Melanie Lulue

Stop using or buying anything in plastic containers or bags. I have reduced my use of such products, but still use them as convenience occasionally like when I volunteer at a charity event.  Water is a must especially living in Florida.  I will invest in a small water jug to take with me instead of bottled water.

Humans need clean air to breathe and cooking fires can cause soot and ashes, which are bad for the lungs and can lead up to health issues if constantly exposed to them. Airborne soot particulates are invisible, you may unknowingly be affected. Once soot enters your blood stream, it can cause a wide array of serious health issues, including respiratory issues, shortness of breath, bronchitis, asthma, stroke, heart attack, cancer, and premature death. We need to be aware of everything we do and how it affects others around us. Cooking fires are also dangerous and should be watched at all times. They are the number one cause of larger fires and can get out of control quickly. A well ventilated area is a must for cooking fires.

Knowing what the difference is between the different types of dates will help me decide if a food item should be tossed if it is past any of the dates or if it is still safe to eat.  If it is a sealed product such as canned and there are no bulges in the can itself, the food is probably still safe to eat.  However, if upon further inspection (opening the can) and the food is discolored or an odor is there, then it must be tossed to avoid getting sick.  I plan to go through my kitchen cabinets and check all dates and decide what must be thrown out or eaten in the near future.  If you are ever unsure if a food item is still good always follow - when in doubt, throw it out!

I have always been a nature lover and I understand progress.  However, it is very disturbing to me to see so many years of forests being torn down to build a concrete structure.  The amount of buildings that already exist and are empty could be knocked down and built into something else if it is no longer valuable as it currently stands.  What does give me hope is that people are starting to realize the impact of knocking down all the habitat does to the animals and are now doing things to help the animals.  As they widen roads or build bridges, they make tunnels or fence the areas to help animals know where to cross in a safer environment.  WSP designed a safe wildlife crossing in Utah over a very busy highway.  They made it look natural for the animals so they would be comfortable crossing and less chance of having an accident with a vehicle. I hope we continue to progress to help the animals because they were here long before we were and they need protection too!

Too much wasted food and scraps going to a landfill!  I just bought a small counter top system to start using at home.  I will spread the compost material around my yard as fertilizer.  Such a simple process and easy to get started with minimal cost!

North America was raised eating animal proteins because people grew up on farms and not only had gardens but raised cattle as food and a way to support their family. These practices are still very much in use today and we have to educate people that there are plant proteins that are not only healthier, but better for the environment.  I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but I eat my share of vegetables and many of meals are meatless. I do eat eggs and cheese to compensate my protein intake. I believe if people learn to cook vegetables and plant proteins in a way they are more delicious, they will realize we don't have to eat meat at every meal. Infused olive oils and vinegars are not only healthy, but delicious. Roast or stir fry some veggies using these items and throw in some quinoa! Yummy!