On April 22 Earth Day was celebrated for the 47th time since being established in the United States in 1970. For those passionate about personal health and the health of the planet, every day is Earth Day. Many people recycle and conserve energy, but there are many things you can do related to your health and fitness routines that help foster a healthier environment.

Ditch the bottled water. For the cost of two or three cases of bottled water, you can buy a water bottle that will last forever. As for what you are filling it with, why pay for something that is free? You can fill up almost anywhere with fresh, drinkable water. If you are concerned about contaminants in your tap water, invest in a pitcher with a water filter. This will pay for itself in no time while reducing a great amount of waste. There are infinite designs so every person can carry a piece of their own personality everywhere they go. At work I keep my Wonder Woman Tervis on my desk which inspires me to keep hustling. For traveling to the gym or anywhere else, I like to carry my fancy new Swellbottle. This one pictured below made a great gift for a dog-walker friend of mine. Swell insulated bottles keep your drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12, and some of the proceeds from sales benefit UNICEF, Red, and other charities.

Eating local. Most grocery stores offer a selection of local produce. If you are enjoying strawberries in the dead of winter, those strawberries traveled very far from a warmer climate to get to your grocery store. Consider how far food must travel to get to your plate. Shopping at farmer’s markets or through vendors like Bear’s Honeypot allows you to enjoy the freshest foods, while supporting your local economy. Bear’s Honeypot is located about ten minutes away from Repke Fitness, so you can swing by on your way home from a personal training session to pick up the healthiest, local ingredients for the week.

Garden. Now that spring has sprung in Maryland, you can also experiment with backyard gardening for the most local produce possible. Imagine the ease of plucking your own basil for homemade pesto from your own backyard. Peppers, tomatoes, and herbs are some of the easiest plants for beginners to try. Even those with limited space can start a small herb garden in a well-lit window.

Lean towards a vegetarian diet. Numerous studies show that eating a vegetarian diet is best for your health. Risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are significantly lower for those who adopt a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. In addition to keeping you healthy, a vegetarian diet is also more sustainable for the environment. ChooseVeg.com states that, “raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, planes, and other forms of transportation combined.”

While there are so many delicious possibilities for vegetarian meals, some serious omnivores may find it difficult to commit to vegetarianism. Meat-lovers may even discover that they feel so good after nutrient-packed veggie meals, that they lean vegetarian more often than not. If you know that you do not want to give up your chicken just yet, committing to at least some vegetarian meals will still benefit your own health and the environment. Take part in Meatless Mondays to start. Once you discover how satisfying vegetarian meals can be, you can increase your weekly vegetarian meals.

Get outside. Our society suffers from what author Richard Louv describes as Nature Deficit Disorder in his book, “Last Child in the Woods.” In his more recent book, “The Nature Principle,” Louv emphasizes “restorative powers of the natural world.” We spend so much time at our jobs, seated under artificial lights. Everyone needs to take a step outside to feel a connection with nature to improve our moods and attention span. We are lucky to live in an area that is close to so many beautiful, natural spaces. Check out Anne Arundel County Parks for trails in the woods or along the Chesapeake Bay. You can take your Personal Training lessons from Repke Fitness to the trails while enhancing your health with sunshine, fresh air, and a connection to nature.