Avoid buying eggs from a supermarket. Whether they're conventional, organic or free-range, the reality is that from the time the egg goes from the farm to the warehouse to the store, it takes about three weeks to make it into your cart. That's a long time. Instead, try to buy locally grown eggs from farm stands, farmers markets or family-run farms. Not only are these eggs fresher, but they usually taste better, too: Chickens free to roam in yards will eat what they find tasty. When chickens eat tasty, natural feed, it usually leads to better-tasting eggs.

Many of us look for BPA-free cans when buying beans, soups and vegetables. But when it comes to tomatoes, even BPA-free cans can still have a chemical lining, since tomatoes are so acidic. When shopping for tomatoes, look beyond cans and for packaging called Tetra Pak. They are cardboard containers that are BPA-free and recyclable. And when you can't find Tetra Paks, look for good old-fashioned glass jars; most health food stores carry tomatoes in glass jars.

When you buy new electronics or a bottle of vitamins, little packets marked "Do Not Eat" are thrown inside to absorb moisture, which helps preserve freshness and prevents damage. These are called silica packets, and they are made from a porous natural mineral that absorbs water. There's no need to throw away these packets -- you can reuse them to keep things like your toolbox, photos and dresser drawers fresh. And you can reactivate silica packets: Just place them on a cookie tray in a 275-degree oven for about an hour to dry them out.