Food Zone

1. There's no place like home when it comes to purchasing fruits and vegetables. When you buy locally grown commodities, you not only get fresher food, but benefit the environment by not having to have it trucked across the country to your table.

2. Start your own organic garden. Depending on how much space and time you have to cultivate it, such a garden can range in size from a few pots of tomatoes and herbs to a cornucopia of commodities that can be enjoyed while still warm from the sun.

Whatever your garden may consist of, it's no place for pesticides and herbicides. Numerous alternative methods of pest control, from beneficial insects to mulching, can be successfully implemented. Check out organicgardening.com for some ideas on how to get started.

3. Purchase organically grown food items whenever possible.

At one time, not too long ago, buying anything organically grown meant a trip to the health-food store. Now with an ever wider choice of organic food items being carried by conventional supermarkets, your can fill your entire shopping cart with organic products and find just about everything you want.

4. Stay away from breakfast bummers. Breakfast is too important a meal, especially for kids, to allow any of those artificially colored and flavored, preservative-laden products on your breakfast table. Here are a few tips for creating a more nutritious morning meal:

Smoothies made with fresh fruit and organic milk (or a rice or soy beverage) are a good quick choice when time is limited.

Who says breakfast has to be just cereal or eggs? There's no law saying dinner leftovers can't make a nutritious breakfast item as well. In Japan, breakfast might be a rice dish; in Mexico, beans.

It's also important to allow enough time in the morning for a leisurely breakfast. Things that intrude on breakfast time should, whenever possible, be attended to the night before.

Pet Zone

1. What you feed your dog or cat can directly impact the environment. When your pets eat natural and organic products from family farmers who support sustainable agriculture, they are helping to protect the environment.

One brand of pet food, Pet Promise, uses meat and poultry sourced from family farmers and ranchers who practice sustainable methods of farming.

So far, Pet Promise has helped eliminate 88 million doses of antibiotics in the food chain, and 15 million doses of artificial growth hormones fed to cattle, and has helped support over 1,500 U.S. family farmers who are committed to the humane treatment of animals and who use eco-friendly agricultural techniques.

2. Think twice about your choice of flea and tick control, and never use household or garden pesticides on pets. A few recommendations:

Since flea collars leave pesticide residue wherever your pet goes (including bedding and furniture), opt for the least toxic ways to control pests on your pet.

For doggie bath time, use a gentle, natural shampoo made especially for dogs, and avoid products containing pesticides.

3. Look for eco-friendly pet toys. Help your best buddy go green with playthings from West Paw design, which are made from 100% recycled soft-drink bottles!

4. Consider using an alternative cat box filler made from recycled materials.

5. Chemical-free homes make a safe haven for pets (as well as kids). Pets lie on the floor, roll in the grass, often drink from the toilet and lick their feet. Why coat and fill your home and yard with poisonous substances?