Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Ashley Borden has plenty of famous clients -- Mandy Moore, Natasha Bedingfield and Ryan Gosling, to name a few. But this spokesperson for the Nintendo Wii and Nike Elite Athlete is known for more than just getting celebrities into red carpet-ready shape. She's known for her commitment to the environment.

EcoStiletto has some great tips from Borden on eco-sensitive (but totally effective) workouts. Some tips are obvious, like bring reusable water bottles and buy organic, sustainably-made workout clothing.

But some are not quite as common, like using tools that allow you to work out at home using just your own body weight rather than using a plugged-in machine. It makes sense, of course, but most gym-goers probably don't consider their time on the treadmill to be hard on the environment.

Do you keep the carbon-footprint on your workout low, or do you have tips to share? You might be surprised at some of the events that are seriously not green!

Wasting food is a pretty common occurrence these days -- and for those of us trying to shed a few pounds, we tend to think that the extra food is better off in our garbage cans than our bellies. But wasted food has a disastrous effect on the environment, and according to the New York Times, America wastes enough food to fill Madison Square Garden ... each day!

When I was a kid, I went to an eco-friendly summer camp that policed food waste carefully. After every meal, those at each table had to dump wasted food into a bucket and weigh it, and the results would be reported to a guy called the 'food waste buster', who would reward and shame the best and worst teams. Guess what? It worked. We were careful to take only what we could eat, and we made sure we ate every last bite. Even today, I'm conscious of what I leave on my plate.

Weighing your family's food waste might not be the most practical solution, but you can -- and should -- take steps to eliminate the amount you waste. Here are some suggestions:

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Alicia Silverstone is well-known for her views on animal rights and for being a vegan. Several years ago, she appeared in a series of ads for PETA and Jacki recently told us why Silverstone is thankful for her healthful diet. Now Silverstone is taking her knowledge of the vegan lifestyle and releasing a diet book called The Kind Diet.

The book is scheduled to release in Fall 2009 and will include a 3-step diet program that doesn't focus on weight loss, but on the environmental impact of meat production and how the food we eat affects how we look and feel.

Want to give some vegetarian and/or vegan recipes a try? Check out Vegweb.com.



[via Chatterbox]

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Nike is well-known for lots of reasons -- high-profile athletes as spokespersons, the swoosh, and possibly the catchiest catch phrase ever. But now, Nike Inc. is hoping to become known for something else -- eco-friendliness.

The company's initiative, Nike Considered Design, focuses on having all aspects of the business meet specific goals, starting with footwear, then apparel, and finally, by 2020, equipment. The Nike crew intends to cut waste and raise the use of environmentally-friendly materials, eventually recycling all used products. And, it will streamline the supply chain, which will reduce the amount of oil and other materials used.

As you probably guessed, the Nike Considered Design initiative won't just help Nike go green, but will also make a little green in the process. Using fewer materials will lower their costs -- something they've already learned since reducing their shoe production waste by 50 percent.

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I just love Honey Crisp apples. Unfortunately, their deliciousness comes with a pretty big price tag. The other day I was checking out at the grocery store and I had a bag full of Honey Crisps. The cashier and I were lamenting over how costly they were. I mentioned that I had heard that apple growers in our state had planted some Honey Crisp trees, so hopefully the cost would go down when those trees were mature and bearing fruit. Then we looked at the label. Fortunately for the environment, but unfortunately for my wallet, the apples in question were from my state. And they were just as expensive as ever. Even though I was disappointed in the price, I was glad to see that my favorite fall treat is now locally grown.

Being able to see where food comes from is important for many reasons. Environmentally speaking, the fewer miles the food has to travel to arrive on your grocery store shelves, the better. Local food also helps to ensure freshness and it supports the local economy. Health-wise, knowing what country your food is from can help you avoid foods that are potentially exposed to unsanitary conditions and/or harmful chemicals.

The new law, which requires country of origin labeling as of September 30, is a bit confusing, however. Certain foods, such as roasted peanuts and bacon, don't have to be labeled. Any food that can be considered processed is exempt from the law.

[via FitSugar]

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Y Water is looking to tap into more than just the bottled water market by appealing also to the healthy and fit kids market and those shopping for ways to be friendlier to the environment. They offer four specialized low-calorie formulas to target the brain, muscles, bones, and immunity, plus once the water's gone, the leftover bottle (specially created by designer Yves Béhar) can be used as a building block of sorts to make toys and encourage creativity.

Sounds like a great way to get your kids to drink more water and get more vitamins and nutrients, all while helping the environment and stimulating their brains (or at least giving them a few minutes of entertainment).

Via Inhabitat

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Need inspiration to get those feet moving? Don't feel bad -- we've all been there. Whether we're suffering from a severe lack of energy, a lull in our motivation or we're just turned off by the crappy weather, walking sometimes takes the back burner to more important activities, like, say, relaxing.

So for those of you who need a reason to get moving, here are 30 reasons to walk--one for each day in September--courtesy of MBT Shoes. Here's a small sample of the reasons:

• It's free
• It's good for you
• You get much-needed fresh air
• It's good for the environment
• More here.

What are your reasons for walking?

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You can benefit your health while doing the environment a favor. What a win/win situation!

Recent data from the UN shows what many of us already knew -- meat production emits significant greenhouse gases. In fact, meat production emits more greenhouse gases than transportation. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that it counts for about 18% of greenhouse emissions.

So take a tip from the UN Climate Chief and serve up more vegetarian meals. To further reduce your impact on the environment, purchase only locally-grown produce. AOL Food has a wide variety of vegetarian recipes to choose from. Enjoy!

[via GreenDaily]

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My son attended summer day camp this year, so I haven't had a break from lunch packing. As kids are apt to do, my son and his friends liked to trade items. I was always amazed at the packaging waste that would come home with my son -- a lot of parents opt for those individually wrapped items. They're convenient, sure. But they're expensive, and they have an impact on the environment.

When packing your child's lunch, keep their health and the health of the environment in mind:

• Use reusable packaging. For example, instead of individually packaged pudding, make your own in small reusable containers. It's significantly less expensive and there's very little container waste. Also, look for options like the Wrap-n-Mat that reduce throw-away packaging.
  
• Go meat-free. Meat production is hard on the environment, so pack veggie lunches as often as possible.
• Don't over pack. If your child throws away much of what you pack, your green efforts are somewhat mitigated. Pack what they need and no more.

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You exercise, you eat right, you get a good night's sleep, and you try to stay organized; you're doing everything you can to manage your own stress. But what if you work with someone who isn't managing stress well?

Regardless of where you might work, there are a lot of reasons for stress in today's workplace -- threats of layoff, increased workload due to reduced staffing, and so on. When you add in all the non-work-related causes of stress, it's no wonder some people aren't managing the pressure well. And, no matter how well you handle stress, when a co-worker is stressing you'll be affected by it.

So what can you do to help a stressed out co-worker? As long as you don't take on the reasons for their stress (e.g. taking their workload), it's a good thing to help out. And, if you happen to be the boss, it's imperative that you do so in order to maintain a positive workplace and to prevent productivity from slipping. Some ideas:

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Fitness isn't just about body fat and muscle mass. For many of us, being fit inside counts, too, which means trying to make the best possible choices from day to day -- best for ourselves, our families, and our planet. And it can get tiring sometimes, trying to determine whether you're better off purchasing sustainable Product X from Company A or slightly-used organic Product Y from Company B, but sustainable shopping just got a bit easier with WorldofGood.com.

WorldOfGood.com is an Ebay community that strives to be "your source for everything People Positive and Eco Positive." They want to provide a place where people can "create positive change through commerce, as part of a global community."

More and more people are interested in the effects their purchases make -- knowing you're buying items that meet your philosophical needs can bring you great peace of mind. If you want to see just how big an impact simple spending habits make on the world at large, check out the Smart Cart quiz. You'll be amazed (and slightly horrified, if you're anything like me!).

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Taking care of our personal health is always a priority, and now taking care of the planet's health is a growing one too it so seems only natural to combine the two.

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What's the lowdown on buying organic? It's pretty hard to tell, with the mixed messages we are getting as consumers these days. The definitive study, though, tells us that not only is organic more nutritious, but it is better for the ground water and soil.

A few facts on organic foods:

• they contain up to 90% more antioxidants than conventionally grown food
• they've got higher levels of minerals
• as cancer-fighters, they win the race

Seems as though we should always buy organic, with those stats. Due to availability -- and our budgets! -- buying everything organic may not be an option, and if we're looking to do a real service to the environment, buying what's available locally is a better choice.

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When I plan out meals for the week, I often look for ways to cut some corners on time. For example, if I'm going to brown ground turkey for lettuce wraps, I make sure to buy enough meat that I can reserve half of the browned meat for spaghetti or lasagna the next day. (If you're wondering about the lettuce wraps, I brown the meat, add teriyaki sauce and a little garlic, spoon the mixture into romaine leaves, and then top with shredded carrot -- delicious and healthy!)

Cooking Light has some ideas on how you can apply the "cook once, eat twice" principle to grilling. It's a great time saver and, when it comes to outdoor cooking, lighting up the grill only once for two meals is much better for the environment.

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Healthy fast food? Could there really be such a thing? A West Hollywood restaurant in California called O!burger seems to think so, and they're not talking cold sub sandwiches either. Burgers, fries, and shakes make up a good part of their menu, along with veggie burgers, yogurt smoothies, and salads.

Their main claim to fame (and health) is that they're 100% organic and striving to be eco-friendly in every way they can. They do have a healthy sounding veggie burger made of spinach and corn, but no mention of fat grams or calories. Is being organic enough to make such a broad claim like "healthy?" Unfortunately I don't live in the area and can't go try it for myself but if you do then give it a shot and let us know what you think!

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