Food

A highlight of my week is picking up produce from my CSA share. I consider it a culinary challenge to base my meals around what's in the box each week. Furthermore, I love that the produce doesn't have to travel far to make its way to my table. But, when Fall rolls around I recognize that there is perhaps a more eco-friendly way to get my fruit - pick it.

Typically, we see lots of new companies giving momentum to the green movement - which is why when Philly's oldest pub goes green, it's even cooler. 150-year old McGillin’s Olde Ale House (13th & Drury) recently chose to switch from traditional light bulbs to energy-efficient LED lighting to both reduce their carbon footprint & energy costs. McGillin’s has already started their switch to completely LED lighting that lasts up to 50 x's longer than their current lighting (90% less energy than traditional bulbs), saving the pub’s electricity costs by more than 25%. Besides reducing fossil fuels, McGillin’s efforts to go green include strict recycling practices and focusing on local draft beers instead of choices bottled and shipped long distances. Chris Mullins, co-owner of McGillin’s says,

Now that we've revealed the Dirty Dozen, it's time to reveal the "Clean 15", or produce that's OK to buy non-organic. Most often, fruits & veggies that have "thick skins" tend to be safe for consumption. Here they are, ranked starting from lowest in pesticides:

57% of women believe that organic food is better for them, but only 26% will go out of their way to buy it, finds New Hope Natural Media. When you're strolling through the grocery store, it's easy to see that Organic costs more. But people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits & veggies consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. You don't have to buy everything organic, but here's the 'Dirty Dozen" of fruits that you should buy organic, ranked from worst to bad:

As the public becomes more aware of ways to cut down on our carbon footprint – one area to keep in mind is our food intake. Just where does most of our consumption come from? Beyond the produce sticker on loose fruit at...

To me few things taste better than a fresh summer peach or a crisp fall apple. I love buying seasonal produce because I know I’m getting the best quality, and here in Philadelphia most grocers offer locally grown produce. While shopping for fruits and veggies do you ever feel unsure of what to buy during certain times of the year? Here’s a quick guide to what fruits and vegetables are in top form each season:

Looking for somewhere to eat downtown? Philadelphia's first (and currently only)Certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) is officially the Pita Pit, located at 16th & Sansom. I fell in love with Pita Pit at Penn State's location (We are!) Their speciality is pita sandwiches, a healthier alternative to fast food. I was psyched to hear they went green and wanted to learn more about it.Looking for somewhere to eat downtown? Philadelphia's first (and currently only)Certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) is officially the Pita Pit, located at 16th & Sansom. I fell in love with Pita Pit at Penn State's location (We are!) Their speciality is pita sandwiches, a healthier alternative to fast food. I was psyched to hear they went green and wanted to learn more about it.