DNV GL Oak Brook IL

This topic was the perfect end to this challenge and relates to all of the waste I create - with some advanced planning (menu planning, making sure I have supplies in my car, determining what I want to buy - some recyclable plastics but the bulk in paper/cardboard/glass/aluminum), it is not hard to do better in reducing the waste I create. ...

It seems like everything is packaged in plastic!  It is hard to not choose something with plastic.  Since I have been cooking at home for this month and I am trying to do whole foods and not prepackaged, it is easier to user my mesh bags for fruits and veggies and go to the bulk bins and use my own bags for those items as well. 

I always make sure to have some pyrex containers in the trunk of my car in a nice bag.  That way, if I am going to a restaurant or somewhere where I know I will need a container, I have it.  I also have 10 mesh bags that I use for grocery shopping and when I go to the local farm to pick up produce.

This has made me and my parents much healthier - prepackaged snacks were easy (at least I thought so), but now we have cut up veggies to have with almond butter or homemade hummus and then lots of fresh fruit that we can grab and munch on.  The prep only takes a few minutes a day or every other day and it is tasty to eat fresh food throughout...

In my local restaurants, they always put straws down as soon as you order your drink.  One server told me that even if you do not use it, they have to throw away everything on the table when they are cleaning it.  So now, I make sure to speak up and let them know that I have my own stainless steel straw (yes, I get lots of odd looks) and I...

I watched Wasted! The Story of Food Waste.  It was interesting, terrible (the waste), and very informative.  I already compost, but it made me think about the scraps I am composting - how can I better use the whole plant in my cooking?  It talks to many chefs to learn how they are using ingredients that would normally get tossed - or parts of...

It has been a challenge to cook at home every day, but I have explored so many new recipes and have found great things that I will definitely continue to add to my repertoire.  I also have replaced all of the plastics with reusable and sustainable alternatives.  I find I use my dishwasher more often, so I am not sure if that is a sustainable...

I volunteer at a local organic farm where I subscribe every year (Community Supported Agriculture) for fresh fruits, veggies, and eggs that I pick up weekly from March 1 through November 15.  So far this season I have worked 38 hours.  It was easier when it was 60 degrees - when it is in the high 90s, it requires more dedication and breaks.

Some of these challenges are harder than I thought they would be - I am seeing how much waste I create on a daily basis. A good realization.

I am enjoying this challenge - it is a good way to reinforce positive actions, such as preparing meals at home with ingredients that are not in single-use plastic.  It is hard to find some things, but I make different choices when faced with that situation.  An example is bread.  Instead of getting a pre-packaged loaf, I now go to a bakery and...