Whenever I go to the grocery store, I always try my best to load my cart with socially responsible products.  Cage free eggs?  Uh, yeah why not?  Organic lettuce? Sure, throw that on in there.

The truth is, though, up until recently, I didn’t really know what these things meant.  They’ve just been over-marketed so that I think I’m doing good when really I may just be wasting money.  That’s why I formulated a mini label guide for all of your shopping needs.

Hint:  don’t waste your money on the “organic” Oreos! Read More »

Last Tuesday I saw the documentary Food, Inc. and it changed my life.  Although it had a relatively minimal environmental focus, it still reminded me how important we are as consumers and how much our food purchasing decisions actually make a difference.

Think about it – 10 years ago you couldn’t really find any substantial amount of organic produce in mainstream supermarkets.  Now, due to the demand for healthier and more sustainable products, the supermarkets are flooded with organic products from Oreos to macaroni and cheese.  And for those of you who think you can’t afford eco-friendly foods on a college budget, think again.  I will show you where, how, and what to buy to decrease your carbon “foodprint” while increasing the size of your wallet. Read More »

I’m not a vegetarian. I’ve never even tried to be one. I’d starve to death in a week.

I’m also not the biggest carnivore. Red meat is just not my thing, and most of the time I stay away from steak, pork, or ham. Chicken, turkey? Fine. Fish? Fine. Anything else? Nope.

Is it because I have a moral issue with how livestock is treated? Well, I’d be lying if I said I was up to date on all my PETA reading, and of course I think animals should be handled humanely, but the only thing I really won’t eat for ethical reasons is veal. Baby cow? Honestly. Let the thing at least grow up!

But let’s pretend, for a moment, that my dislike for red meat came from a deep-rooted concern for the livestock in the world. Let’s pretend a little part of me dies every time I watch someone take a bite of hamburger. What would I want more than anything? Animal-less meat.

It sounds strange, but in a few years, my hypothetical wishes may be answered. Scientists have recently started work on an experimental way to produce meat in a labratory. Read More »