Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Thrifty Thursday Finds

In continuation to last week's Thursday finds for the body, this week find some organic products for your eyes.

Soultree Organic Kajal     





















































































  
























 



Biotique Bio Kajal



Lotus Herbal Natural Kajal
Fabindia Almond Kajal



  • Soultree Organic Kajal - Rs. 295/-
  • Biotique Bio Kajal - Rs. 99/-
  • Lotus Herbal Natural Kajal - Rs. 125/-
  • Fabindia Almond Kajal - Rs. 125/-
Stay Safe
Ecoliciously Organic


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Food Series- Organic Shopping in Delhi



There is a growing awareness about organic products nowadays. But the problem that most of us face is where to buy them. It is very difficult in our busy lives to scour the market just for organic products. So most of the times we end up buying the regular products instead of organic products, even if we wanted to.



It is for this reason, that I am bringing up a series of posts about where to buy your organic ration in the city. The posts will feature both online and offline shops.

In this post, I start with Delhi.

Stores that are both online and offline


Organic food products 

·         The Altitude Store
You can visit their store at: The Altitude Store, Shop No-110, Mehar Chand Market, Lodhi Road, Near India Habitat Center, New Delhi - 110 003.
Or order online from: http://www.thealtitudestore.com

·         Nirvaaha
You can visit their store at: D-59 Defence Colony (New Delhi)
Opposite Mool Chand Flyover.
Or order online from: http://www.nirvaaha.com
    
·         Dubdengreen: Organic Bounty
You can visit their store at:  Dubdengreen, 4A Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049

Or order online from: www.organicbounty.com

Organic Ready to Eat products

·         Nourish Organics
You can find their products at:
-          The Roots
Shop No. 25, Adchini
Entry from Gate No.2
Near Mother’s
International School

Nature’s Basket
D 15, Defence Colony

Or order online from: http://nourishorganicfoods.com/

Stores that are only offline


·         Navdanya Organic Outlet
Stall No. 18, Dilli Haat
35 Vasant Arcade, Sector B7, Vasant Kunj, Nelson Mandela Marg






Stores that are only online



Deliver All over India including Delhi


General online sites but also sell organic


Fruits and Vegetables



I will update the list when I come across some more.

Stay tuned for organic stores in Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.

Love
Ecoliciously Organic

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Thrifty Thursday Finds

Today, I bring to you some organic products for your skin. But, first of all, lets know the difference between Organic and Natural products, since the cosmetic market is flooded by these terms which are often used interchangeably.

In plain layman terms,Organic products are those that are made from ingredients that have been produced without using any chemical pesticide or insecticide.

In more detail terms,  Natural products are made from plants and minerals that occur in nature and have not been produced in a laboratory. But these products may not necessarily be free from pesticide, insecticide or chemicals. On the other hand Organic beauty products means that they are made from certified organic materials. I had mentioned about various organic certifications in my earlier post.

Ultimately whether you are shopping for natural/organic product is entirely up to you, but don’t assume the word “natural” means it’s better for you or for the planet. Read the label to find out what the product is really made of, look out for synthetic ingredients in cosmetics.When shopping for organic beauty products, make sure they are certified organic products.


So, happy shopping.

Organic for the Skin*

 *Images sourced from various online shopping sites
  1. Rustic Art Organic Sun Screen Lotion - Rs. 750/-
  2. Rustic Art Organic Daily Moisturising  Lotion - Rs. 550/-
  3. Rustic Art Organic Lavender Hue Lotion - Rs. 675/-
  4. Soul Tree Ayurvedic Moisturiser - Rs. 350/-
  5. Soul Tree Green Tea Under Eye Cream - Rs. 250/-
  6. SOS Organics Orange Spice Body Scrub - Rs. 170/-  
Take Care
Ecoliciously Organic

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Healthy Kitchen Storage

I have recently shifted to a new house. With a new house came a new and big kitchen. And with a big kitchen came the matter of filling them with storage containers and items. 

So what's the big deal, you would ask. Actually I have been trying to reduce plastics in my life. So I was faced with the dilemma of choosing containers which gave the ease in terms of viewing the products in the container as well as the sturdiness of the plastic containers. Glass containers, though look beautiful, but were not were an option due to the uncertainty of their breaking. Moreover, I had more drawers than cupboards in the kitchen. So, I finally decided to go with steel containers - eco-friendly, clean and sturdy. Since, I am working, so going to market along with setting up the house seemed daunting. Moreover, Mr. P (my hubby) like most men, gets very impatient while shopping for kitchen.

So, I turned to internet and was pleasantly surprised to find so many options in steel for the kitchen. Beautiful, Stylish, Colourful and not at all those boring all steel type containers that we used to get earlier. They even had options of see through lids for kitchen drawers. Check out some of them:

 - Labelled for ease in putting them in cupboards*


 - See through lids for your drawers as well as cupboards*



-  They are colourful too*



-  Airtight*
*Images sourced from various online shopping sites

 Though the prices of steel containers are definitely more than the plastic ones, but given their longevity and health factor, I feel they are value for money.

Do you agree? Would you shift to a plastic free kitchen?

Love
Ecoliciously Organic

Friday, July 19, 2013

Are Eco-Friendly and Organic Same Thing?



“One person can make all the difference in the world. For the first time in recorded human history, we have the fate of the whole planet in our hands.” 
Chrissie Hynde



The terms ‘Eco-friendly’, ‘organic’, ‘natural’ ‘herbal’ are tossed so much around that usually they are considered one and the same thing often used interchangeably. So do they mean the same thing?

Not necessarily. As per the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), India, defines organic as “Products that are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach”. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program, organic is “a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”



Products that are made with organic raw materials such as organic cotton clothes, organic food products etc. are also termed as organic products.




While, eco-friendly products literally means that the products that do not harm the ecology or the environment during their manufacturing or usage. As per Wikipedia, “Environmentally friendly (also eco-friendly, nature friendly, and green) are ambiguous terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict reduced, minimal, or no harm at all, upon ecosystems or the environment.”



So, organic automatically means eco-friendly as they are not harming the environment during their growth, but eco-friendly not necessarily means organic.


So which is better?


“I feel more confident than ever that the power to save the planet rests with the individual consumer.”  (Denis Hayes, Chair, Earth Day Network)
 





In my opinion, both are good choices if you are looking forward to a healthy lifestyle. Organic food products save toxins and pesticides from entering your body, thus making you healthy. On the other hand, eco-friendly products have less effect on the environment, thus reducing the pressure on our already polluted air, water, soil and other natural resources.

However, as with any product, reading the fine print would help you to make and educated choice. It
might save you from the ‘green-washing’ that is being done in the name of giving eco-friendly or organic products. Look for certifications on the product or if possible on the website of the companies manufacturing them. Bottomline is, its all about the choices we make.