Four questions with Janelle Sorensen

Source: Healthy Child Healthy World

Janelle Sorensen is the Senior Editor and Outreach Strategist for Healthy Child Healthy World. She also freelances and volunteers for others trying to make this world a better place (often from a laptop in her living room as her daughters run circles around her).

How do you make your day-to-day life a little greener?

Every day is different. The common theme is consciousness. I try to stop and think about what I’m buying, doing, or eating and the broader impacts it may have on health and the environment. I’m still far from perfect (my thoughts don’t always match my actions), but I’m making progress.

I love the Healthy Child Healthy World mission: to ignite a movement that inspires parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals. What would you tell people about the importance of using non-toxic substances for the health of themselves, their families and the Earth?

Our personal health is intimately connected to the health of our environment. If we create pollution or buy products with toxic ingredients, these contaminants end up in our air, food, and water, which means they end up in us – messing with our hormones, immune systems, reproductive systems, and brains. Every choice we make has an impact. We can make choices that are healthful or harmful. It’s that simple.

What have you found to be your biggest challenge as you create a healthy environment for your own family?

Cost is often a big obstacle. Luckily, we’ve found alternatives that actually save us money like growing our own organic produce and hitting the thrift stores for clothes. Still, sometimes you have to buy new things and typically the greener options are more expensive. If I can’t afford it, I know many others can’t either. I’ve decided the best thing I can do is to help be a part of changing the system so that everyone can create healthy environments for their families. I also try really hard to find the most affordable solutions to share at HealthyChild.org. We do the research so you don’t have to!

Healthy Child Healthy World is such an amazing organization. How can people get involved?

Host a Healthy Home Party, tell your friends and family about HealthyChild.org so they can start living greener, or donate. (The recession is straining our coffers, too!)

For more information about Janelle Sorensen or Healthy Child Healthy World visit their website or follow Janelle on Twitter.

Read more in the Four Questions series:
Four Questions with Adam Shake
Four Questions with Dr. Alan Greene, part I
Four Questions with Dr. Alan Greene, part II
Four Questions with Dr. Alan Greene, part III
Four Questions with Lisa Mills Sutherland
Four Questions with Melissa Kushi
Four Questions with Dr. Marti Erickson
Four Questions with Linda McNair
Four Questions with Beth Terry
Four Questions with Ryan North
Four Questions with Leslie Quigley