Green Living for Real Life – Details, episodes & analysis

Standing in the produce aisle holding conventional strawberries in one hand and organic in the other - not sure if the extra two dollars matters? This episode is for you.

The answer isn’t “buy everything organic” and it isn’t “don’t bother.” It’s more specific than that. And once you know it, grocery shopping gets a whole lot easier.

In this episode I’m walking you through exactly when buying organic matters — for your family AND for the planet — using the 2026 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists that just dropped from the Environmental Working Group.

Plus there’s a brand new finding from this year’s report that every mom needs to know about.

What you’ll learn:
•Why washing your produce doesn’t fully solve the pesticide problem
•The 12 fruits and vegetables worth buying organic when you can
•The 15 where conventional is  fine -  and saves you money
•How conventional farming affects the environment beyond your plate
•How I actually use this in real life with a real family

Resources mentioned:
2026 Dirty Dozen list: ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

2026 Clean Fifteen list: ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php

EWG Healthy Living app: ewg.org/apps

Free Real Life Mom’s Guide to Green Kitchen Habits: https://greenily.co/20-sustainable-kitchen-habits-lp/

Follow along on Instagram: @pam.p.mercer

You've done the spring cleaning - now comes the hard part. What do you actually do with everything in the get rid of pile without sending it all to the landfill?

In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly where to sell, donate, and recycle almost everything - including specific programs for the random stuff that usually just ends up in the trash. Spoiler: your old toothbrush will sit in a landfill for 400 years. Let's keep it out of there. 😬

Resources mentioned: 

Full recycling programs list: HERE

Free Green Kitchen Habits guide: HERE

Follow along on Instagram: @pam.p.mercer

If digging out last year’s lunch gear made you cringe at all the plastic, you're not alone.

In this episode, I’m sharing a few simple, non-toxic swaps that make packing school lunches safer, easier, and less wasteful — without going full crunchy mom or buying a bunch of stuff you don’t need.

You’ll hear:

• Why some “BPA-free” gear still isn’t safe
• My favorite lunchbox, snack bag, and water bottle swaps
• What I don’t buy anymore 

Whether you’re new to non-toxic living or just ready to pack lunch with less plastic this year, this one’s for you.

🛍 Shop My Favorite Lunch Gear ➡️ HERE

✅ Grab the Safe Plastics Cabinet Checklist ➡️ HERE

🎧 Press play and let’s simplify your back-to-school routine — one plastic-free swap at a time.

If you’ve ever Googled "how to reduce plastic at a picnic" or "plastic-free summer BBQ tips," you’re in the right place. 

In this episode, I’m sharing simple, plastic-free swaps that make your summer cookouts safer for your family and better for the planet without the overwhelm.

I’ll cover:

• How to swap plastic plates for compostable picnic plates
  
  
• The best reusable picnic cups for busy families
  
  
• Easy ways to ditch plastic forks and food wrap
  
  
• Why these swaps matter for your family’s health (hint: microplastics)

🎧 Hit play for quick, realistic ways to enjoy a plastic-free BBQ this summer!

👉 Links to all the products I mentioned:

Compostable Plates

Compostable Utensils

Reusable/Recyclable Party Cups

Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags

Compostable Ziptop Bags

Silicone Stretch Lids

 👉 DM me your favorite swap on Instagram at @greenilyco

Summer is here, the kids are everywhere, and you’re just trying to keep up.
If you’re in full-on snack-fetching, spill-cleaning, camp drop-off chaos, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing realistic, low-effort eco-friendly swaps that are actually doable when you’re juggling life with kids this summer. No guilt. No perfection. Just simple, quick wins that help you use less plastic and create less waste—one snack bag at a time.

🎯 In this episode:

• 3 easy eco-friendly swaps busy moms can actually use
• Why small swaps still matter (even when life is hectic)
• A quick pep talk to ditch the all-or-nothing eco guilt

💚 Check out my fav eco-friendly kitchen swaps HERE

Listen now!

Silicone snack bags, baking mats, ice cube trays… it’s everywhere! But is it actually safer than plastic or just plastic’s trendy cousin?

In this episode, I break down:

• What silicone really is (and how it’s different from plastic)
• Whether it’s safe for food, heat, and your family
• What to look for (and avoid) when buying silicone products
• And my personal take on when to use it — and when to skip it

If you've ever swapped out plastic and still found yourself wondering, “Wait... is this even better?” — this one’s for you.

👉 Check out my favorite safe silicone kitchen swaps:

💚 Need help ditching plastic in your home?
Get your free custom Plastic-Less Plan — I’ll help you choose safer, greener options that actually fit your life.
 

If you’ve been meaning to go greener in the kitchen but don’t know where to start, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing 3 simple, affordable swaps I made in my own kitchen to reduce waste, ditch sketchy chemicals, and make everyday choices a little better for my family (and the planet). No pressure, just progress.

💚 In this episode:

• The dish soap + surface spray I switched to (and why)
• How we ditched paper towels without chaos
• What to look for in safer bakeware (and what to toss first)
• Real-life tips for making swaps without a total kitchen overhaul

Whether you're new to eco-friendly living or just need a low-stress place to start, this one’s for you.

🔗 Resources + Links:

🥣 Check out my fav Eco Kitchen Swaps
👉 https://greenily.co/kitchen-swaps/

💸 Grab my $7 Plastic Container Detox Guide
👉 https://greenily.co/plastic-to-fantastic-food-storage7/

🎁 Get your Free Personal Plastic-Less Plan
👉 https://forms.gle/rRRQtvL6pnLgWdRo7

Wondering if those plastic containers in your kitchen are actually safe? 😬 You’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what the number on the bottom of your food storage containers really means — and how to know which ones could be leaching harmful chemicals into your family’s food.

We’ll cover:

• The 3 types of plastic to avoid (and why)
• How to check your containers for safety
• What to swap in that won’t overwhelm your budget or your brain
• A super doable plan to detox your drawer without tossing everything you own

If you’ve ever packed leftovers and thought, “This can’t be good…” — this episode is for you.

🎁 Grab my Plastic Container Detox Guide ($7)
Get a quick-start roadmap to sorting, swapping, and storing food the safer way:
👉 https://greenily.co/plastic-to-fantastic-food-storage7/

📝 Want a free personalized plan?
I’ll review your situation and send back a simple, no-pressure plan just for you:
👉 https://forms.gle/zcbR5JKYsnX4ppLQA

💚 Connect with me on Instagram: @greenilyco

 🎙 Subscribe for more real-life eco tips that don’t make you feel like you have to do it all.

When you think of a bouquet of fresh flowers, you probably picture beauty, fragrance, and maybe even a little joy. Most of us don’t picture plastic wrap, pesticides, or flowers flown in from thousands of miles away. But believe it or not, that’s often the reality behind many of the blooms we bring into our homes.

That’s why I’m so excited to share this conversation with Amber Flack, owner and lead designer of Little Acre Flowers, a floral studio based in Washington, D.C. Little Acre is doing things differently—from sourcing locally and seasonally to cutting out wasteful packaging—making their flowers not just beautiful, but better for the environment too.

If you love having flowers in your home but also care about making choices that are healthier for your family and the planet, this episode is for you.

If you want to start composting but are hesitant, you don't want to miss this episode!

I’m talking with Ben Parry, the CEO of Compost Crew, whose mission is to recover compostable waste, reduce dependence on landfills and incinerators, and revitalize our soils through their convenient residential and commercial food waste collection service.

Sign up during Earth Month (April 1 - 30) and get $22.00 off your first month of convenient curbside composting with Compost Crew.  

Use coupon code EARTH2025 during sign-up.  (Offer for new customers only.)