Green Your Pick-Me-Up: 5 Tea Tips

Earlier this week, we suggested some steps you can take toward a more eco-conscious cup of Joe. But we realize that coffee isn’t everyone’s go-to caffeinated beverage. In other words: we hear you, tea people, and today we’ll help you green your brew, too. 

Buy loose-leaf tea: Opt for loose leaf tea over disposable tea bags, which use carbon-intensive packaging materials. Many tea bags also contain polypropylene mesh, which can take several years to degrade. Additionally, bagged tea is often machine processed, producing a larger carbon footprint than loose leaf tea, which tends to be hand-picked. If you do purchase tea bags, make sure they’re biodegradable and unbleached. Avoid bags with staples, strings, or tags.

Minimize your water footprint: Only pour enough water to fill your cup to avoid wasting energy boiling what you won’t drink anyway. If it’s safe, use local tap water to brew your tea.

Cold-brew your iced tea: With summer just around the corner, cool off with some cold-brew iced tea. It not only tastes sweeter and smoother than traditional hot-brewed iced tea, but it spares the energy needed to boil your water, relying mainly on an already-running appliance—your refrigerator. 

To cold-brew your own iced tea, add about 1.5 times the amount of tea you'd normally use to a pitcher. Pour in cold water, add a lid, and let sit in the fridge for about 4-10 hours. White teas, green teas, and flat oolongs need less time to sit, while rolled oolongs require more time. Herbal infusions and black teas usually need to sit the full ten hours. Strain and enjoy.   

Green Your Pick-Me-Up: 5 Energy-Boosting Foods

Whether you call it the post-lunch slump, afternoon apathy syndrome, or the 4:00 p.m. crash, you know the feeling—an overwhelming grogginess that sends you crawling under your desk for a nap. 

You could chug some coffee, but if caffeine’s not your thing, an afternoon snack might deliver just the jolt you need. But rather than reaching for the candy bar stashed in your drawer, try noshing on these all-natural energy boosters. Look for seasonal, locally grown options for an eco-friendly pick-me-up. We suggest a few specific produce items below, but note that seasonality and availability will vary according to region. Check out Field to Plate's Seasonal Lookup Guide to check the availability of fresh produce where you live. 

1. Berries burst with energizing complex carbohydrates and filling fiber. These plump morsels also pack a punch of vitamin C and other antioxidants, which help protect cells against disease-causing free radicals. In a study published last April, Harvard University researchers found that over time, a high consumption of berries rich in the antioxidant flavonoid—such as strawberries and blueberries—can delay memory decline in older women by up to two and a half years.

For those seeking some food for thought, blueberry season just began and lasts until late summer. Strawberry season runs from January through November, but peak season falls between April and June. Cherry season just started and runs from early May to mid-August.

Green Your Pick-Me-Up: 7 Coffee Tips

Amid the workweek frenzy, lethargy is bound to slow even the most productive of us. As our energy dwindles, so can our efforts to live sustainably. This week on Green Life, we’ll offer pick-me-up tips as energizing as they are eco-friendly. First, we list some simple steps you can take toward a guilt-free cup of Joe. 

According to the National Coffee Association's 2013 online survey, about 83 percent of adults nationwide drink coffee. That averages to three cups a day per person, or 587 million cups, making the U.S. the world’s biggest coffee guzzler.

Most of us probably grab our morning Joe without thinking twice—even if we should. Reports of worker exploitation and habitat destruction in the coffee industry can make a humble latte both an environmentally and socially fraught purchase.   

Here’s how you can ensure your beans come from a farm that’s good for workers and the environment. 

Ditch the paper cup: Fifty-eight billion paper cups are thrown away each year, according to BetaCup. Although the cups’ plastic resin coating helps insulate our brew and prevent leaking, it also complicates recycling. Do your part to reduce paper waste, and opt for a reusable mug.  Bonus points if you choose a mug made of ceramic or stainless steel instead of plastic.

Forget paper filters: As long as you’re abandoning paper cups, why not forego paper filters, too? Instead of a traditional coffee pot, consider buying a French press, which doesn’t require a filter.  It’s also cheaper and makes more flavorful drinks. A reusable mesh filter is an option for those who already brew their Joe in a pot. Linda Green Homes offers an array of reusable filters for the gamut of coffee brewer brands.

Look for socially and environmentally responsible labeling: Next time you refill on coffee beans, make sure you choose bags bearing the following labels:

Schmear Campaign: The Best Eco-Spreads

Spreads have come a long way from the days of instant-soup packets mixed with sour cream. Animate your Ak-Mak with these eco-friendly slathers. 

The Sweet and Spicy Black Bean Hummus from EAT WELL ENJOY LIFE is a low-fat pate made with corn, pineapple, red peppers, pecans, chipotle chilies, and a medley of spices, all without GMOs. Michelle Dudash, a Cordon Bleu-certified chef and registered dietician who wrote Clean Eating for Busy Families, loves this particular flavor and admires the brand for its unique taste combinations and eco-values: The PET plastic packaging is easily recyclable, and the paperless company recycles all of its waste. About $5 for 10 ounces

JUSTIN'S Honey Almond Butter, creamy and sweet, goes perfectly on everything from rice cakes to bananas, says Amie Valpone, a Manhattan nutritionist who runs the Healthy Apple blog. To give the butter texture, she sometimes sprinkles it with ground flaxseed. The spread is high in protein, comes in a recycled-plastic, BPA-free jar, and doesn't have genetically modified anything — the only ingredients are California-grown almonds, sugar, honey, sea salt, and palm oil, which the company sources from a sustainable farm. Justin's uses mostly organic ingredients. About $9 for 16 ounces

The Premium Organic Sesame Butter from GOLDEN MILLSTONE is made from just a single rare ingredient: sesame seeds harvested by small organic farms in Ethiopia, slow-roasted at temperatures low enough to qualify them as a raw food, then ground on a 90-year-old millstone. The nutty, nutritious spread is packed with those fatty acids that are hard for vegetarians to get, plus protein and antioxidants. Use the sesame butter right out of the glass jar as you would peanut butter, or mix it into dips, smoothies, or salad dressings. $8 for 14 ounces 

Spring Recipe: Ginger Lemonade

To wrap up our week of delicious spring recipes, we bring you a classic drink with a refreshing twist. Check it out!

Ginger Lemonade

There are few things more refreshing than a tall glass of lemonade. But a secret ingredient — ginger — takes this classic drink to a whole new level. Spice up your lemonade with this in-season root and watch as your guests beg for more.

Ingredients:

8 cups water

4 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cups sugar

3/4 cup honey (you can also use agave nectar)

2 lemons, thinly sliced

1/2 cup grated ginger

1 cup crushed ice

 

Instructions:

Spring Recipe: Balsamic Strawberries & Ice Cream

Now that we've shared recipes for the star of the barbecue — the Carrot-Sesame Burger — and its two equally delicious sides — Spicy Green Bean Fries and a Zesty Kale Salad — we have to find something to cure that post-meal sweet tooth. Check out the perfect remedy below!

Balsamic Strawberries with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

There is nothing like a sweet, ripe strawberry! Harvest this seasonal fruit from your garden or pick some up at your local farmers' market. Then grab a bottle of balsamic vinegar and a quart of your favorite vanilla bean ice cream to make a light, refreshing dessert.

Ingredients:

1 lb strawberries, thinly sliced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp sugar

1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

1/3 cup 2% milk

1/4 stick of butter

1 quart of vanilla bean ice cream

1/4 cup almond shavings

 

Spring Recipe: Zesty Kale Salad

Stay tuned as we continue to share tips on how to enjoy a healthy, green spring cookout. Yesterday we highlighted a mouth-watering carrot burger recipe. Check out what is on the menu for today!

Zesty Kale Salad 

Although kale has been on the scene for thousands of years, the powerhouse vegetable has had quite a resurgence in the past 10 years as knowledge of its health benefits have become more widespread. Since then, people have found all kinds of unique ways to prepare this nutritious veggie. From kale chips to kale juice, people just can't get enough of it, and neither can we. Check out Kathy Sampson's zesty and colorful kale salad recipe below.

Ingredients:

Spring Recipe: Carrot-Sesame Burger

 

This week, the Green Life is dishing out eco-recipes that turn a typical meat-heavy barbecue into a light, refreshing culinary experience. Yesterday we shared a delicious recipe for Spicy Green Bean Fries. Check out today's planet-friendly treat below.

 

Carrot-Sesame Burger

What's a barbecue without a burger? Instead of going the traditional route with ground beef, why not add some color to that hearty sandwich? Not only will you be saving fat and calories, but since carrots are always in season, you can also head out and support local agriculture. Trust us, you won't be sacrificing taste. Try if for yourself by following this delicious recipe from Dr. Ann Kulze of Dr. Ann Wellness.

 

Spring Recipe: Spicy Green Bean Fries

It's almost time to dust off the grill and de-web that patio furniture. With warm weather on its way, we're itching for barbecue season. Whether you are planning a Sunday cookout, a Cinco de Mayo pool party, or gearing up for a Memorial Day gathering, we've put together an awesome menu of delicious, green recipes. Today we will start with a healthy and green alternative to a barbecue favorite: french fries.

Spicy Green Bean Fries

Why limit yourself to potatoes when you can turn just about anything into a "fry," even green beans. This lean, green vegetable is not only low in cholesterol and fat but aalso high in dietary fiber, protein, and iron. Best of all, green bean season is starting, so they can be found at your local farmers' market (keep in mind that they come in yellow and purple if you'd like a variety of colors). Kristen McCaffrey from Slender Kitchen created this tasty way to turn a power vegetable into a zesty barbecue appetizer!

Ingredients:

Green Careers: Urban Farming

For Green Lifers seeking to align their career compass, we've dedicated this week to profiling different eco-professions. Yesterday we learned about environmental journalism. If you took our quiz on Monday and scored mostly b's, then read below to learn more about urban farming, your green career fit.

Green Careers: Urban Farming

Urban farmers grow, process, and distribute food in or around a city, allowing its residents easy access to fresh, seasonal produce. Some farmers raise animals, such as chickens or fish. Often found on rooftops, patios, formerly vacant lots, and even indoors, urban farms can play a crucial role in improving food access and food security in underserved neighborhoods with few grocery stores. Farms also add greenery to stark cityscapes; reduce harmful runoff; and help counteract "urban heat islands" —  metropolitan areas that, due to human activity, are significantly warmer than nearby rural communities. Community farms can provide income and build job skills for disadvantaged, at-risk youth.

An urban farmer’s day usually begins early in the morning and could include feeding animals, delivering food to restaurants and caterers, selling food at farmers’ markets, bookkeeping, marketing to potential clients — and of course, watering seedlings, fertilizing, weeding, planting, and harvesting. Some urban farmers are involved in local food justice advocacy and policy, which might involve planning and participating in meetings.