America is on a health kick lately, making fresh smoothies using greens like spinach, kale and parsley. But if you're finding it tough to always have a stash of fresh greens on hand since they can wilt quickly in your refrigerator, try freezing them. Not only does freezing greens prolong their life, it's pretty easy to do in one simple step. Fill a blender with washed greens. Then add 1 cup of filtered water. Blend for one minute, and pour the mixture into muffin tins or ice cube trays. Freeze and store your cubes of greens in airtight freezer bags or BPA-free storage containers and toss them into the blender when it's smoothie time!

Approximately 40 percent of the food sold or prepared in the United States ends up in the waste stream. Not only is that filling up landfills, it's also money out the door for the average American household. To help prevent food and money waste, think creatively about the food that's about to go bad in your home. For fresh herbs, chop them finely and freeze them in airtight containers or bags. They can be added to dinners and soups when you need them. Fresh fruit can be peeled, diced and frozen; fill freezer bags with frozen fruit combinations and use them to make easy smoothies in the morning. And slices of bread can be made into breadcrumbs or used to make bread pudding.

In addition to being an unhealthy oil that's high in saturated, artery-clogging fat, palm oil should be avoided in foods to help protect endangered orangutans. These intelligent animals, found in tropical rain forests in Sumatra and Borneo, are being eradicated as their homeland is cleared to make room for palm tree oil farms. As the rainforest land is cut, orangutans are displaced and killed, and baby orangutans are often left orphaned. To avoid palm oil, look for pure oils like sunflower, olive, corn or coconut oil. Avoid anything labeled "vegetable" oil -- there is a strong likelihood that a high percentage of that vegetable is actually palm.