If you believe that it’s wrong to subject animals to a lifetime of pain and deprivation, you should be very careful about what you eat. Virtually all animal foods in this country — not just meat, but milk, cheese and eggs — are produced by a system of agriculture that subjects farm animals to just [...]
Archive | food RSS feed for this section
Fall Pasta with Swiss Chard, Apple and Maple Syrup
This is a very earthy, satisfying and quick fall recipe with no animal products. If you’re not in a rush, you could try making it with quinoa or barley instead of pasta for a more nutritious meal. Ingredients for 2 servings A small handful of pistachios or halved walnuts 4 tbsp olive oil 1/2 c [...]
Green Living in Summer
Summer, in a temperate climate, lends itself to a more natural, less energy-intensive way of living, as I explain in my July column for NRDC, Summertime and Green Living is Easy. (In hotter regions, make that “spring and fall.”) The key is working with the weather, not fighting it. Don’t insist on the same habits [...]
12 Most Important Foods to Buy Organic (2011)
Pesticide residues often remain on produce even after you wash it. Therefore, it’s best for your health and your family’s to buy organic fruits and vegetables. If you can’t afford to by everything organic, the best strategy is to focus on the fruits and vegetables that are most likely to expose you to multiple pesticides. [...]
Panzanella Recipes
Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad) is a great no-cook dish for those summer days when temperatures get into the 80s and beyond. It’s simple, delicious and can be made with local, seasonal produce — tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and basil. Here is a traditional recipe, which uses no animal products, and some variations with cheese and other [...]
Green Gifts and Entertaining for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s
Interested in having a high-spirited, low-impact holiday celebration, but stymied by the culture around you — maybe even within your own family? You can make it happen! Just do the usual things — from gift-giving to feasting — sustainably. For instance, buy durable gifts that will last, avoid overly packaged products, use real plates and [...]
Green Restaurants
If you’re interested in maintaining a low-impact lifestyle, watch where you eat. The restaurant business is extraordinarily wasteful — of food, water, packaging and most particularly energy. In fact, among commercial businesses, restaurants squander more energy per square foot than any other. Restaurants that have been certified green by the Green Restaurant Association are a [...]
Easy Fall Salads with Cucumbers, Fennel and Cabbage
I love fall vegetables — their earthy flavor seems so appropriate to the season. These 4 simple recipes for salads are great for September and October when the weather is still warm. They all use vegetables that are local and seasonal for New York, where I live, and the Northeast generally. Spicy Cucumber Salad Servings: [...]
Green Eating
Local, seasonal, organic, unprocessed, etc. I’ve covered these food topics and more in my writing over the years. My new Green Eating page explains the principles and links to the pieces. Among the more interesting items are columns on sustainable wine, coffee and chocolate, as well as a couple on the importance of eating less [...]
12 Most Important Foods to Buy Organic (2010)
Last weekend, I got a friendly warning from a farmer at our local Greenmarket. Holding up the big, beautiful bell pepper I’d selected, he said, “You may find a little friend inside.” Friend? I cast an uncomprehending look at him. “We don’t use pesticides,” he explained. I assured him I preferred the little bug I [...]
ABOUT
This Green Blog is the companion blog to NRDC's This Green Life, a green living column written by Sheryl Eisenberg for the Natural Resources Defense Council. (Subscribe to get it for FREE each month.) Sheryl has also written Greentips for the Union of Concerned Scientists and designs websites for environmental groups and others with her firm, Mixit Productions.
Holiday gifts that save the environment
I go to NRDC Green Gifts when I need presents for friends who care about the planet and don't need more stuff. These gifts are very meaningful for the right kind of person—and do real good in the world. My fave: Revive a Rainforest. For just $15, NRDC plants a tree in the Costa Rican rainforest for your friend or family member.
Subscribe
Get my free monthly column by email. It's personal like this blog, but vetted by the experts at NRDC.
Recent Comments