I’m doing a fair bit of traveling this summer (vacation and business, which for me is fun), so I’m on the prowl for things I can take along that provide nutrients and won’t get confiscated by airport security. (Like the little carton of yogurt that my mom tried to take onboard a couple weeks ago. Who knew that yogurt was considered a gel??) Lately, I got some cookies and brownies from The Protein Bakery, an East-Coast outfit that makes high-protein, high-fiber, wheat free, trans-fat-free, low-sodium goodies that are easy to tuck into my bag. I’m especially impressed by their new Oatmeal White Chocolate Blueberry Cranberry Cookie (also called the Red, White, and Blue Cookie): YUMMY, 4g protein per cookie, and studded with dried berries to boot. I’d eat these for dessert, let alone a nutrient-rich snack.

And I’d be remiss as DL’s food editor not to remind you of our Oat-Date Bars, a delicious take-along treat that’s easy to make.

At a team meeting yesterday, Nancy, our intrepid editor in chief and also a home gardener, brought some wonderful just-picked lettuce, a mango (skinned and sliced), and some crumbled feta cheese. After combining those ingredients in a big bowl, I whipped up my favorite dressing of equal parts extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, plus a splash of agave nectar (yes, it’s that simple). Toss, and voila! A truly wonderful summer salad that we ate up in a flash.

By the way, try smelling different olive oils before buying or using; there’s quite a difference between those that smell mild (great for cooking) and those that have a fruity or even grassy scent (great for dressings and dipping).

Sometimes it seems to me that giving my eco-conscious tips to friends can seem didactic. Other times, I feel like I’m preaching to the choir. (I actually have a friend who, when presented with an eco-dilemma, asks herself “What would Katy do?”) The truth is, I enjoy sharing the wisdom I gain as an editor and writer of green issues. That’s why I’m jazzed to spread the word about Treehugger’s latest book: Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living in which writers Graham Hill and Meaghan O’Neill teach readers how to go LOHAS. Here’s what Treehugger — one of my favorite websites — has to say… more