Good morning and Happy Thursday! I hope you guys are doing well so far today! I’m excited to be teaming up with Whole Foods Market on today’s blog post and chat about simple things we can all do to “green our routines” and be a little more environmentally-friendly.
Below you will find six simple ways to green your routine and there’s also a great giveaway at the bottom of this blog post that I think my fellow Whole Foods Market lovers will enjoy!
Six Simple Ways To Green Your Routine at Whole Foods
- Purchase Frozen Fish and Buy Sustainable Catch
As someone who loves almost any kind of seafood and prepares fish for dinner at least once a week, purchasing frozen and sustainably-caught seafood is a big one for me! While fresh seafood must often travel long distances by air, frozen seafood can make its way to retailers via a more energy-efficient mode of transportation. An added bonus is that modern flash-freezing means consumers still get high-quality seafood, often for less money than fresh seafood.
Additionally when purchasing wild-caught seafood, select options that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or rated “Green” or “Yellow” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and the Safina Center to ensure that your choice is sustainable.
- Bring Your Own Bags
I have a feeling a lot of you already do this (at least I hope you do!), but bringing your own reusable grocery bags to the store with you is such a simple way be a little more environmentally friendly. Plus, many Whole Foods Market locations offer discounts for customers who bring their own bags into the store! Win, win.
Fun fact: It’s estimated that Whole Foods has kept more than 150 million plastic bags out of landfills since eliminating plastic grocery bags from their stores in 2008.
- Choose Greener Cleaners
I started to pay more attention to the type of cleaners we use at home when I was pregnant and am definitely more cognizant of our cleaning supplies now that we have a baby at home. Whole Foods Market’s Eco-Scale Rating System mandates full ingredient disclosure on all household cleaning products (<— something that is not require by US law) in an effort to help shoppers identify a product’s environmental impact though a color-coded rating.
The orange rating is the minimum rating, noting that products with an orange rating do not have ingredients with significant environmental or safety concerns (such as phosphates or chlorine). Yellow-rated products meet even higher standards and green-labeled products are the top tier!
- Select In-Season Produce
This is another tip that is both great for flavor and for saving energy and resources! By shopping in season, you’re more likely to save money and enjoy deliciously flavorful produce while also purchasing food that has been harvested using less energy and resources during a time when it grows naturally.
- Shop In Bulk
Oooh the bulk foods section! I don’t know what it is about this section of Whole Foods, but I’m always drawn to it first. I love trying new foods and appreciate the way the bulk bins allow me to shop for the exact amount I want to use. They’re a great way to save money (I love buying chia seeds, nuts and nutritional yeast in bulk) and also cut down on materials and waste.
- Vote With Your Dollars
I cannot remember where I first heard this tidbit of advice, but it’s something I think about regularly when I am shopping. Whatever you purchase at the grocery store is essentially a “vote” telling brands that you like what they’re doing and want more of it. I would obviously prefer to see store shelves packed with food that is nutritious and produced with sustainability in mind and feel that by gravitating toward this type of food when I shop, I play a very small part in keeping the wheel running and encouraging the production of more responsibly-produced food.
Whole Foods Market Gift Card Giveaway
And now for that giveaway I promised you at the beginning of this post! One PBF reader will win a $100 gift card to Whole Foods Market. Sweet, right!?
To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this blog post telling me one thing you do on a regular basis to “green your routine” or tell me one of your favorite things to buy at Whole Foods.
I will randomly select a winner tomorrow morning.
Good luck!!
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I recycle… A lot – I got a second huge recycling bin 🙂
I always bring re-usable bags with me whenever I shop!
I do my best to always bring my reusable bags and I buy in season! Not only is it often cheaper, it’s tastier and I can create seasonal recipes. I also love buying the Hail Mary chocolate tarts from Whole Foods. I haven’t seen them anywhere else and they are AMAZING.
i always bring my reusable bags too! i also really like the bulk section at whole foods
Awesome tips Julie!! I always bring reusable bags and I LOVE buying frozen/ bulk because it lasts so much longer! Thank you for the giveaway! 🙂
I bring my own reusable bag with me when I know I am going to be doing some grocery shopping. I LOVE the homemade granola bars from the bakery section of Whole Foods!
One green thing that I do is make a lot of my own cleaners and freshener as well. I also bring reusable bags and I rarely buy bottled water. We filter our own and use reusable water bottles.
I too use reusable bags – we don’t have a Whole Foods by us but I know there is one close would love to go and check it out with some free $$$ –
I love Whole Foods, I regularly buy organic produce and meat from them because they have the best selection! I also bring reusable bags with me when I go grocery shopping.
I bike my girls to daycare. Better for the environment & a workout for me. Food wise we order online from a co-op. Less packaging, local food & no paper receipts.
I try to shop whats in season! This isn’t always possible but I do the best I can. Trying to be better about remembering to bring reusable bags!
Reusable bags! and we have gone greener on our cleaning supplies in the past couple of years.
I buy the discounted produce – win/win because the prices are way better and the food is usually fine, just a bit bruised or close to expiry. And I make sure to use up all the food I buy! Whatever is not edible goes in the compost.
I love Whole Foods! I get supplements there so I don’t have to order them online. I also always bring reusable shopping bags.
I bring reuseable bags, I walk to our closest grocery store as much as possible, and I try to buy in season foods.
Love all the tips on how to distinguish the top tier cleaning products and sea food! And I can never leave whole foods without buying some of their whole wheat crust..can’t always find it out but if you ask for it at the pizza counter, they will get some for you!
I bring my own bags and recycle as much as I can!
We go to the farmer’s market weekly during growing season. Shopping local is so easy here in NC! I love to buy so many things at Whole Foods, but the bulk section is my favorite!
We use our own bags for groceries and we do recycle when we can. I am in the process of checking all our labels to make sure they are green and cruelty free too! Thanks for the give away!
I try to always bring reusable bags to the grocery store 🙂
I love their fresh produce! Whole Foods is a little out of the way for me, but I always make sure to go their for my produce.
I started not putting my produce in produce bags, especially the produce where you don’t consume the skin like bananas!
I always use reusable shopping bags, they make carrying in much easier (as they are definitely more durable). Plus Target/SuperTarget gives you 5 cents for each reusable you use! I also try to buy as much in season produce as possible.
I LOVE the Barnana snacks from Whole Foods – specifically the Chocolate ones. Plus the company uses “imperfect” organic bananas that would have otherwise been wasted.
I always bring my reuseable shopping bags. I have also started making my own household cleaner with vinegar and lemon. It smells great and has no weird additives.
Compost and recycle!!
I buy organic whenever possible!
Hi all! I like to bring my own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store. My favorite thing to buy at Whole Foods is Coconut Secret Organic Coconut Aminos….it taste GREAT on an assortment of different foods!
I buy locally produced produces almost exclusively and I also shop -as much as I can- locally to encourage the growth of my community.
I love buying the fresh, organic produce at Whole Foods!
Bringing my own bags! And buying produce that is in season. Not only will the produce be delicious, but WF usually has some kind of sale on them!
I have really cut down on using paper towels and buying plastic water bottles!
Buying in bulk!
We love to recycle! I am teaching my little 2-year-old the importance of recycling too…he knows to drop the plastic containers in our recycling bin! 🙂 Love WF especially their beyond fabulous salad bar!! YUM! Crossing my fingers!! XO
i always use reusable bags, keep them in the car so they are ready for when ever, we also refill our5gallon water bottles at whole foods to cut out buying plastic water bottles, less waste, more space on the planet
I bring my own bags!
We love buying cashews in bulk!
Hands-down my favorite thing to buy at Whole Foods- and something I’m sure you’d love!- is a trail mix they have in the bulk foods section. I forget what it’s called, but it has honey roasted peanuts, chocolate-covered almonds and yogurt-covered pretzels. So indulgent, SO delicious. 🙂
I always bring my own bags and try to shop in season and locally! I love whole foods sushi and trail mixes!
I do use my own grocery bags and have been making my own cleaning products for a few years. We have also been using old rags and washcloths instead of napkins and paper towels to cut down on waste at home.
I always try to bring my own reusable bag!
I always try to bring my own bags!
Great tips! 🙂 I love to buy in season fresh veggies! 🙂
I always keep reusable bags in my car so they are ready to go when I stop at the store and I try to recycle whenever possible.
I bring my coffee to work everyday in my reusable travel mug so I don’t waste paper cups! I also use glass pyrex containers for my lunch instead of plastic. =)
I buy local produce when I can and shop at farmers’ markets on the weekends.
I bring my own bags & buy in the bulk food section! I love Whole Food hot bar too!!
I love their fresh ground peanut or almond butter! So good!
I use my handy reusable bags to stay green. I love to buy bulk items at Whole Foods.
I am constantly filling up my re-usable water bottle and bring it everywhere!