When it comes to food, Renée Loux has what she calls a "360 philosophy," meaning she's mindful of everything from where that lettuce she's eating was grown, to what kind of soap she uses to wash her dishes.

Loux, who calls Maui home, is a green Martha Stewart — just out is her second book, "The Balanced Plate: The Essential Elements of Whole Foods and Good Health." (She's slated to appear on "The Martha Stewart Show" in the future.)

More than a cookbook (although it is filled with more than 150 recipes), "The Balanced Plate" is a household guide to an eco-friendly lifestyle.

"It's my life," said Loux, 31, a chef by trade. "I'm passionate about food and I'm passionate about living a green life."

Loux shares with readers how "healthy" and "delicious" don't have to be incompatible, and that everyday conveniences and luxuries don't have to be sacrificed for a green lifestyle.

Writing the book "was really a spirit of wanting to share that," Loux said.

CHOOSING WISELY

Going organic is "one of the most powerful things we can choose for our health," Loux said.

The book lists the "Dirty Dozen" — apples, tomatoes, bell peppers — foods that are the most commonly and highly contaminated with pesticides and chemicals, even after washing and peeling.

And with her Top 10 Reasons to Go Organic, Loux emphasizes benefits such as avoiding chemicals and enjoying better taste.

However, she acknowledges that "maybe we have ideals to eat as organically as possible, but in reality, both the access and the cost don't always afford us that," Loux said. The Dirty Dozen is meant to help readers make the wisest choices, she said.

"That's really a pervasive theme in the book: We should choose as best we can, whenever we can," Loux said.

She shops at the Kahului Wednesday farmers' market and buys any organic produce that appears in local supermarkets.

"Most of us shop in grocery stores. Ask the produce manager to carry locally grown food," she advised.

While some recipes sound decidedly "Mainland" (winter collard wraps), others will be familiar to Asian-leaning palates (scallion-stuffed shiitake mushrooms with ume natto miso).

"Hawai'i sits in an unparalleled place between East and West," said Loux. "I have definitely been influenced by Japanese cuisine. Staples like shoyu, miso and seaweed are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet."

Loux grows her own herbs, many of them unusual varieties. For instance, besides Thai basil, she has cinnamon basil. Also in her garden are avocado, Meyer lemon and kaffir lime trees.

She has found the garden section of hardware stores to be a good source of herbs and fruit trees. She stops often at Lowe's, Home Depot and Kula Ace Hardware ("it's the best") to check their latest arrivals.

GREEN AND CLEAN

"As a food book, ('Balanced Plate') is of course (about) considering what it is we're putting in our bodies, but the Green Cleaning section opens up the fact that the products we use to clean our homes, we in fact put in our bodies (too)," Loux said.

"I tried to break it down into simple, practical tips and tools to bring this into the home without a radical change," Loux said. "It's sensible stuff, not a far stretch."

She charts healthy cleaning alternatives, such as using diluted apple-cider vinegar in place of ammonia-laden window cleaner. There's also green advice on house-plant care, water filters, making other chemical-free household cleaners and more.

Living eco-consciously makes sense on islands like O'ahu and Maui. "I live in a house on the beach, on the south side — the dry side — so I'm hyper-aware of water use," she said, noting that every chemical we use washes into the ocean. She recommends using a good water filter instead of buying bottled water — it cuts down on cost and waste.

CELEBRITY FRIENDS

Loux, who's married to entrepreneur and entertainment-biz mogul Shep Gordon, moved from New York to Maui in 1995. She worked as a resort chef for a year before opening The Raw Experience restaurant in Pa'ia.

She sold the eatery to her business partner to pursue writing, consulting and teaching. Loux holds classes at New York City's Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health a few times a year.

Her jobs have introduced her to celebrities and musicians — such as Woody Harrelson, Helen Hunt and Anthony Kiedis — many of whom have become friends. Actress and vegan Alicia Silverstone "is one of my dearest friends and was the best lady at my wedding," Loux said.

Today Loux continues to consult for restaurants, spas and private clients with a focus on green living and organic, whole foods. She also sits on the board of Maui Tomorrow, an advocacy group for land-use planning, community design and responsible growth throughout the island.

Loux's schedule is packed with appearances on the Food Network's "Emeril Live," "The Martha Stewart Show" and "Green Home" on the Fine Living Network — air dates are pending.

The TV spots give Loux a chance to share her knowledge about her two loves — food and the environment.

"These two elements really do go hand and hand, and together, eating well and living a greener life can afford us a much higher quality of life," Loux said. "I feel like a good person trying to do the right thing."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.