10/26/12

If you want to help preserve the rain forest, one simple action you can do is avoid buying baked goods and cosmetics made with palm oil. Palm oil is a cheap oil that originates from rain forest land that companies purchase cheaply, clear-cut and replant with palm trees. This invasive farming technique has decimated rare and indigenous plant and animal species and has turned rich rain forest land into unstable farmland. So read labels carefully and avoid anything with palm oil.

10/25/12

Recent health reports have shown that reusable grocery shopping bags can be a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. It's easy to understand why: Drippings from meat or seafood can leak onto the bags and cause mold, mildew and bacteria to grow. The healthy solution is to invest in machine washable bags -- like those made of nylon -- that can be washed and disinfected. Also, designate different bags for meat and produce. This will reduce cross contamination.

10/24/12

One way to help extend the life of food is to freeze perishables and leftovers to defrost and eat later. But how do you know if your freezer is actually cold enough to preserve food? Do the ice cream test: If a container of ice cream is soft when you take it out of the freezer, your freezer is too warm. Turn down the temperature until your ice cream is solid, and you'll know everything else is at the optimum temperature to stay preserved.