cheese, saltines, etc.) They have beef at least three times a week for lunch.
So I try to talk to the director about it yesterday. I play alittle dumb and say, "We are new, so we are just wondering if their diet is what is typical here" and things like "Are fruit loops an item that we can normally expect to see?" The director says that they have been in business for 20 years and had thousands of parents in and out and no one has ever complained before. (If that is true shame on those other parents....) Also they follow the strict DCFS guidelines (the same guidelines that claim that ketchup and salsa are vegetables). She ACTUALLY defended giving the kids sugar cereal and donuts for breakfast, saying that they get board of the other stuff. Well I can tell you that I haven't yet seen them make a piece of toast, or a bowl of oatmeal. I beleive that there are a number of other options available that are extremely more healthly. Her solution is that I bring in food to subistute the meals I don't agree with.
My problem with this is ten fold:
1. I pay for them to feed my children, I don't want to pay extra to feed them again.
2. If Jay has the choice between a donut and yogurt, it is a toss up on what he will pick. And that is because he is generally a fan of yogurt. But why does he get "punished" for their poor choices?
3. What about the other children that are getting sub-par nutrtition? We wonder why our kids are becoming obsese, well look at what we are feeding them.
4. How are these things allowed by children's services? This problem is systemic...
I am not asking them to go organic, nor am I asking them to dramatically change their ways. But I simply cannot understand DEFENDING FRUIT LOOPS! They are so clearly a terrible choice. I even suggested that they mix the sugar cereals with heart healthy ones and she scoffed at that.
I mentioned a few studies that I had found that says food dyes and sugars in children's diets have been directly linked to hyperactivity. And she said that she has a son with severe ADHD and that her family easts junk food all the time, so they cut it out and it didn't help so they went right back to eating junk food. I get so frustrated with the ignorant arguement "Well we eat junk and I am healthy" Are they actually so short sighted to not see the generations of damage that can build up from a poor diet? Cancer rates are rising, Obsesity, heart diease, ADHD, mental health have all been linked to a lifetime of processed foods. And all I want is for them not to half-ass their way around feeding the children at the center. But to her, "they won't eat the other stuff" OF COURSE THEY WON'T WHEN THE OTHER OPTION IS SUGAR!!!!
In the end she did (begrudgingly) offer to have me come and do an educational session to the teachers, as they are required by law, on childhood nutrition.
To make matters worse after our discussion last evening (and after she mocked me to the other teachers when I went to pick up my children down the hall), they had donuts for breakfast...
HELP, suggestions?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Eggs
This year for Easter I decided to try a new egg dying technique that was a bit more eco-friendly than buying the egg dye from the store. I saw a program on TV that said you could dye eggs using various colors of onion peels. So Jay and I yesterday morning, carefully wrapped several eggs with red and yellow onion skins. I kept them in separate pots, so the dyes wouldn't mix. And the results were... so-so. John (my husband) said I made white eggs into brown eggs.
Problem number one: The rubberbands I had used to hold the skis on the eggs broke in the hot water. So the cool designs that I was expecting didn't turn out because the skins came off. Plus the red onions only made slightly darker shades of brown.
But all in all it was a fun experiment and I have attached some pictures to show the results.
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