I have a confession to make.  I am a green geek!  I admit, nothing tingles my toes quit like walking rather than driving, shopping at the farmer’s market, and waiting to use my air conditioning until the very last second.  Yes it may be crazy but there is just something about living as a green geek (someone who makes choices based on the effects to their health and the environment) that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

First, let me quell your fears.  Being a green geek does not automatically make you a pretentious snob.  (Though pretentious green geeks certainly do exist and give the rest of us a bad name.)  Also, going green is not as difficult as we think.  We don’t have to bike to work everyday (though that would be some great exercise!) or recycle every last scrap of waste to live a greener life.  All it takes are a few simple changes to begin the green geek-out process.  Here we go!

1. Shop at your farmer’s market & bring your own bag! Why bring a bag?  There are between 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags used by shoppers each year. That is a lot of fossil fuel and reason enough to bring to your own very cute bag.

2. Buy green goods- Every dollar you spend on green purchases is a vote for sustainability, your health and the environment.  Fair trade products, organic fruits and veggies, non-toxic cleaning and laundry supplies, and natural cosmetics are just few green products easy to incorporate.

3. Energy efficient cooking- You know how recipes tell you to pre-heat the oven?  News flash! That’s a lot of energy going to waste.  Next time you roast veggies or braise a lovely chicken, put the food in when you turn the oven on.  You save cooking time and lower your energy bill with one simple move.

4. Pick up a reusable water bottle- Using a stainless steel or glass water bottle helps cut down on the billions of plastic water bottles purchased every year.  It also keeps you away from plastic-laden BPA, a dangerous hormone disruptor that can negatively effect fetal brain development.

5. Fantastic fresh herbs- Of course we’d all love a garden to pick from every morning but most of us simply don’t have the space. (Or have been blessed with a black thumb like myself.)  Growing rosemary, thyme, and sage on your window sill or deck is a great way to brighten up your cooking, save money on groceries, and help rid the air of pollutants all at the same time.

See that wasn’t so bad after all, right?

With these easy green adjustments you will be well on your way to getting your glorious green geek on!   For more fantastic ideas on greening your life visit Treehugger.com and TheDailyGreen.com.

Jamie G. Dougherty is the owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Coaching. She is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Coach with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.
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