GreenFest report: Discovery Networks' Sara Snow

At San Francisco's Green Festival, I learned about the new 24-hour eco-lifestyle channel coming to cable from Discovery Networks called Planet Green.

The channel premieres in early 2008, and one of its stars will be green living expert Sara Snow. She's created two earth-friendly shows for Discovery already, and her Get Fresh With Sara Snow is on the Discovery Home channel that will morph into Planet Green on Comcast.

Snow and I chatted while she whipped up some tasty, healthy snacks at the GreenFest booth.

"I grew up in a very green family," Snow explained, "that was all about simple living and natural foods and green lifestyle and health, so I always lived that way." Bringing these ideas to the average American home has long been her dream.

Her motto is "simple steps to a greener lifestyle," and her message isn't preachy. Don't "beat yourself over the head because you've been doing everything wrong," she said. Just take it one day at a time, do what you can. "Baby-step your way in," Snow encouraged, "until all of a sudden, you look in your cupboards one day and you go 'holy cow, I didn't know I was doing so well!'"

She noted that some green advice can be complicated and contradictory. "I talk to people across the country," Snow said, "what I'm hearing is that people are a little confused." She tries to help busy people prioritize.

For example, when it comes to food, buying 100% organic and locally grown isn't possible for everyone because of cost or what's available in their towns. "So the thing that I encourage," Snow pointed out, "is go organic in your animal products for sure -- your meat, your cheese, your beef, your chicken breasts, your eggs, all of that -- and whatever other foods you eat the most of. You know, if you eat a lot of apples, go for organic apples."

Sounds like practical, helpful advice -- the kind of thing we aim for here at Green Picks too. I know I'll set my TiVo to look for Sara Snow on Planet Green next year.