4 Easy Green Habits

This post is sponsored by Tetra Pak. All contents and opinions are my own.

Sometimes it's hard to know where to start when trying to live more sustainably, so today I'm sharing four easy green habits that you'll enjoy working into your daily routine ... start with one or try them all!

Easy Green Habits

I'm always looking for ways to go greener. My interest in green living began in high school when my family started recycling.

I actually enjoyed sorting everything out, and it led me to make other choices that were better for the environment, too.

Even though I was already making some earth friendly choices, I knew it was possible to do more. So I was super excited to participate in challenge that encouraged me to take small daily steps toward living a more conscious, renewable lifestyle.

I loved participating, and I think you'll want to try these four easy green habits, too!

1. Choose Foods and Beverages with Renewable Packaging

I try to be a conscious shopper and look for minimal packaging, but I knew this was an area where I could do even better. It started with learning about sustainable packaging.

One thing I found out was that I could protect natural resources when shopping by considering what a product's packaging is made of or how the materials are sourced. The next time you go shopping, look for packaging made from renewable materials that can be regrown or replenished over time, such as wood fiber and sugarcane.

On a recent grocery trip, I picked up a few cartons of tomatoes to make a delicious and easy pasta sauce. The tomatoes came in Tetra Pak carton packaging that helps protect our planet’s limited supply of natural resources. I've seen these cartons used for everything from milk to soup, and they're made mainly from paper, a renewable resource that can be naturally replenished.

These cartons are a great alternative to cans or plastic bottles, and I love that they don't take up a lot of room in my tiny kitchen. Look for them the next time you go shopping!

Want to see what I made?

It's so simple to make your own easy pasta sauce ... you'll never buy a jar again!

You'll need:

• 8 oz. pasta
• 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 (13-oz.) package diced tomatoes
• other ingredients of your choice (olives, sundried tomatoes, capers, artichoke hearts, etc.)
• salt and pepper

Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, sauce the garlic and red pepper flakes in the olive oil until fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes and other ingredients of your choice. Simmer until thickened, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss with pasta and enjoy!

2. Take Shorter Showers

The second challenge was to take shorter showers. I won't lie, this was hard ... I love long, hot showers!

I tend to zone out in the shower. It's a great place to enjoy a little alone time and relax, but I was definitely aware of the water I was wasting. I knew I needed to change my routine.

Since I only wash my hair every few days, I challenged myself to take quick showers on those days. It was totally painless, and I plan to keep it up. On the days when I washed my hair I usually take longer showers, so I tried to stay more focused and speed things up a bit. It wasn't hard at all, and still got to enjoy my hot shower.

This challenge is an easy one to take, and I think everyone should do it. Even if you only cut a minute off your daily shower, think about how all those minutes will add up over the course of a year!

3. Bike or Walk Whenever Possible

Living in New York, I walk a lot. I don't have a car, so it's either walking or taking public transportation for me.

I used to walk to and from work every day, but I stopped over winter, and I've been slow to pick it back up. It's been really warm lately, so instead of taking the train, I challenged myself to walk home from work at least a couple times a week.

I've loved taking these walks over the last few weeks. It's fun seeing what's going on in my neighborhood, I was able to save time and run errands on the way home, and it's much more relaxing to walk than it is to crowd into a packed train. Plus, I got to enjoy all the beautiful flowers that have started blooming!

At the end of the month, I'm moving to Dallas, a much more car-centric city. My husband and I are purposely moving downtown so we can continue walking as much as possible. I'm looking forward to exploring my new city on foot!

This is one green habit that I think everyone should try. Even if you don't live in a big city, it's easy to walk or pull out your bike instead of your car the next time you need to run a quick errand.

4. Swap Your Paper Coffee Cup for a Mug

I work from home part-time, and when I'm there, it's always mugs for me. When I'm working outside of my home though, I've been reaching for a plastic or paper cup (and feeling guilty) when I wanted something to drink.

During this challenge, I brought a water bottle to work. It was such a simple change to make, and it cut out so much waste! I even took an insulated mug to the coffee shop with me a few times.

Challenge yourself to keep a mug and water bottle at your desk. It's such an easy green habit to get into, and you'll feel good knowing you're making a positive impact on the environment.

Which of these eco friendly green habits will you try?

I hope you enjoyed reading about these easy green habits. Challenge yourself to try a few out. Even one small change can make a big impact!

What is your favorite way to go green?