Greening Up My Act: A Sustainable Living Podcast

“What do you want for dinner?” is the worst question ever. Meal planning to the rescue! We know, we know — it's one of those things everyone tells you you should do. But find out why this little tweak is actually worth it, and how it will save you money, time, and sanity. Get tips on how to do it right, plus a free downloadable planner that Tiffany actively uses and swears by.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources

• Rutgers: https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/sustainability/fs1332_-reducing-food-waste-at-home_-easy-every-day-tips-rutgers-njaes.pdf 
• EPA: https://www.epa.gov/land-research/estimating-cost-food-waste-american-consumers 
• Our downloadable meal planner: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19SKpXixbXJOdD1VvZPRpCpb5gEgvenRs/view?usp=sharing 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

If you run in certain circles, you may have heard about mushroom coffee. It's purportedly better for the environment and better for you than regular coffee. But will it scratch that morning coffee itch? And how true are those environmental or health claims? Explore this earthy trend with Tiff and Kat in your favorite sustainability podcast.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources

• Harvard Health Publishing - https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/mushroom-coffee-worth-a-taste
• Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mushroom-coffee#lower-in-caffeine
• Earthrise - https://www.earthrise.au/blogs/stories/mushroom-coffee-a-safer-sustainable-alternative
• MedicineNet - https://www.medicinenet.com/drinking_mushroom_coffee_good_benefits_side_effect/article.htm
• Cleveland Clinic - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens
• Wired - https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mushroom-coffee/
• PennState Extention - https://extension.psu.edu/impact-of-the-mushroom-industry-on-the-environment
• Food52 - https://food52.com/story/18958-the-hidden-wartime-origins-of-mushroom-coffee

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Some people say we eat a credit card's worth of plastic every week — which is not true. But it still ain't great. In this episode, you'll learn the basics of where microplastics come from, how they may be impacting the environment and ourselves, along with steps to help limit your microplastic exposure. Let's all try not to panic together.

For more on plastic recycling, check out our episodes (16 & 17) here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849707/episodes/13220903

Sources

• CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/us/microplastic-credit-card-per-week 
• Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, Ingested microplastics: Do humans eat one credit card per week?: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666911022000247 
• UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers 
• A Poison Like No Other
• The Revelator: https://therevelator.org/plastic-pollution-warnings/ 
• AdvanTech Plastics: https://advantechplastics.com/bio-assimilation/
• Environmental Chemistry Letters: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9907217/
• Science Alert: https://www.sciencealert.com/theres-a-surprisingly-simple-way-to-remove-microplastics-from-drinking-water 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

There's no denying veganism is better for the environment, and it can be better for your wallet. But there are some caveats, and health considerations. Get some facts this week in our episode on why you might consider going vegan and how to do it.

Sources

• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9024616/
• The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/20/vegan-diet-cuts-environmental-damage-climate-heating-emissions-study
• BBC - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200211-why-the-vegan-diet-is-not-always-green
• American Institute for Cancer Research - https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/does-red-meat-cause-cancer/
• Weston A. Price - https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/the-china-study-myth/#gsc.tab=0
• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9321292/
• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10027313/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Have you ever heard of “wood milk”? Well, it’s a joke, but a pretty controversial one. Dairy isn’t the only option for your milk these days, much to the chagrin of the USDA and the dairy industry. But there are so many options to choose from, it can make your head spin. What’s the environmentally-friendly choice? And are they more expensive than cow’s milk? Take a bath in some plant-based milk (mylk? melk? milkk?) this week.

Sources

• Wood Milk (fictitious): https://www.drinkwoodmilk.com/ 
• World Resources Institute: https://www.wri.org/insights/milks-environmental-impact 
• It’s Nice That: https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/milkpep-wood-milk-complaint-pcrm-advertising-food-drink-300523 
• New Roots Institute: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/articles/dairy-checkoff-programs 
• YouTuber @DaraDenney: https://youtube.com/shorts/zJVPwvrl9Sg?si=rMJz-VRZOogYKdcG 
• Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/40556502/got-milk-how-the-iconic-campaign-came-to-be-25-years-ago 
• Journal of Dairy Science: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7094284/
• The Humane League: https://thehumaneleague.org.uk/article/what-happens-to-male-calves
• University of Wisconsin Madison: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/disbudding-calves/ 
• National Dairy Farm (FARM) Program: https://nationaldairyfarm.com/dairy-farm-standards/animal-care/ 
• Yahoo!: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/heres-why-oat-milk-expensive-191508011.html 
• Love and Lemons: https://www.loveandlemons.com/oat-milk/#wprm-recipe-container-42113
• Epicurious recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/homemade-soy-milk-andrea-nguyen 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Should you buy produce "in season"? Why? And what does that even mean? How do you find out what's in season? Find out if seasonal produce is better for you or cheaper in this week's episode.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support! 

Sources

• Seasonal Food Guide - https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/why-eat-seasonally
• American Heart Association - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/07/12/why-seasonal-eating-can-be-a-healthy-delight
• Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center - https://hgic.clemson.edu/the-benefits-of-seasonal-eating-fresh-nutrient-dense-and-budget-friendly/
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Falling Fruit - https://fallingfruit.org/
• iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Eggs have been expensive for a long time! So are backyard chickens the way to reduce your egg costs at the grocery store? And are backyard chicken eggs any good? Find out if raising chickens is worth it, from chicken coop plans to how they get along with kids. Plus, get the scoop on how to decipher between pasture-raised, cage-free, or certified humane eggs when you're at the grocery store.

Sources

• Reddit
• backyardchickens.com
• Database of ordinances: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-laws-ordinances.13/ 
• Certified Humane: https://certifiedhumane.org/cage-free-vs-free-range/ 
• Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard by Jessi Bloom
• Keeping Chickens: All You Need to Know to Care for a Happy, Healthy Flock by Ashley English
• The Giant Chicken - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX4Jh-44-Nk

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Is organic food a scam? Americans (especially parents!) are pressured to buy organic groceries for supposed health benefits, fear of pesticides, or because they think organic farming practices are better for the environment. But are these claims true? Dig deeper into organic fruits and vegetables, including whether there's any proof to the supposed benefits of organic food.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic - Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880
• Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means - https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means
• Ag Daily - The meaning of the organic label in the U.S. vs the EU - https://www.agdaily.com/insights/meaning-of-organic-label-in-us-vs-eu/
• WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center Organic Agriculture - https://tfrec.cahnrs.wsu.edu/organicag/tree-fruit/background/
• NIH - What motivates consumers to buy organic foods? - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8432837/
• Forbes - Why I Don’t Buy Organic - https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2016/03/19/why-i-dont-buy-organic-and-why-you-might-want-to-either/
• Cal Poly Magazine - What Does Organic Really Mean - https://magazine.calpoly.edu/spring-2022/what-does-organic-really-mean/
• Eating Well - 2025 Dirty Dozen List Is Out—Here's a Dietitian's Take - https://www.eatingwell.com/dirty-dozen-2025-11753547
• Consumer Reports - The Cost of organic food - https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/cost-of-organic-food/index.htm
• Chris Kresser - Grass-fed vs Conventional meat - https://chriskresser.com/grass-fed-vs-conventional-meat-its-not-black-or-white/
• National Library of Medicine - Systematic Review of Organic vs. Conventional Food Consumption - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019963/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Say "artificial food dyes" and someone will inevitably start screaming about Red 40 (or FD&C Red 40 if they're really obsessive). Are these dyes really poisoning our children? Is natural food coloring better, or might there be unintended environmental consequences? Join us as we look at everything from MAHA to McGill University to get to the bottom of artificial colors. 

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support! 

Sources

• The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/08/white-food-dye-titanium-dioxide-maha/683806/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
• International Dairy Foods Assoc: https://www.idfa.org/idfa-ice-cream-commitment
• Make America Healthy Again report: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MAHA-Report-The-White-House.pdf 
• FDA: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply 
• Yahoo News: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-calls-rfk-jr-three-211918075.html 
• UPMC HealthBeat: https://share.upmc.com/2024/07/is-red-food-dye-bad-for-kids/ 
• UC Berkeley Public Health: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/new-report-shows-artificial-food-coloring-causes-hyperactivity-in-some-kids 
• Michigan State University Today: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/07/ask-the-expert-whats-the-problem-with-artificial-food-dyes 
• McGill University Office for Science and Society: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/food-health-news/food-dyes-science 
• NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/no-artificial-dyes-atkinson-candy-company-replace-natural-colors-rfk-rcna220485 
• Foods (Journal): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10093929/ 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

The average American is spending 25% more on groceries than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, so folks are looking for ways to save money. Growing your own vegetables is rewarding, but is it worth the cost? What's the cheapest vegetable to grow? Get tips on deciding what to plant and whether growing your own veg will save you some dough in your favorite sustainability podcast. 

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support! 

Sources:

• LA Food Bank - https://www.lafoodbank.org/stories/usa-food-prices-rose-by-25-percent-from-2019-to-2023/
• Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/19a7tbm/best_food_to_grow_to_save_money/
• USDA Prices - https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices
• Harvard Health Letter - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardening-grow-your-own-food-improve-your-health-201206294984
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
• The Farmers Almanac Planting Calendar – https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
• Ecology Center - Organic Fertilizers - https://www.ecocenter.org/avoid-greenwashing-gardening-ecolive-event
• Grow Safe - https://amzn.to/47sxWPb (affiliate link)

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act