Eco Friendly Travel Tips That Also Save You Money

Yep. It’s that time of year again. The time of year when people are booking flights and renting cars so that they can take a much needed vacation, yet no matter what mode of transportation you choose, it’s gonna be a bit pricey this year due to the (will it ever end?) rise in gas prices.

There are some ways that you can save a few dollars while on your travels, though. The added bonus is that the following tips are also eco-friendly. So, not only are you sparing a few trees by not spending so much money, but you’re also doing the environment a favor by cutting down on the use of your resources.

Do you want to know how to make that happen? Check out these ideas below.

Think about your mode of transportation. Now, more than ever, flying is more about convenience. So, if you’ve got a week to spend time in a place that’s over a thousand miles away, flying might be the best route to take. Make sure that you shop for special deals (that’s what HotWire, Orbitz and Expedia are for) and when it’s time to get your ticket, request an e-ticket rather than a paper one. If you’re going to rent a car, there are more rental companies with hybrids available (Enterprise and Budget are two of them). It may cost a bit more to rent the car itself, but with what you save not having to fill up at the gas station, it’s still well worth it.

Pack wisely. There are a lot of tips for this one. First, make sure that you use refillable bottles for your toiletries; there’s no sense in bringing full bottles of things like shampoo along. If you’re leaving for 10 days, you probably only need a couple of pair of jeans because you can interchange them with several outfits. In other words, don’t pack excessively. Make sure to bring along a reusable bag in case you plan on shopping for souvenirs so that you’re not wasting any paper or plastic shopping bags. Take a recyclable water bottle in case you’re thirsty at any time. It’s a lot cheaper and better for the environment than buying bottled water. Oh, and be sure to use a digital camera rather than a disposable one; mostly because a digital camera is one that you can use over and over again.

Prepare to go. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? Even before you leave the house, there are some things that you can do to cut down on electricity. Be sure to turn down your thermostat, unplug any appliances that don’t need to be in use while you’re away (ones that would are the refrigerator, for instance), turn down your water heater and make sure to turn off most of the lights (other the porch and a living room lamp) in the house.

Take a travel lunch. Even though lunch is no longer served on airplanes, if you’re hungry, there may still be the temptation to purchase a meal at the airport and that can be extremely expensive. Whether you’re traveling by air or land, you can save good money by preparing a lunch ahead of time filled with organic goodies like nuts, fruit and veggies.

Research where you’ll be staying. These days, there are eco-friendly hotels and restaurants in virtually every city. Therefore, make sure to do your research ahead of time. The great thing about “window shopping” online is that there are even places that will offer online private tours to help you in making your selection. Just remember that wherever you end up to use the same rules that you would at home when it comes to electricity and water usage. And be sure to ask if there are recycling bins where you’re staying, too!

Grilled Peach Salad with a Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette and Burrata

Ingredients

Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper
4 peaches, halved and pit discarded
1 red onion, root left intact, peeled and quartered (optional)
8 cups mixed salad greens
2 large balls fresh burrata cheese (or ricotta cheese)

Preparation

In a small bowl, whisk together the zest, juice, vinegar, honey and olive oil until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat gas grill to medium-low heat. Brush grates with oil. Toss peaches and onions, if using, with 2 tablespoons dressing. Grill skin side down until nicely charred, about 5-7 minutes, flip and grill the opposite side until nice grill marks form, about 2 minutes.

To serve, carefully halve burrata balls being sure to maintain the filling. Place cheese, peaches and onions over salad greens and drizzle with remaining dressing.

*Recipe and image courtesy of The Three Kitcheneers.*

It doesn’t matter if you’re moving across town or packing your belongings to haul them to another state, relocating is one of life’s major stressors. There are endless things to do and never enough time to get them all done. The Zen-like approach you usually have to life is quickly tested. From packing the plates and boxing the books to changing your address and sorting out bill payments, chances are doing all these errands in an eco-friendly manner is the farthest thing from your mind. However, with a few simple adjustments and a little pre-planning you can turn your relocation into display of green activism.

Less Gas and a Minimal Carbon Footprint

In the old days, post-college and pre-family, you probably did a fair amount of apartment hopping. You would pack up the old Subaru until it wheezed and the tailgate sagged, and then make countless trips back and forth between the old one-bedroom place and the new two-bedroom. It doesn’t matter if you still have that Subaru or have upgraded to an SUV, professional moving companies have larger trucks. They can move your entire household in one trip. Fewer trips equal less gas and carbon emissions. It’s an ideal way to stay green while relocating your home.

How to Pack Green

While ransacking the local supermarket for cardboard boxes to pack your stuff in is one method, the Internet has numerous places where you can find recycled packaging containers. It’s true: When you reuse the supermarkets’ boxes, you’re part of the recycle chain. However, what do you do with all those boxes once they have been emptied? Today, many moving companies are also equipped with their own recycled moving containers. Bubble-wrap has traditionally been the number one material for packing delicate and fragile items. The difference between standard bubble wrap and biodegradable bubble wrap is bound to add a couple of years to the earth’s lifespan. However, you can both save money and go green when you wrap and pack your possessions with newspapers, sheets and towels.

The Yard Sale

The yard sale is a quintessential American phenomenon, and it is the perfect way for you to get rid of all the things you do not want. It’s time to let go of that ratty sofa in the basement. The TV with the bunny ears and the old video game console need to go too. However, your junk is another person’s treasure, as many people scour yard sales for old furnish they can refinish and resell. There’s no reason for you to lug this stuff from one basement to another, so why not let somebody else get some use out if it? In the meantime, the extra income you make from your yard sale is bound to come in handy. Whatever does not sell, you can donate to the Salvation Army.

Teaching Green Ideas to Your Children

If you think moving is stressful, imagine how your kids feel. Their entire universe has gone topsy-turvy. New schools, lost friends and different routines are just the beginning. However, having them take an active part in the move will give them a greater sense of inclusion. Have them help with simple packing. Give them an active roll to play. Moving is a teachable moment as it gives children a better understanding of change. They can learn green ideas from the example that you set.

Moving is stressful. However, a few changes to your plan can make a greater impact on the earth. Nobody really likes ransacking the grocery store for cardboard boxes anyway.

*Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.*

Grilled Tuna Topped with Wild Berry Chutney

Ingredients

2 4-6 oz Tuna Steaks, cleaned
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon of sea salt
½ tablespoon of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of cumin powder
¼ cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup fresh blackberries
¼ cup raspberries
¼ cup strawberries
¼ minced red onion

Preparation

Preheat grill for 5 minutes.

Brush grill grates with olive until coated. Season the tuna steaks with pepper, sea salt, minced garlic and cumin powder on both sides. Suggested cooking time for medium rare tuna steak is between 3- 4 minutes on each side for medium rare temp. For medium add 2 minutes each side and for well-done add one additional minute to each side.

Chutney topping:

On stove top in a large skillet:

Chopped all your berries into quarters and then mix together with the chopped red onion. Heat skillet to medium and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add your berry mixture along with the red onion. Saute for approximately 2-3 minutes until the berries starts to break down. Remove from heat and pour the mixture on top of the tuna steaks – then serve.

Serves 2.

*Recipe courtesy of Chef Big Shake. Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.*

Feeding a family costs more today than it ever has before. Most families spend a large portion of their income on groceries and dining out. If your family eats a specialized diet, such as kosher, vegetarian or low-carb, you may find that the cost is even higher. No matter what your family’s dietary restrictions are, you can use grocery coupons and take advantage of sales to get the best deal for your money. However, if your family is attempting to follow a vegetarian lifestyle, consider these tips to save a bit in other ways, too!

In-Season Produce

As a vegetarian family, you probably eat tons of fruits and vegetables. The price on these can vary quite a bit from one part of the year to another. If you want to get the best deal on produce, you should buy in-season. One great example is strawberries. If you go to buy them in spring, they are bright red, sweet and very affordable; however, trying to buy strawberries in October will result in expensive berries that aren’t nearly as tasty. If you are knowledgeable about canning and freezing, you can take advantage of in-season produce and save for the entire year.

Rice and Beans

Rice and beans are a staple in many vegetarian diets. These affordable fillers can be prepared in many ways. Learn as much as you can about how to prepare rice and beans, and you’ll save a lot of money without sacrificing delicious meals. Eating the same thing every day can be boring, but by learning some new recipes, you’ll bring excitement back to these basic staples.

Buying Locally

While it is often easier to pick up all your groceries at the supermarket, you can save money by finding ways to buy locally. Check out farmers markets and local growers to find deals on produce that was grown nearby. As an added bonus, this produce is often fresher and tastier than what is shipped in from out of state.

Fish and Meat Substitutes

Whether you’re a fish-eating vegetarian (s0metimes called a pescatarian) or you stick to meat substitutes, these foods are a great way to add variety to the vegetarian diet. The catch? Seafood and meat substitutes are often pretty expensive. Find ways where you can add smaller portions to a dish and still get the same flavor, without as much cost as eating them in bulk. Stores may also put these products on sale from time to time, take advantage of these sales and stock up. You can also contact manufacturers directly, tell them you love the product and request coupons. They’ll gladly send you coupons to buy their products, so you’ll buy theirs and not their competitor’s product!

Dining Out

Dining out as a vegetarian can be tricky. Look on Yelp or other sites to find recommendations and possible coupons. Another great way to dine out as a vegetarian is by visiting ethnic restaurants. Many of these have delicious vegetarian options, and they are often more affordable than restaurants specifically targeted to the vegetarian population.

BBQ Chicken

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken legs and thighs
¾ cup barbecue sauce

Preparation

1. Place the chicken on a medium-hot grill or barbecue. If you are using a barbecue, close the lid.
2. As the chicken cooks, turn it every 3 or 4 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the pieces, cook between 15 to 25 minutes, or until the juices run clear from the thickest part of the chicken when poked with a fork.
3. When the chicken is nearly done, brush the top with barbecue sauce, then turn the pieces over and brush sauce on the other side. Cook for 1 or 2 minutes, turn the pieces over, and brush on more sauce. Cook for another minute, then remove from the heat and serve.

Yield: 4 servings

Important Tips

Grills can develop “hot spots” where the grease drips on the flames. Be sure to monitor your chicken as it cooks, and move the pieces around if hot spots develop. Closing the lid of a barbecue and shutting down the air vent will also reduce flame-ups.

Most barbecue sauce has a high sugar content, which will burn black if put on the chicken too early. For this reason, it is best to add the sauce during the last few minutes of cooking time. A little burning is to be expected and even adds flavor, but too much is not desirable.

*Recipe excerpted from YOUR TIME TO COOK (Square One), (c) by Robert L. Blakeslee, 2010. Used by permission. All rights reserved.*

If you are looking for ways to entertain your children this summer that don’t include sedentary activities like watching television or playing video games, consider becoming a “local tourist” in your own hometown. Vacations can be a great time to explore all that your hometown has to offer.

Participating in nearby activities or events can be a great way to get your family off the couch, out of the house and on the road to becoming more physically active.

Many cities and towns host summer festivals, farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts (with dancing), museum exhibits, summer holiday celebrations and family-based activities, and best of all—many are free.
 
When planning your family’s active tour, here are some suggestions that you may want to consider:

Shop local. Use local, in-season ingredients to make healthy family meals. A trip to a lively farm­ers’ market or local farm can be a wonderful way to find inexpensive and fresh ingredients, and you can even burn a few calories picking your own produce!

Set a family challenge. Provide your family with inexpensive pedometers and spend the day at a nearby museum or local attraction. Challenge your family to track their steps and provide a healthy incentive to the person who ends the day with the most.

Enjoy healthy and refreshing sweet treats. Try your hand at fresh fruit Popsicles, or freeze your family’s favorite fruits, such as grapes or blueberries.

Plan a healthy and fun family staycation. Find a few days on the calendar when you can turn time at home into an active “staycation” for your family—a vacation that doesn’t involve travel. Let children add their favorite physical activity to the schedule and get the whole family moving.

Check with your local visitor center or the community section of your newspaper for events or activities happening in your neighborhood.

For more ways to encourage physical activity, as well as eat right and reduce screen time, visit We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)® at http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov. Developed by the National Institutes of Health, We Can! provides parents, caregivers and communities with free tips, tools and guidance to help children ages 8–13 maintain a healthy weight by improving food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing screen time.

*Article courtesy of NAPS. Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.*

Ingredients

1 lb. fingerling potato, scrubbed
Kosher salt
1 whole head garlic
2 sprigs rosemary
1 teaspoon of finely chopped rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon truffle oil
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

Rinse fingerling potatoes, and do not dry them. Place fingerlings onto a sheet of aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking oil. Season with the salt, and lay one sprig of rosemary on top. Wrap aluminum foil into a tightly sealed tent, leaving space for air to circulate. Place on the grill and cook until tender, 12-13 minutes.

Slice the top of the garlic off leaving the stem attached and place onto a sheet of aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking oil. Season with salt and lay one sprig of rosemary on top. Wrap aluminum foil into a tightly sealed tent, leaving space for air to circulate. Place on the grill until cloves are tender, 5-6 minutes.

Once both items are cooked place into a bowl and mash together with a fork. Fold in rosemary and a small amount of truffle oil and olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

*Recipe and image courtesy of healthination.com.*

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This Mother’s Day may be a lost cause—but you can create thoughtful, caring kids who won’t give you generic greeting cards or “dumpster flowers” next year. Here are six tips for changing the message you’re sending your kids—and creating a better life for yourself in the process.

Be honest, mothers. Is that special Sunday in May really that special? Or is it a bitter disappointment? For too many mothers, at least those of us in a brutally honest mood, the answer is the latter. Once our kids get past the preschool-mandated handprint artwork—which back then moved us to tears—the gifts become less and less thoughtful. A generic card. A generic bouquet. Maybe just a halfhearted hug or even an obligatory phone call.
 
The problem isn’t the gift itself, of course. It’s the feeling (or lack thereof) behind the gift. Frankly, we deserve more from our kids. After all, we’ve selflessly devoted our entire lives to them, haven’t we? Yes, we have—and that’s a big part of the problem.

On a recent Mother’s Day my phone was ringing off the hook. So many moms were feeling hurt and unappreciated. Thoughtful gifts were practically nonexistent, and the few kids who managed to bring flowers brought, in the words of one of these moms, “the tiredest flowers I’ve ever seen. I’d swear they came from a dumpster.”

The moms who got late-in-the-day phone calls tried hard to feel content with “just hearing my daughter’s voice.” These kids have been shown that we expect so little, are entitled to so little, that the mere sound of their voice is enough.
 
Who showed them that? Why, that would be us mothers! When we devote everything to our kids—all our free time, all our energy, all our disposable income—we shouldn’t be surprised when they come to believe the moon and stars revolve around them. Entitled children are the inevitable outcome of time and resources that are wildly and disproportionately assigned to the children and not the adults in the family.
 
If this all hits painfully close to home—and if you’re reading it two days before Mother’s Day—you probably don’t have high hopes for the big day. And you’re right. You might as well brace yourself for a disappointing May 13th.

But here’s the good news: It’s not too late for Mother’s Day next year. The change in your kids won’t happen overnight, but you can start to slowly turn this (unsatisfying) ship around.
 
Here are a few tips to get you started:

• All year long, seize opportunities to teach empathy. Ask your kids, “How would you feel if it was your birthday and no one noticed?” But also ask them, “How do you feel when somebody remembers something special?” For younger kids, have them consider their own feelings. (That’s what they’re best at!) For older kids, ask them to put themselves in the shoes of someone else. “How do you think Grandma felt when we all came over for Thanksgiving? What would it have been like for her if no one showed up?”

Kids are naturally self-centered, but you can counter that tendency by frequently reminding them to consider the feelings of others. Do this and you’ll end up with nicer, more empathetic kids. And as a bonus, they’ll be more sensitive to making sure you have a happy Mother’s Day in the future.

• Use teachable moments to make your Mother’s Day expectations known. We have this magical idea that if our spouse and kids love us they should “know” what we want for Mother’s Day. They don’t. We have to teach them. It’s not necessary to boldly state, “This is the kind of gift I want…and oh by the way, I want it wrapped and festooned with ribbons.” But you can couch the lessons inside casual conversations about how to buy gifts for people for occasions that happen all year—birthdays, graduations, Christmas, and so forth.

Teach kids to think a little more deeply about their friends and family. When you buy a gift for someone, narrate your thought process: “I’m getting these purple gardening gloves for Grandma because she loves working in her flower bed and also because purple is her favorite color. And have you noticed that her gifts to you are nicely wrapped? That’s why I wrap hers so carefully in beautiful paper.”

Also, urge them to notice what works and what doesn’t—Aunt May has never been seen wearing the blouse they bought, but she never comes over without the earrings that were a gift.

When you teach kids how to get specific about people’s likes and dislikes, they’ll naturally apply these lessons to the gifts they buy for you. This will help ensure that you don’t get a Dustbuster…again.

• Ask a spouse or someone else to remind kids next year that the big day is coming. You want kids to see and feel gratified by your delight when they present the big gift. It’s the good feelings they get that will reinforce their newfound consideration for others. They won’t get to have that experience if they forget the day altogether.

It also helps model an important aspect of being a spouse—consideration for their mate. One day your children’s own spouses will thank you.

• Own your part of the problem. By giving up your life and your interests to be fully child-centric at all times, you’ve taught kids that nothing matters as much as their needs. Girlfriends and even spouses fall by the wayside as you spend weekend after weekend sitting in the bleachers watching your kids play endless soccer games (endless for you because you don’t participate; exciting for them because they do!). If you teach them that their needs always trump yours (the movies you see, the vacations you take, the allocation of family resources), then don’t be shocked when they learn the lesson well.

When asked about the absence of thought or presents on Mother’s Day, many kids will respond with “I was busy” or “I’m saving up for World of Warcraft.” If you hear those kinds of self-centered comments, it’s time to reorder your family priorities. Make sure everyone knows that you count! Family life is a collaborative effort. Everyone gets to play.

• Start making adulthood attractive. (Mother’s Day is a great starting point!) One of the most important things we do in encouraging our children’s growth is to make adulthood look like something to be excited about. If your child gets an Xbox for his birthday and you’re content with carnations sprayed some awful neon color, grabbed from the neighborhood supermarket bin, well, who in their right mind would want to grow up? You should bring your spouse or significant other in on Mother’s Day plans (and be sure you do the same for Father’s Day).

Make Mother’s Day exciting and about you. It’s time to stand up for yourself. Let your husband know that the 10K race he’s wanted to run—while you monitor the kids—is not your idea of a Mother’s Day present. Your delight at being really “tuned into” helps your kids learn the pleasure of really “getting” another person and assures them that all fun doesn’t end at age 12.

• Don’t expect the change to be easy. Our whole culture is centered on advancing and promoting our kids. Opting out is literally a countercultural move. It will feel uncomfortable at first—even wrong. Parenting habits are hard to break, especially when they’re supported by advertising and neighborhood values that make it seem like it’s the most natural thing in the world to be overly involved in our children’s every move. But you’re not doing kids any favors when you buy into this mindset.

Remember that the science says we’ve got it all backwards—that kids thrive when they’re challenged and not micro-managed. Have a family discussion about the changes you’d like to make and institute them slowly. It’s much better to have a slow rearranging of priorities that is successful than a radical change that falls on its face.

So starting May 13th, why not give yourself the best Mother’s Day gift of all: Vow to make this the year you finally get a well-rounded life. You might be surprised by what you can do over the course of a year. Let me know how next year’s Mother’s Day turns out.

About the Author

Madeline Levine, PhD, is a clinician, consultant, and educator; the author of The Price of Privilege; and a cofounder of Challenge Success, a program of the Stanford School of Education that addresses education reform and student well-being. She lives outside San Francisco with her husband and is the proud mother of three newly minted adult sons.

About the Book

Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success (HarperCollins, July 2012, ISBN: 978-0-0618247-4-6, $25.99) will be available at bookstores nationwide and from all major online booksellers.
 
For more information, please visit www.madelinelevine.com.

*Image: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.*