We hear a lot these days why we should think more about our environment, but did you know that going green can help you save money while dieting?

Reason #1

Being green means eating organic, right? I'm sure right off the bat you're thinking, "But the organic stuff costs a fortune at the market." Yes and no. This depends on where you shop and what you're getting for your money.

Many markets are buying locally these days. By buying local produce, they cut out costs such as shipping. As well, you're likely to find more and more farmer's markets where the middle man is cut out of the final cost all together.

Not only that, but eating organic produce and meats offers you more nutritional value per item than conventionally farmed products. Pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones and antibiotics decrease the nutritional quality of foods. Translated? You'll have fresher more nutritious produce and meat with each bite than you will with conventionally farmed foods. You can purchase less and you'll have far less waste in terms of spoilage.

Reason #2

Being green means not eating fast food, plain and simple. There are literally loads and loads of packaging involved in fast food. Run a test. Bag all of your trash from fast food in one normal week and observe how large a container you need to dispose of this trash.

Not only that, but the gluttonous world of fast food cuisine is shrinking the world's rainforests, adding loads of methane to our atmosphere (from cattle gas) and increasing our waist sizes! You'll immediately start to see results when you go green and eliminate fast food, all of its waste and all of the pennies thrown at the drive through window.

Reason #3

Packing a bag lunch in a reusable canvas bag or other container helps save the planet from increased plastic production AND it helps you save money while dieting because you won't have to buy expensive lunches from the vending machine or restaurant. And, by buying one reusable container, you won't have to buy all of the disposable stuff!

Reason #4

Most folks who diet and find success also exercise. In this day and age, what better reason to exercise than to save gas? Walk to work when you can, ride your bike, roller-blade... whatever! Just do it. You'll save money, lose weight and benefit the entire world when you don't use gasoline.

Copyright (c) 2008 SCL Health & Fitness