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Earth Day

Go Green for Earth Day!

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By Kristin Kessler, Registered Dietitian

Home to more than seven billion people, three trillion trees, and more animals than many of us can count (the ant population alone is 10,000 trillion!), Mother Earth is a pretty populated place. And since we only have just one planet, it’s extra important to take care of it. Earth Day—celebrated every year on April 22—began 46 years ago to increase conversation on environmental issues, like fossil fuels, renewable resources and overall sustainability. This Friday, in addition to conserving electricity and recycling, take your Earth Day celebrations into the kitchen with our simple tips for sustainable eating!

Embrace the “All Produce is Beautiful” movement

 

Every year, six billion pounds of fruits and veggies in the U.S. go unharvested or unsold—not because they’re spoiled, but because they’re considered “ugly.” Deformed, wonky, crooked, or long-necked, just because this food doesn’t look like your typical produce doesn’t mean it’s not as tasty and nutritious! Honor homely veggies by combining them with Libby’s products in big casserole or soup dishes, like this recipe for Minestrone Soup. No one will ever know you chose the “ugly” produce over the “pretty” produce!

They’re called leftovers, not trash!

 

Food waste is no throwaway topic. Every year, approximately 2.9 trillion pounds of food—about one third of all food produced worldwide—gets tossed. Learn to love (and actually use) your leftovers in creative ways by incorporating them into salads, sandwiches and wraps. Extra helpings from last night’s roasted chicken can be tomorrow’s lunch with these Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Skip the meat (for a day)

 

Take a tip from the meatless Monday playbook and go vegetarian on this Earth Day. Going meatless can help reduce water usage, greenhouse gases and fuel dependence. To put it into perspective, approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef, while a mere 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables. Choose vegetarian sources of protein (think: lentils and beans) to improve both your health and the health of the planet. The next time you’re hankering for a burger, try this vegetarian recipe for Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers instead. It’s filled with beans and spice and everything nice.

Celebrate Earth Day the Libby’s Way!

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While everybody is looking for new ways to live more sustainably, the classic three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle – are always reliable! Just in time for Earth Day, which takes place each year on April 22nd,  we have compiled three simple ways you can go green!

 

Reduce

Not only are veggies good for you, they’re good for the environment! It takes approximately 29 gallons of water to produce a pound of vegetables. Compare that to the 1,850 gallons needed for a single pound of beef. Consider making more of your meals meatless. You and your family won’t feel like something is missing with a hearty dish such as Individual Herbed Vegetable Pot Pies.

Reuse

Reuse household items, like Libby’s cans, to create arts and crafts! Once painted and decorated, steel cans make excellent planters.  You can then incorporate your home-grown herbs into recipes, like this one for Turkey Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing.

Recycle

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what items can be recycled. Cardboard, paper, food boxes, glass bottles, jars, jugs, plastic bottles and caps, and, of course, cans can all be recycled. Libby’s cans are made with 100% steel, so you never have to question how to best dispose of them.

Be sure to involve your kids in your Earth Day initiatives. It’s a great way to make them excited about the importance of preparing meals, watering plants, or taking out the trash. You might feel more enthusiastic about these chores too, knowing your small changes are helping make the world a little greener!

Let Your Green Gleam this Earth Week

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In recent years, “going green” has grown from a suggested practice to a regular lifestyle for many families. If you haven’t yet adopted many environmentally friendly habits, Earth Week is a great time to start and get the whole family enthusiastic about the change. Here are some tips to help you own Earth Week today and beyond!

Minimize Your Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint calculates how much a person or household contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. To offset your own carbon footprint, use energy efficient light fixtures and heating systems, take advantage of public transportation, eat locally grown or organic ingredients, and separate recyclable materials from other waste. Encourage your children to get involved by drawing footprints that show what your family does to reduce your carbon footprint.

Eat Organic Ingredients

When organic is printed on labels in the grocery store, it means the food is grown and packaged without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetic modifications or growth hormones. Eating organic foods not only provides your body with more antioxidants, but also reduces exposure to pesticides that are harmful to the environment. While some organic foods are more expensive than the alternative, Libby’s offers a line of organic vegetables to help you practice healthy and green eating at while maintaining a manageable budget.

Limit Use of Paper Goods

So many aspects of our lives have converted to the digital realm, from emails to credit card payments to books. By taking advantage of digital conveniences, you contribute less paper waste to the environment. Libby’s helps you limit your use of hard copy cookbooks with our Digital Recipe Box and Pinterest Boards. Browse through our delicious and easy recipe ideas the whole family will love!