Go Green or Go Home!

There’s something about spring—the buds popping out on trees, the birds singing through open windows, and the feeling that new life is finally seeping back into the earth—that makes me feel like giving my lifestyle an overhaul. I’m always inspired this time of year to swap winter comfort foods for fresh produce and healthy snacks; to clean out my kitchen and re-think the way I’ve been treating the earth. It’s a time for self-reflection and taking action; for sweeping away all the guilt that comes from months of gluttony and laziness.

Since becoming a mom I’ve become more aware of my impact on the environment, because I feel it’s our responsibility to leave the earth in good enough shape for our kids to inhabit and enjoy it. But no matter how hard I try, I still feel like I’ve got  a long way to go.

Since writing this article on green spring-cleaning a few years ago, I swapped all the chemical-filled cleaning products in our pantry for their natural alternatives. I figured this would be good for our health as well as the water we’re dumping these products into. I shop locally, bring my own bags when I go shopping (and have trained my two-year-old to say: ‘No bags please!’), and I recycle like a champ!

But there’s one thing that still really bothers me, and it’s gotten worse since our family has grown. It’s the sheer amount of waste (recycling and garbage) that we produce every time we bring home groceries, household supplies, and toys. Cardboard, plastic, packaging—it all piles up and seems so totally wasteful.

That’s why it’s really important to applaud brands that actually take packaging and environmental responsibility into their own hands. As a mom, I’m certainly more inclined to support these brands and choose their products when I’m at the store.

In the spirit of happiness and springtime, Planters—the brand that’s been leading the world in healthy, quality snacks for more than 100 years—has created 100 percent recyclable packaging (the Envirotub!) that’s made from recycled PET (translation: thermoplastic polymer, or the resin that’s used in synthetic fibers and beverage and food containers). In doing this, Planters will be converting over 1 million tins annually into new packaging, diverting all that waste from the landfill.

So, now all Planters Naturals and Lightly Sea Salted products are not only better for you but better for the environment too. Pretty awesome huh?!

This means less junk, less guilt, and less damage to the earth!

And, in the spirit of eating healthier foods, nuts are truly a super food—because they’re a rich source of vitamins and minerals (iron, calcium, essential fatty acids, etc.) and they require no negotiating when given to kids as a snack. They’re perfect for on-the-go mummies like me, who are never organized enough to prepare food in advance and need something easy to throw into my purse and pull out in a crunch.

There's even more happy news. Beginning April 2 and running until June 15, Planters is having two truly awesome Facebook contests to celebrate the launch of the Envirotub. First, visit their Facebook page and vote for your favourite Canadian Environmental Charity to receive $10,000 from Planters. And then, because mummy deserves a little happiness too, you can also enter daily on their Facebook page for a chance to win a $20,000 complete Energy Efficient Kitchen Makeover (talk about taking spring cleaning to a whole new level!).

And now that we've got you thinking about "greening your life" Spill It in the comments section below and tell us what you're doing this spring to leave the earth a little less damaged for our kids!  

Happy Spring!