Some days I feel like I am totally rocking this sustainability life thing. And then other days, I go to the grocery store. I am not perfect, I am not zero waste or 100% plastic free. But I try to make the best choice available.
While I have made improvements to being more sustainable in our kitchen, I admittedly have a LONG way to go. Here are a few tips, some I do well at others are a work in progress, to be more sustainable at the grocery store and in your kitchen.
- Stop using Zip Top Bags, Stasher bags are awesome but so are old speghetti jars.
- Buy in Bulk – take a jar (preweighed empty and marked)
- Buy fresh produce & local meats, take your own cloth bags for fruits and veggies
- Take reusable bags to the store
- Store leftovers in reusable containers to take for lunch
- Start a compost pile with scraps
- Grow what you can
One the hardest things to buy plastic free, I’ve found is cheese. Like seriously, if you have any tips on buying plastic free cheese I’d really love to hear it. But I should tell you I won’t be making my own.
Frequently, I will buy from our local meat counter to avoid unnecessary plastics from pre-packaged meats and I always chose items in a cardboard carton over plastic.
This spring I’m looking forward to having a productive patio garden, on the docket this year is a lemon tree, strawberries, and more herbs. I’d also love a container of just flowers for the bees. I’ve begun my compost but not much action is happening now that it is 20 degrees and freezing here again. After reading a few posts on composting in a 5 gallon bucket, I’ve decided to not throw all my kitchen waste in it. I’m being selective as I don’t want to turn my soil overly acidic or add items that simply will not decompose properly in such a small space.
I’d also like to replace some of my old plastic items, brushes in the sink and food storage to plastic-free options. But these items all still function and are used regularly. The most sustainable option is the ones you already own. So until they are worn out and broken, I’ll keep using them and then I’ll recycle them when I replace them.
What are some ways you’re practicing sustainability in your kitchen?
Stylishly Shelby 