THE HOME IS THE FASTEST AND BEST PLACE TO CONSERVE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE, EATING LEFTOVERS AND EXERCISING RIGHT...

Dieting can save the environment and your body: Have you ever eaten something that is so packed full of preservatives that you have a terrible after taste in your mouth after your have eaten something delicious.  Well this is because many foods are transported around the world or country and need preservative and other chemicals in them to grow fast, last longer, and grow bulkier.  To try this diet, you will help your body and the environment.  These help the environment by not producing toxic chemicals into our environment, less transporting of certain goods, and promoting the farmers in your area.

Eat a variety of foods: Eat foods that meet the food pyramid design.  A balanced diet will help you stay away from foods that hurt your body as well as the environment. Eat a variety of foods so that your body gets a full range of foods and doesn’t get deficient from types of vitamins or minerals.

Buy Products that are grown locally: Growing locally instead of from large companies usually means you will have less pesticides used on them.  The more you buy locally, the less fossil fuel is used to transport these foods.  Support local farmers around your area that can keep them strong. Also buy from farmer’s markets, this usually assures that less pesticides were used. Buy meat locally also, this assures better treatment of these animals and less steroids used in their meat. To find a local Community Supported Agriculture farm, see the USDA's national database: www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/.

Buy produce in season: To save money buy produce in season.  Buying them out of season is only able to be completed out of country, which means a huge use of fossil fuels to transport and the pesticides that are used in these countries can be bad for you and the environment.  Buy items that are in season and store them if possible until they are out-of-season. Learn to can and dehydrate these foods to store them.

Buy products that are organic: Sadly there is no way to know how “organic” items are considering they are not certified by the FDA but it is more likely that these were grown without: synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation. When they are marked 100% certified organic, they are not allowed to contain genetically engineered ingredients either. The greatest benefit is that the farmers also certify that they are rotating crops, conserving and renewing the soil, and protecting their water sources. This is a great benefit for your body and the environment.

Look for fresh foods, and whole grains: Whole grains and foods are better for your body as well as better for the environment because bleached wheat and other products use toxic chemicals to preserve and create these foods. The National Cancer Institute strives to tell everyone to eat a round balanced diet striving to eat all five-food groups, serving all whole grains. This means fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes or beans, nuts, and seeds.

Eat less and smaller portions of animal products: Meat, eggs, and dairy products produce them most fats in America’s diet.  It is thought that they can increase heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This is only if they are eaten in large portions though.  Animal products include fish, grazing animals, eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy products. They can become harmful when growth hormones, some antibiotics, and organochlorine chemicals such as DDT and pesticides are used in their growing process.

Less processed and packaged foods are better: When food is highly processed they are filled with preservatives, fats, salts, and sugars.  They are likely to contain genetically engineered soy and corn based additives and is not just the foods you are purchasing.

Benefit of Home-Cooked Meal: Cooking items from scratch at home saves the greatest amount of money and can help preserve money. This may mean a little more preparation time and a little more labor but it also means less preservatives, less resources because of less packaging and transportation.  Home cooking is healthier, constructive, creative, and allows your body to reclaim more nutrients.  Always look for fresh materials.

Exercise can save the environment and your body: By exercising everyday your body gets the needed chemical balance it needs.  Exercising can lower your appetite, build your immune system, grow you muscle strength, and help you body clean out your system of impurities and toxins. You can help the environment by trying alternative modes of healthy transportation.

Alternative Modes of Healthy Transportation: Running to work is one of the most efficient means of transportation if it is available.  One person in our organization has been running to work off and on for the last 20 years. It was available to him and his health is outstanding. You can also ride you bike to work.  This will get you farther faster than running and is great if your work is farther away.  If you can try AMHT Alternative Modes of Healthy Transportation.