Friday, September 6, 2013

Going Green

So, you all know those people-- those "health conscious" individuals who won't eat at McDonalds, and avoid food containing dyes and other processed ingredients? They can be slightly annoying, can't they, when you are on a road trip and have to stop at Panera instead of simply running though the Taco Bell drive-through, all because they refuse to eat fast food. I mean, the nerve of making you park, and then wait an extra 30 minutes just to satiate their weird food lifestyle and/or moral feelings about what they put in their bodies.  

Well, compared to me those people are tame. Because I take the whole "going green" thing, like, uh, really far. To put it simply, I'm a fanatic. On a scale from 1-10 I would be a 15. In other words, if your mom was a vegetarian, I'd be that weird kid that would point out that the white sugar they used in their french cupcakes actually can include bone char, and therefore is not really vegetarian. Yes, I'm that girl.

For starters, being "health conscious," to me, is so much more then just eating healthy. It's about the food preparation as much as the food itself.

For example, I will not use a microwave.
What, you ask, is wrong with a microwave? I mean, its basically God's gift to hipsters. How else would they heat their vegan gluten free burrito from Fresh Market?

Before you go all crazy on me, let me explain to you why I don't use a microwave.
  1. There has not been enough time to conduct long term studies on the use of microwaves on food or in regards to the proximity to humans. 
  2. I will not exchange convenience for my health over a subject that I just don't know much about. 
  3. Also, in terms of reheating food, I like it cold.
So yeah, no microwaves for me. And yes, before you ask, I do know how a microwave works. But did you know that it leaks radiation? This article raised my microwave awareness--I'll just link to it, because she explains everything and sites her sources perfectly. Anyway my husband still uses the microwave, it's just me who won't. I might be crazy. But its something I feel strongly about.
I also don't use non-stick pans. Why? Well, because that awesome non-stick layer is made up of nasty chemicals. And if you so much as scratch it, those chemicals start leeching into your food. Check out these links for more information: One Two Three. Once again, I'll take scrubbing my surgical stainless steel pan an extra 30 seconds to potentially ingesting chemicals with every meal. 

I also won't buy things made in china. No, I'm not racist. Or whatever the term is. I just don't like their culinary laws. Did you know that glazed items made in china contain led and other harmful chemicals? It's true! Unlike the US and Germany, there is no law banning the use of lead glaze on cookware in China. So I just avoid buying anything from that foreign country, and stick instead to buying my food and food preparation items from the USA or from Germany. (Links on lead in cookware: one two three) (Links on lead in other Chinese products: one two three)

What kinds of things do you do to stay green? I was shocked when I found out about all the metals and stuff in my dishes and other utensils. How do you feel? It's okay not to care, I mean, its your body. (but I'll secretly think your crazy). My husband thinks I'm crazy too, so don't worry. 

6 comments:

Kristin said...

We used a microwave quite often when I was younger. A while back, my dad started reading up on the negative things about them, so we got rid of ours several years ago. We never actually cooked food in the microwave, but we used it to heat up leftovers a lot. So it took some getting used to, having to warm up food in the oven or heat it on the stovetop or stick it in the toaster, but now there's no way I would use a microwave. :)
We don't have any non-stick pans anymore either. The thing about glazed items made in China drives me crazy, because nearly all mugs and stuff you find nowadays are made in China. Even if you buy a set of Corelle dishes, the plates and bowls are made in the US, but the mugs are made in China! It's ridiculous.

Rachel G said...

We have a microwave, but we avoid using it unless it really makes the most sense at the time, and the rule is that whenever we use it we leave the room while it's on. (Angel says that decreases radiation exposure) :P For me, I like eating natural foods that I make myself from individual ingredients....but it's also not the #1 priority in my life. So no, I'm not nearly as gung ho as you are, but I'm not throwing 'fish sticks' in the oven for dinner either. :P

Ellie said...

I think it's fantastic that you take such good care of yourself. In England we find that things that are better for you cost more so being a student, I have to think of the cost of things at the moment. However I always buy eggs from free range hens and only buy British raised free range meat so I know it's had a good life and has been raised to a certain standard. I intend to make changes as soon as my income allows me :) xxx

Deanna Fike said...

we attended a Green U festival a couple weekends ago. it was so informative, and the boys had a blast. we learned how to make so many new crafts out of stuff we would normally consider useless. and we got tons of information about local green groups.


i'm not as hardcore as you are. but we do reduce! reuse! recycle! i'm the mom who send her kid's lunch in those any plastic container that has been washed. a butter or sour cream container. whatever. after the boys play in the pool, we use the water to water our plants and yard. and i avoid products with harsh chemicals at all costs. and i definitely go towards natural remedies when we get sick. (if i can. sometimes we have to use 'real' medicine.)


but alas, i do use my microwave.


does brian actively participate in your greeny-ness? i only ask because i remember you telling me about his love for mcdonalds. :)

Carolynn said...

hahaa, he "tolerates" my greenness, with a lot of disbelief (literally when I said I don't use microwaves, he thought I was joking--then he thought I was being unreasonable, then he thought I was crazy) but he is understanding about it, even if he does pick on me some :P



What I had to learn is that no matter how patiently I explain, or what facts I present, he still sometimes won't believe me. For example, I won't eat at McDonald's. But he still goes there at least three times a month and every time asks me to go with him! Hah. I do sometimes, but I don't eat there. :P It's just annoying to me that he won't "change", but I've learned that he has already made his own decisions about food, and I'm starting to be okay with that. I mean, I wouldn't want him to force me to eat at McDonald's, so I don't force him to eat Spinach (he hates it) or take a multivitamin, and after telling him about my do/don't eats, when he asks, I don't nag him when he buys soda or makes his own decision. To be honest, in the beginning, I used to nag him. "Why would you eat that? Eww! *list of 10 reasons why he shouldn't eat it*" He always just responds "Uh, I just like it...." and then usually tries to make me eat it.



I'm just really grateful that he isn't a picky eater, and that he likes the food I make. If I tell him "oh that was gluten free amazing vitamin dish" he makes a face and cracks a joke. If I just serve food, he inhales it and doesn't really ask any questions. Since he doesn't like cooking, I think he's mostly just happy to have food placed in front of him on daily basis.


One time (early in our marriage) I made him a hummus sandwich for lunch. He still makes fun of me. And he said every man in his office was like "WHAT are you eating?!??!" and when he told them they all started giving him marriage advice. Hah! :P

Sarah J said...

Dropping by to say thanks for commenting on my blog. Chris and I love watching anime together, we just always have to make sure it's either in Japanese with English subtitles or a Miyazaki film (the only English dubs he thinks are okay).

The going green thing . . . I'm all about making sure you have plenty of veggies and eating as little processed food as possible. i get that, especially the whole produce thing. I guess the only thing I'm uncomfortable with is the "fear mongering" that seems to take place in super green communities. There are SO many harmful things in life, but, the bottom line is God is sovereign. I could die in a car accident, eating a non-organic apple, drown in a swimming pool, or a microwave could melt my brain. Either way I end up dead. Either way, God is still good.
Do I do everything I can to keep myself healthy like exercising and eating right? Sure. Do I only buy organic? Nope. Do I occasionally splurge and let myself enjoy a slice of cake? Absolutely.


i do think it's pretty cool when someone is very committed to their lifestyle. Go you for healthy choices!