Did you ever wonder how you can "Green your kitchen"? After all, life is busy and complex as it is without adding more to an all ready full work load.

Trying to be more environmentally friendly can seem like a daunting task if you contemplate doing it all at once. It is much better, and less stressful, to make small but permanent lifestyle changes one at a time.  An easy way to make those changes painlessly is to list twelve things you would like to do to be more eco-friendly. Choose to focus on one of the things on your list every month for the next year.

It takes approximately twenty one days for an action to become a habit. After a month of consistently doing your focus activity, it will be a well established habit. You will be ready to move on to the next item on your list. By the end of the twelve month period you will have established twelve good habits almost effortlessly.

Following are five ideas to get you started.

Cleaning products are an easy place to start greening your kitchen. Conventional cleaners contain toxins and harsh chemicals that can cause allergic reactions as well as increasing the chances that you will develop chemical sensitivities. Residues from these products are often left on counter tops and other surfaces where they can come in contact with food.

Natural products have been shown to clean and disinfect as well as the chemical products but are significantly safer for your family as well as the environment. There are a number of brands to choose from and more being created every day. Do be aware that some of the big chemical companies often use "greenwashing" to make a product seem to be environmentally safe. Just because a well known company comes out with a product that they claim is environmentally friendly does not mean that it is. Read the ingredients carefully and use your discernment.

Some companies that make quality, environmentally friendly cleaning products are:

• Seventh Generation  
• Mrs. Meyers
• Green Island 

You can also make you own environmentally friendly cleaning products like laundry soap and other household cleaners. 

It can be hard to get in the recycling habit. Make it easier by creating a designated container to hold your recyclables.

Items that can be recycled are:

• Glass  
• Plastic
• Paper  
• Cardboard  
• Aluminum

For even more bang for your recycling buck be sure to scrape food scraps into a container to use for compost. Nearly any kitchen scraps except meat and dairy are good for the compost pile. By following these suggestions the amount of trash that you send to the landfill will be significantly reduced.

Freecycling is also an alternative.  What is Freecycling? There are webstites and yahoo groups set up in many areas that specialize in allowing people to post the items they no longer want.  Need a freezer? Maybe someone else has one that they want to get rid of.  This is also a good way to find goods and services to barter.  Craigslist is one and there is a group called freecycle.  Google Freecycle or Freecycling and see what you come up with. 

Paper plates, plastic silverware and foam cups are certainly convenient and make clean up a breeze. They do not, however, make your kitchen greener.

By replacing those throw away items with the real thing you will not only do good things for the environment; you will do good things for you. Table cloths, china plates, and cloth napkins give an elegant ambiance to any meal. By using the real deal you decrease the size of your carbon footprint immensely.

Consider using real silver flatware. Silver has antibacterial qualities and who knows, it may help keep colds and flu away. By buying vintage silver you will have an item that is beautiful, healthy, wears well, is an heirloom, and even is good for the environment. Purchasing used items means that there is no energy being used to create and transport something new. This also applies to tables, chairs and other kitchen items.

How far did that head of lettuce travel before it found its way to your plate?

The further that food travels the worse it is for the environment. In addition, food loses nutrients and flavor as it loses freshness. Farmer's markets, local produce stands, and even large stores like Whole Foods often carry items that have been produced locally. These products are generally organic as well which increased the green in your life.

Learn to live locally and seasonally. If you are buying strawberries in November then they are coming from south of the equator. By eating fresh and in season as much as you can you will be healthier and your food will taste better. 

If your appliances are more than five years old they may be outdated and  using up more natural resources than necessary. Manufacturers are constantly coming up with innovations in the area of energy savings and finding ways for appliances to be greener.

Updating could not only save the environment it could save you some sweet pocket change.

Look for special labels that tell you that the appliance you are looking at is energy efficient. Energy Star is one label that will allow you to be sure you are getting the most energy efficient product available. Modern dishwashers, for example, use much less water than does hand-washing. This is especially true if you do not rinse your dishes before loading the dishwasher. By buying a dishwasher that can deal with unrinsed plates you will be saving water. 

When you are looking at appliances be sure to ask questions and make sure that you are getting the best appliance you can afford.

Making small changes over a long time can add up to a permanent change for a healthier environment. When everyone works together the changes made will make the earth better, healthier, and happier for everyone.