What does 2011 hold on The Greenbacks Gal?

I want to help eliminate the “going green is too expensive” excuse. Especially when it comes to organic, whole grain, whole foods, all natural living. I want to put whole foods back on family tables. No family should feel like fresh produce is out of their budget. No family should feel like whole grains are too expensive.

Unfortunately, economics and convenience have won out over natural taste and nutrition. And America’s health is suffering. Are you aware that America does not grow or import enough fresh produce to meet the federal guidelines for what we should be eating each day?

None of us want to give our whole paycheck to buy foods that are sustainable and pesticide-free. By employing savvy savings strategies, we don’t have to.

I want to give you ways to put that healthy food on your table. I think I’m lucky because I like to cook. But I’m not a big fan of the “What’s for dinner?” question when I don’t have a plan in place. In 2011, you’ll find more recipes like my Whole Wheat Pancake mix that are whole grain, taste great, and make meal preparation a snap. That’s what my Green Diet is all about.

I want to make Going Green easy. We’re still making green changes everyday. Admittedly, some green experiments have not gone well. My husband was in a serious bike wreck while riding his bike on his daily commute. I still can’t let him back on his bike – physical trauma for him, mental trauma for me!

But keeping a compost pail just makes me giddy. I’d love for each of you to get joy out of the green changes you make.

Plus, I want this to be a place where we all learn together. I’m sure you’ve got some things that are working for you that could help us all.

I will continue to Give Back. When I’m posting deals, if they are giving it away, so will I, even if it isn’t green. If I can get a product for free by combining a coupon with a sale, I will. I look at it as a donation made by the companies that are offering the coupon to the charities of my choice. They are the ones covering the cost of the coupon, so they aren’t making a profit, therefore I feel justified in picking up the product to help someone else.

There are no choices in poverty. Poverty can’t use its economic power to leverage change.  Besides, I can’t be political when there is genuine need. I can be political by using my dollars to vote for the change I’d like to see. I can donate free products to local organizations that are helping my community.

Getting some products for free also happens to be one of the ways I know my readers are slowly greening their grocery lists. I hear all the time that by getting product x or y for free, families are then able to put more wholesome choices into their grocery budgets. I hope by the end of 2011, we’ve eliminated economics as a reason not to go green.