Blog Posts by TheDailyGreen.com

It's time to portion your potatoes. Before you reach for an extra helping of fries, consider this: a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine linked long term weight gain with potato products. Yes, our American favorites - French fries and potato chips - are the leading culprits causing those extra pounds to pile on, according to the study, which matched reported eating habits with the subjects' weight gain over four years. The study concluded that an extra daily serving of potatoes, no matter what form, causes weight gain. (Processed meats, red meat, butter and sweet desserts were also associated with weight gain.) On the other hand, additional servings of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and yogurt were among the foods that promoted weight loss.

But potatoes are vegetables, right? Most people know potatoes are high in carbs, but they also pack a lot of calories in a relatively small package. Plus, frying and processing them leaves them drenched in

Read More »from Drop Potatoes, Drop Pounds: 9 Healthy Snack Alternatives

IstockThrough its partnerships, TheDaliyGreen.com is able to extend these offers to its audience. Just click on the links provided and, where specified, input the designated promo codes. Enjoy!

Green Gift Baskets and Organic Flowers

15% off at 1800Baskets.com
While not every basket is for the green consumer, 1800Baskets.com offers such items as the Gift Tower featuring Fair Trade and Organic Treats ($35) and the Harney & Sons Organic Tea Gift Set ($60). Through Aug 31, get 15% off with the promo code BSKT15.

15% off at 1800Flowers.com
Like 1800Baskets.com, this site's offerings aren't exclusively green, but it's one of the best sources online for organic and Fair Trade flowers, like these Fair Trade organic roses. Through July 31, get 15% off with promo code 18F15PC.

Related: 14 Unique Green Father's Day Gifts

Natural Health & Beauty Products

10% - 15% off at Beautorium
Beautorium sells several of TheDailyGreen's favorite natural makeup

Read More »from 20 Green Deals for June Shopping

Jonathan Ross / Getty Images

Who knew that there were actual rules for grilling your favorite fish and vegetables? With some well-intended guidance and understanding, your favorite fish fillets won't fall through the grill rack and become a charred mess.

Related: 6 Vegetarian Grilling Recipes

DIRECT GRILLING METHOD

Temperatures are high for this method of grilling, and food is cooked directly over the fire. This produces a slightly charred exterior but keeps your food moist inside. Use this method for smaller cuts of meat and for fish fillets, vegetables and bread.

Food editor's tip: For fish fillets, once you place them on the grill, pretend they have a Greta Garbo complex and leave them alone (at least until their outsides take on a bit of color and caramelize). The reason they fall apart and through the cracks of the grate is because you've tried to flip them too soon.

Related: 5 Delicious Grilled Fish Recipes


INDIRECT GRILLING METHOD

Think of indirect grilling as if you've moved your kitchen Read More »from The Only Two Grilling Techniques You Need to Know

Whether your exercise regimen calls for hitting the trails, or your vacation plans fall into the "staycation" category, you're ready to find some new parks to explore. But how do you find them? It's likely that you have undiscovered gems right under your nose, and we've identified a few websites that can help you track down your next outdoor adventure.

Think Big
As a federal taxpayer, you own some extraordinary land, so consider a visit if you live near a national park, national forest, national landscape, national heritage area, national wildlife refuge or a national wild and scenic river. And you've done a good job over the years as a state taxpayer, too, preserving some extraordinary state parks, so don't forget to check with your state's wildlife conservation, parks and historic preservation departments for ideas. Of course, your local tax dollars have helped counties, cities and towns preserve some great parks, too, so don't forget to check with local parks agencies,

Read More »from 6 Ways to Find Undiscovered Local Parks

Caring for your skin the natural way is as easy as blending together a few everyday ingredients. Today, commercial beauty products are full of suspect chemicals and harsh agents that can potentially damage your skin. The face is especially sensitive and delicate, so homemade natural products are the way to go. Plus, since the average woman spends nearly $200 on beauty products every year, making your own products can save you a bundle.

Jacob Wackerhausen / IstockHere are five great facial masks, each made with fewer than five ingredients, that The Daily Green has featured:

MAYONNAISE-BABY OIL DRY SKIN TREATMENT

This mask by itsecotime.com is ideal for skin in the need of deep moisturizing.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
1 teaspoon baby oil

Instructions
1. Combine both ingredients.
2. Smooth onto face, neck, rough elbows and knees or anywhere else you feel might benefit from it.
3. Leave for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse off thoroughly with tepid water.

Read More »from 5 Face Masks You Can Make at Home with Fewer than 5 Ingredients

From safe, nontoxic food storage and green cleaning to the basics of whole bulk foods and integrated pest management, get started on a healthier Earth-friendly diet today with these tips.

by Dan Shapley

1. Do: Stock Bulk Whole Foods
The pantry is the place for go-to foods you need to make meals. Most of your stores should be real foods - unprocessed whole foods, like grains, root vegetables, legumes, dried fruit and nuts - and minimally processed foods like pastas. A good rule of thumb: Foods without ingredient lists or heavy-handed health claims on their packaging (or without packaging at all) are the best choice. Those foods with short ingredient lists made up only of items you recognize and can pronounce are good, too. Anything else is best thought of as "food" in name only.
Related: Guide to Natural Health Foods

2. Don't: Stock Processed Foods
It's often true that whole foods take more time and expertise to cook well (though couscous will rival even the quickest of quick-fix

Read More »from 10 Do's and Don'ts for a Greener Pantry

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and going greener has many benefits for you and your family.

by Dan Shapley

1. Do: Use Your Kitchen
The first step toward a healthier and more Earth-friendly diet is to cook. It's that simple. Eat in, make your own food and start using fresh ingredients.

2. Do: Make Room for Vegetables
A good rule of thumb is to stock bulk grains and legumes, and flavor with fresh seasonal vegetables. Whether you're following the new government recommendation to fill half your plate with vegetables at every meal, or author Michael Pollan's mantra to "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" you'll need to make room for fruits and vegetables in your kitchen. In your fridge, that means using your crisper drawers properly to maximize the longevity of your produce (vegetables require higher humidity conditions while fruits require lower humidity conditions) and in the freezer, it means maintaining space enough to freeze excess fresh seasonal produce when

Read More »from Green Kitchen Makeover: 10 Do's and Don'ts

Spring flowers are the perfect pick-me-up for yourself or your sweetie. Make sure your bouquet stays fresh its longest by following these simple steps.

1. Prepare a solution of warm water and a flower food packet, or mix 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice and 1 tbsp sugar per quart of water
2. Fill a vase with the solution to within 1-2 inches of the rim
3. Remove any leaves and foliage that would fall under the water line
4. Cut each stem at about one-half inch from the bottom, at a 45 degree angle, with a sharp single blade knife or floral clippers
5. Display arrangement in a cool location between 65-72 degrees and away from direct sunlight and heat or dehumidifying sources

Related: Our Favorite Places to Order Flowers

Additional Tips:

• Roses have an outer layer called "guard petals" that keep the bloom tight and protect the flower during shipping. They may appear discolored or bruised - simply remove these petals and the rose will blossom over the next few days.
• Lilies

Read More »from 5 Simple Steps That Help Fresh Flowers Last