Living a Healthy Lifestyle with GreenChoice Ambassador: Liz Graham

“Changing your diet, lifestyle, and actions do not have to be stressful or overwhelming. Make small changes. You want it to be something you can sustain. Tap into what you are passionate about.”

— Liz Graham

Here at GreenChoice, we’re on a mission to empower people to create a healthy, just, and sustainable world through their daily food choices. Improving our food system and the health of our country depends on the action of many people. We’re teaming up with our own GreenChoice Community members who share our aspirations and want to help us reach and empower millions of people to live healthy and sustainable lives.

If this describes you or someone you know, you may be a perfect fit to join the movement as GreenChoice Ambassador. The more of us there are, the stronger we are, the greater the impact we’ll have. We need all the help we can get to engage and inspire everyone we know to make the best food choices for themselves, their families, and Earth! Apply Now

We are excited to introduce you to one of our inspiring ambassadors – Liz Graham, a Journalist and Digital Content Professional based out of Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys working on her blog, Styled Stripes.

The opinions expressed in this interview are Liz’s own and do not reflect the view of GreenChoice.

Tell us about you. Who are you and what do you do?

Hi, my name is Liz. I am a Journalist and Digital Content Professional based in downtown Chicago. While I’m not working, I love running a site I created in college, Styled Stripes, that can be found at styledstripes.com and @styledstripes on Twitter and Instagram. It features a variety of topics every Monday at 7:00 AM CST for an inspired lifestyle. I like to say SS’s motto is don’t just drive change, inspire it.

What has led you to care about health and sustainability?

I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies while at college which led me to become very familiar with every ingredient that was in my food, the art of grocery shopping (like my first trip to Whole Foods which is now one of my favorite places), and become mindful of how every choice I make.

What is a “green choice” that you make in your daily life?

Hopefully, my day is full of “greenchoices”! It is most likely small, simple actions I make during the day like turning off lights when I leave a room and unplugging items I am not using. I try to get fresh air with my golden retriever every day and eat mostly plant-based. Any time I can purchase organic and/or sustainable products, I go for it.

What do health and sustainability mean to you?

Health and sustainability have become a major part of who I am within the last couple years. After changing my diet based on food allergies, I realized the importance of taking care of yourself through food and how much of a difference it makes in how you feel every day. I created a lifestyle that is sustainable to me and makes me feel good. If I drink a lot of water, eat as many fruits and veggies as possible, and get my whole grains while exercising 4-6 days a week, I know that I’m taking care of myself and I feel better physically as well.
With sustainability, I hold myself accountable to work towards a better environment every day. I actively remind myself of small choices like grabbing organic, donating to organizations that are driving change, or taking a shorter shower, all matter. If you ever need motivation, check your carbon footprint online. It’s a quick reminder of the small actions we do every day that can add up and why we should change. It might be the journalist in me, but I also am very interested in a company’s transparency. Don’t be afraid to search for a company you have in your house online and learn more about what they’re doing for others and the environment.

What is the hardest part (for you) of living healthfully and sustainably?

The only problem that continues to come up on a regular basis is the cost and access to better products or companies. Sometimes, items are more expensive and it is a matter of budget for me. I also find that sometimes it is simply a matter of location. If you go to a bigger city like Chicago or a more mindful state like California, it is easier to see environmentally friendly practices in action than it may be in a small town like where I grew up. I know that I will probably have to put in more money, time, or energy if I choose to live like I do. You have to view it as an investment. Look at what you’re putting in and what will come from it.

How do you use the GreenChoice app in your daily life?

GreenChoice is the coolest app! I love exploring different areas of it every day because there’s so much to use from it. One of my favorite features is learning more about a product and the score. I like that GreenChoice not only breaks down why items received the score they did, but also breaks down the vocabulary. This is important because now that you understand what the vocab is, the retention is dramatically different. It is extremely nice I can incorporate my values, dietary preferences, and most importantly, all the food allergies. It’s made my new lifestyle effortless.

What motivated you to become a GreenChoice Ambassador?

I came across the GreenChoice app in the App Store and thought it wasn’t just cool, it was innovative. It was exactly the type of company I was looking for to be involved in a new category on my site that is premiering this Spring/Summer, Business of Innovation and Doing the Good. I was looking to contact GreenChoice when I discovered they had an Ambassador Program. This was infinitely better than a one-time feature on my website. I could be hands-on, support an app that everyone needs on their phone, and foster more change. Major win.

Is there anything else you want to add or a piece of advice you’d like to share with the GreenChoice Community?

Changing your diet, lifestyle, and actions do not have to be stressful or overwhelming. Make small changes. You want it to be something you can sustain. Tap into what you are passionate about. Google and GreenChoice are your new friends. Ask questions. Research and learn what you don’t know. Try new brands or products and find what works for you. Any action no matter how small matters a great deal. At the end of the day, leave this place better than how you found it.

Learn more about Liz’s work by visiting styledstripes.com and following @styledstripes on Instagram and Twitter.

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GreenChoice, PBC has evaluated and rated more than 340,000 food & beverage products across hundreds of attributes related to diet, health, and sustainability. Easily find the best products for you, the planet, & your budget. Download the free GreenChoice app for Apple iOS or Android!

Sydney W

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