Top apps to go green on the go

If you have a smartphone, you probably have a few apps to go along with it. Why not consider adding some to help you go green on the go? Here are my favorite apps to help you do your part when it comes to buying better food, recycling tough items, and even figuring out your family's healthiest sunscreen option.

Price: free.

Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch app is a user-friendly guide to sustainable seafood choices specific to your region. It also includes a useful sushi guide for making more eco-friendly choices. You can sort your seafood list by "best choice," "good alternative" or "avoid" rankings. Plus, you can add names of restaurants and stores where you've found sustainable seafood.

Website: www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_iPhone.aspx.

Price: free.

Earth911's app helps you find a recycling facility no matter where you are or what you're looking to recycle. Just type in the name of the item, such as "cookware" or "plastic bags," and you get a list of recyclers near you. Not only will you find out where to take your items, you will also get easy access to the collection site's phone number, website, hours of operation and more.

Website: earth911.com/iphone/irecycle.

This app from Environmental Working Group is a simple guide to shopping for fresh, organic produce. The guide lists a dozen fruits and vegetables that contain the highest levels of pesticides. It also lists the cleanest 15 conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. This is the perfect app to help you stretch your organic budget.

Website: www.ewg.org.

Price: $2.99.

The HappyCow app is a searchable directory for vegetarian-friendly restaurants and stores in your area. There is an interactive map to help you filter by location, vegan, vegetarian or health food stores. You can easily access directions, phone numbers and websites. Plus, the app makes it simple to share your finds with friends on Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and e-mail.

Website: www.happy cow.net/mobile.html.

This popular sunscreen guide from the Environmental Working Group provides detailed information on sunscreen ingredients and the hazards that some pose to people and the environment. You can look up sunscreens by name to make it easy on you while you're in the sunscreen aisle. Best of all, there is a simple color-coded system to see exactly what your best bets are.