A Green Mom's Guide -Everyday Hints to Become a Granola Mom

Over the last few years, I've gone from being a non-recycling, easier-to-buy-a-new-one, disposable-loving, gas-guzzling, water-wasting, convenience-driven consumer to a green mom, or granola. I have three children who are 6, 6, and 8. I must admit that I didn't think twice about the thousands of disposable diapers we went through. Having twins, I know the anxiety you feel with little ones. So this hub is not meant to be a guilt trip. Sometimes, we moms need to do things that aren't necessarily the best environmental choices to keep our sanity. But after I became a mom, I started thinking about my children's future and noticing all the waste we were making. I am creating this HUB in case you are looking for ideas to reduce your family's global footprint, too.

This generation tends to eat out a lot more than any before. If your family is like mine, the kids are starving an hour before dinner, but then eat a few bites at the restaurant resulting in the "take home box." Take home boxes are often made of plastic (which are sometimes not conveniently recyclable) or worse-yet the infamous nonrecyclable styrofoam.

Tip 1: Have the kids split a meal - it's cheaper.

Tip 2: Bring your own containers for left-overs.

Tip 3: Bring home the disposable plastic kid cups to use at home. If left on the table, you'll add more plastic to a landfill.

Tip 4: Take home and reuse the crayons and recycle the paper kid-menus. If left on table, they will be pitched.

Tip 5: If given bread or chips, take home your left-overs for a snack later.

Tip 6:Try to find eco-friendy restaurants - ones that recycle or use recyclable take-home containers, donate their extra food to food banks or shelters, and use fresh, local or organic produce and meat.

1. Bring reusable bags with you to the store.
2. Recycle everything you can.
3. Carpool as much as possible
4. Donate old items to charities, garage sale or freecycle
5. Have a swap party with friends for kid toys and clothes.
6. Buy used and refurbished items when possible at thrift stores, garage sales, and online.
7. If possible, repair instead of replace.
8. Patch jeans with holes or make crop pants or shorts.
9. Teach your kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room.
10. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs and remember to recycle them.
11. Buy local, fresh produce if possible.
12. Buy organic when possible or better yet, grow your own veggies.
13. Plant a tree for a birthday or anniversary.
14. Use kids' coloring book pages for gift wrapping small presents.
15. Try to limit trips to the grocery store.
16. Turn off your computer at night.
17. Try to group errands together by location.
18. Limit the lawn chemicals and try using eco-friendly products.
19. Air dry your clothes.
20. Don't use disposable water bottles - carry a reusable stainless steel bottle.
21. Reuse bread bags as sandwich bags.
22. Choose a reusable lunchbox instead of paper bags.
23. Use the back sides of school worksheets as printer paper.
24. Unplug your appliances when you aren't using them.
25. Reduce fast food meals.
26. Try using diluted vinegar to kill weeds and clean glass.
27. Avoid individually-wrapped food, like juice boxes, when possible.
28. Use eco-friendly cleaners and soaps.
29. Bike or walk to your destinations.
30. Don't water the sidewalk.
31. Buy the smallest car you can that will serve your families needs.
32. Only print emails if absolutely necessary.
33. Compost and use it for fertilizer.
34. Pay your bills online.
35. Cancel unused catalog subscriptions.
36. Take shorter showers or shallower baths.
37. Start an environment club at your children's school.
38. Avoid disposable paper or plastic plates and cups whenever possible.
39. Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
40. Send greeting/holiday cards through email.
41. Buy produce that is in-season.
42. Use a toaster oven when cooking smaller portions instead of the oven.
43. Caulk well and use weather stripping.
44. Consider whether an items material is biodegradable before buying it.
45. Eat less red meat.
46. Buy concentrated products to reduce packaging.
47. Can your own veggies and jellies from in-season produce.
48. Use a push mower instead of a riding mower.
49. Use public transportation.