How to Become Healthier & More Eco-Friendly: Ditch the Packaged Food

One of the best ways to become more eco-friendly and healthy is to buy products with little or no packaging, and this especially applies to food. Unfortunately this is not something we are well educated on and most don't notice the connection between plastic food containers and the effect on the body and the environment.

Foods that are packaged are usually processed to last longer in your kitchen and thus last longer in your body, and not in a good way. Plus, after consuming the food the packaging gets discarded and ends up in landfills, the ocean, and the occasional recycling plant.

Luckily there is an easy solution to this: buy food that has no packaging. At first this may seem like a challenge, especially if you're used to grabbing items off the shelves. However, it will become a habit in no time. Here are some ways you can buy foods without packaging:

• Most produce (fruits & vegetables) is not packaged, but occasionally you'll find it in plastic bags. For example, you may have the option to buy a dozen carrots or potatoes in a bag, or to grab them separately from produce bins - opt for the latter if you brought your own bag.
• You can find all sorts of food products in bulk, from grains to legumes to nuts to seeds to spices to pastas to cereals to candies, etc. Invest in some small reusable cloth bags or repurpose old containers (like spice jars) and fill them up.
• Set aside some time to make your own food instead of buying it pre-made, and keep in mind that it usually doesn't take very long. You can make anything from juice to nut milks to guacamole just by looking up a recipe and buying the ingredients in bulk, and they taste much better homemade and fresh.

If you're unable to find food with no packaging or you do not have time to make it yourself, seek out products with minimal and/or earth-friendly packaging. Avoid things wrapped in plastic and opt for paper or biodegradable material. Look for the recycling symbol on the side or bottom of the product and make sure to place it in the correct bin (note that some materials are challenging to recycle, such as #5).

Whitney Lauritsen is a filmmaker, environmentalist, and vegan who promotes healthy living on her sitewww.ecovegangal.com. She shares tips on how to be kind to your body and the earth via video, photography, and writing. You can find her talking about being healthy and green on Twitter and Facebook.