It’s hard to say when going “natural” started to be an important factor in my life. I think it happened when I moved into this house, with all the stone and hardwood floors, there were no effective cleaners better than something natural like vinegar. The installers of the floor and granite had said don’t use any commercial products, just use vinegar and water on the floors and a good oil on the granite to seal it up. Talk about easy-peasy and extremely cost effective too.
Given that that I cover beauty and fashion, the move to natural beauty products wasn’t hard to miss. When I started attending the various trade events for natural products here on the west coast, it became evident to me, that many of the things I was buying for groceries could easily go “natural” or “green” without too much cost and actually tasted better. It’s kind of funny to substitute soy “ground meat” in tacos but when you add in cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa, you never notice the taste of soy because it’s part of the blend of flavors. Food shopping became a different kind of excursion as I started reading more labels and once I identfied all the more natural brands, it became easier and faster to do my shopping. The fresh produce tasted a lot better and eating more natural or organic meats and fish actually tasted better– and I didn’t need to eat as much because it tasted better.
Switching out cola for water!!
One of the biggest switches I made was to give up sodas and switch to water. I rarely drink sodas any more — maybe 2-3 a month (if that) and always have about 3 bottles of water in my car so that I always have something healthy in the car to drink if I am going to events. I find that I save money by having water at meals when I am out for lunch and it’s so much better for my skin than having a soda with all the sugars and preservatives.
Visiting the beauty and clothing area of the various trade shows, always showed me products that were organic, clean, had all natural ingredients and were so much more effective and have none of the synthetic ingredients that my skin, hair and nails didn’t like. Wow– talk about an ah-hah moment!! Label reading became part of my routine when shopping whether it was for food, beauty products, fashion items or home-care items. I started looking for organic cotton tees, things that had natural dyes and even started making choices about the vendors I personally preferred to buy from because they carried more natural, green or organic brands.
While it might take you a bit of time to get used to shopping this way, you would be surprised just how much your regular grocery stores, drugstores and mass markets (as well as the natural products stores) have in products that you use in your every day life. It’s so easy– and it’s better for your health as well as those you love.
If you drink a lot of coffee (I buy a lot of organic coffee), you might want to try this new product from Coffee-mate: Coffee-mate Natural Bliss With three lush flavors to choose from (Vanilla, Caramel, Sweet Cream), you are never deprived!!
Now you can enhance the coffee flavor you love with Coffee-mate Natural Bliss, a new all-natural dairy creamer made with only milk, cream, a touch of sugar and pure natural flavor. Flavors like sweet cream, vanilla and caramel add just the right touch of sweetness and delicious flavor for your perfect cup every time. Like us on Facebook for offers, news and more!
“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by COFFEE-MATE via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of COFFEE-MATE”
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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I have to admit – I’m behind the times when it comes to jumping on the “green bandwagon” – but your article has inched me a little closer to making the switch. Can you really find natural substitutes in your regular grocery store? I guess I need to pay a lot more attention to labels!
Thanks for the article – great site!
Hey Kelly
Yes you can find lots of natural substitutes in your grocery store.. (note I didn’t say completely organic).. You have to read labels, be willing to pay a bit more.
Processed food is tricky — like frozen meals but you can find great options within the AMYs brand of food and you will find other brands there as well.
Do look at fresh produce and see what has peels and what doesn’t.. because anything you can peel will remove the pesticide to some degree. Farmers markets are great for produce if you don’t mind the time to get there.. Also with things like paper goods, you can find some– as well as snacks like Terra Chips and things like that. Lunch meat, hot dogs.. and hamburger.. there are options within each arena (less in lunch meat– but you can find it) as well as things like milk, cereal, and things for baking or baked goods. Note prices will be higher.. but the flavor quotient is often better too.