Archive for the ‘Green Living’ Category

How To Pack A Waste Free Lunch

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

Packing a waste free lunch is nowhere near as intimidating as it sounds. Basically, the goal is once the food is consumed, there is zero waste to be thrown in the trash with the exception of compostable items such as apple cores, peels and egg shells. This includes recyclables. While they are certainly better than non-recyclables, the goal is to eliminate all possible waste – especially single use packaging. Essentially, the best way to avoid garbage is to prevent it in the first place.

Reusable Stainless Steel EcoLunch Box

Build an arsenal of reusable bags, bottles and containers

Start with choosing a selection of reusable lunch containers, reusable sandwich and snack wraps, as well as reusable cloth napkins, utensils and water bottles. These vary in price and I recommend purchasing quality products. They may cost a few more dollars upfront and, trust me, they’ll pay you pack tenfold with both cash savings (no more disposables you have to buy over and over) and peace of mind knowing you’ve purchased safe products that won’t leach or fall apart.

Lunchboxes and lunch bags for both adults and kids abound. Some you can pack with your own containers and others come in the bento box style providing containers that fit together in one convenient lunchbox. This takes the guesswork of what containers to buy. Sometimes, though, you have to get extra creative.

Evaluate the user

Take a moment and assess the habits of the ‘eater’. This will help you choose reusable’s that’ll actually work for you. Let me point out that while I am on-board and commit to packing a waste free lunch, my number one priority as a parent is to ensure my child eats. That said there are solutions for every stage from kids to adults.

  • How does the ‘eater’ transport their food?
  • Do they have a backpack or briefcase? Can/will they take a lunch box
  • Do they walk or bike? Is the weight of the container an issue?
  • Do they take a car and go straight to their office? In this case, glass storage containers rock
  • Is reheating available? If yes, then glass is perfect. If not, stainless steel is a great option.
  • Where do they eat? Playground, classroom, desk?
  • Is it convenient for them to pack containers away to bring home?

This last one was a biggie for me. When my son was about 8, he refused to carry his lunch box. I noticed he wasn’t eating and asked him why. I discovered he and his friends wanted to maximize their playing time and he would stuff any convenient food in his pockets to eat out on the playground. Anything packed in containers he had to bring out to the playground and bring back in were left behind. He didn’t want to lose anything (another concern) so he just didn’t bring it outside. So, I switched things up and opted for unbleached waxed paper bags which, while not reusable, were at least compostable. I also packed things that had their own containers – bananas, apples, and hard boiled eggs he could stuff in his pockets. It worked – he ate everything and I minimized waste.

Now, at age 13, my son has his backpack with him at all times (whatever happened to lockers?) which provides me the chance to have him pack his lunch in our reserve of reusable stainless steel containers. He loves leftovers, so he happily uses a stainless steel hot meal container to keep his food warm. It works for cool items in the hotter months as well. He’s now back to waste free.

Ensure the food itself is waste free

  • Buy in bulk whenever possible – nuts, dried fruit, trail mix are all good options. You can use these nifty reusable bags at the store to really kick up the zero waste. Another benefit is that you’ll buy less processed foods and everyone will eat better.
  • Cut fruit and veggies into pieces. Their easier to handle and more of the item is eaten. Extras can be saved for snacking later.
  • Consider a lunch of ‘snacks’. I found this helps to keep kids from getting bored from the same ‘ol sandwich. Servings of fruit salad, veggies and dip, healthy trail mix, popcorn, bagels, yogurt, homemade snack squares (like protein bars), and even rolled up lunch meat, cheese and crackers are easy to eat and tend to be gobbled up completely. Vary the items and make lunch fun with interesting shapes and combinations. Watch what comes home uneaten and take notes. Appetite has a lot to do with how attractive food looks – especially for children.

These are just a few ideas and insights to get you started. I encourage you to leave comments with any tips, tricks or recipes you’ve used to encourage your family members to adopt a waste free lunch style that also encourages healthy eating.

How Cloth Diapers Can Work For Your Family

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

As an expectant mother, the idea of cloth diapers intrigued and terrified me. Here’s where I went wrong and what you can do to get it right.

I come from first-hand experience – my mom used cloth diapers on both my brother and I.  Not to date myself, but disposable diapers were still considered a luxury when I was a babe in the late 60’s and my parents opted for the more affordable, time tested method of cloth diapers.  Cloth diapering makes as much financial sense now as it did back then.

As advocates for greener living and the desire to reduce our son’s carbon butt print, my husband and I liked the idea of not only minimizing the vast amount of waste that plastic disposable diapers create (I mean, nobody alive today will likely live long enough to see a disposable diaper completely decompose. It’s estimated it will take hundreds of years for a single plastic diaper to break down) but also eliminating the exposure to nasty chemicals disposable diapers posed to our newborn son’s delicate skin.  We decided to go for it and buy the best cloth diapers we could find.

Back in the late 90’s there wasn’t nearly the information available as there is now. With the current resources of the internet, cloth diapering support groups and manufacturer’s clear how-to’s, creating a cloth diapering system now is easier than ever.  Back then, I sort of guessed what I needed and proceeded to order diapers and diaper covers.

The package arrived and I soon found myself completely overwhelmed. I had all these organic cotton prefold  cloth diapers laid out in front of me but I was clueless how to use them. I hadn’t organized myself. My patient son laid on the changing table smiling and gurgling as his clueless mom tried haplessly to figure out how to put a cloth diaper on and then how to fit the cover. I had a college degree for goodness sakes – it shouldn’t be that hard!  If only I had the simple video below to refer to. What seemed so confusing at the time is actually one of the simplest, fastest things you’ll ever do in caring for your baby. Seeing how easy it is, I really feel like a bonehead for not figuring it out.

Of course, at the time I became frustrated and consequently gave up.  The good news is – you don’t have to make the same mistake I made!  Watch the video and see how easy it is to use prefold cloth diapers. All you do is fold the prefold, lay inside the diaper cover and then secure around baby. I decided to bring on the Bummis (pronounced bum-eez) brand of cloth diapers and covers at Greenfeet because I believe 100% in the benefits of cloth diapering for baby and really liked the Bummis line. They are affordable organic cotton and the reviews on the covers are great. Moms love how durable they are, how easy they clean up between washings and they dry super fast! They also have leg gussets that fit really well on baby to virtually eliminate leaks – even for super trim babies. 

 I’m still a bit disappointed, and admittedly feel a bit guilty, that I didn’t seek out some assistance before I gave up using prefolds back in the late 90’s. I felt a bit like I was a failure and let my son down. Don’t let yourself fall into the same trap.

First, have the confidence that cloth diapers will work for you and your baby.  Second, arm yourself with knowledge before you buy cloth diapers and get the proper cloth diaper accessories. You don’t need many, but the few you do get are going to make the whole process a lot easier.

  1. Pre-fold diapers are purchased based on your baby’s size. You’ll need between 2-4 dozen diapers depending on how often you want to do laundry. Figure your baby will need 6-12 diapers a day depending on the age of your baby.  
  2. You’ll want about 3-4 diaper covers to start. You don’t need to wash them every time unless they are soiled.
  3. Diaper pail. There’s the choice between a dry pail or wet pail. A lot of cloth diaper experts recommend a 20-24 quart dry pail. Essentially you shake off any excess ‘stuff’ in the diaper and then place in the pail. This size pail only holds about 2 days worth of diapers so it will keep you on track to do laundry. The wet pail option should be used with a secure lid to prevent drowning of another small child. You fill about ¼ of the way with water and add ¼ cup vinegar to help keep the smell down. You can also add 1/4 cup baking soda, a few squirts of bac out odor and stain eliminator (it’s the bomb!) to help pre-treat as well as a few drops of essential oils to help offset any odor.
  4. Small tote to take with you for wet diapers on the go. I recommend choosing a washable material such as nylon for easy upkeep.

That’s it! Told ya there wasn’t a whole lot of equipment needed. I’d love your feedback on diapering and how you’ve overcome any pre-diaper anxiety and/or struggles along the way.

Earth Hour – 10 Ways To Celebrate

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Founded back in 2007 by the World Wildlife Foundation, Earth Hour was created to highlight environmental issues around the world.  It’s a time when all lights – including landmarks – either completely go dark or dim for one hour. 

Paricipating in Earth Hour is simple:  at 8:30pm your time, turn off all electrical appliances for one hour. Yep, that includes your computers, video games, TV and all the lights in the house. I realize you’re probably saying What the heck will I do for an hour with no electricity? LOTS!  This is my 4th year celebrating and in my household we’ve celebrated by doing everything from reading outloud, playing monopoly, hosting a dinner party and just hanging out by our outdoor fireplace roasting marshmallows.  Here are a few other ways to enjoy Earth Hour in your home:

  1. Connect with your family or friends.  Invite a few folks over, crack open a bottle of wine and catch up.  Lighting a few candles creates a relaxed, social atmosphere and makes even a messy house look good. Try it.
  2. Dig into that novel you’ve been wanting to read. This year I’m reading Linchpin by Seth Godin and a historical novel Mary – Mrs A Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman. A good taper candle provides illuminating light bright enough to read by. Cuddle up with a  blanket and you’re set.
  3. Plan your meals for the week. Break out the cookbooks collecting dust on your bookshelf and figure out some new, easy and healthy meals. I’m currently LOVING Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Cookbook.
  4. Identify constellations in the sky.  Or, if you don’t know any – make some up and create fantastic stories to go with them. See if anyone in your party figures out you’re clueless as to what’s really up there.
  5. Brush your dog or cat.  They’ll love you.
  6. Plan your garden.  Dig into those seed catalogs you’ve been hoarding all winter and make a list of what you are going to grow this year. Try something new (and heirloom if you can!)
  7. Play a board game or cards.  Poker, Life, Outburst, Monopoly – they’re all good.
  8. Create a vision board.  What do you want this year?  Cut out photos, words, etc and create a collage for your wall or table. Center it on what you wish to achieve this year. Look at it daily
  9. Camp in your living room.  Tell ghost stories (don’t forget the flashlight pointed upwards from your chin for a bone-chilling effect), sleep in your clothes, read by lantern.  Just don’t start a campfire near the sofa - that would be bad.
  10. Enjoy some romance. Nuff said. Hubba-hubba.

31 Ways to Throw A Green Holiday Party

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

The holidays are here – tis the season to be jolly. Entertaining is at its peak during the holiday season. And garbage-creation is also at its peak: between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, Americans produce 25% more trash – about 5 million extra tons – than at any other time of the year.

This year, consider hosting a zero-waste holiday party in celebration of the season. You’ll find you not only conserve resources; you’ll save some green as well. How? It’s easy: just check out our list of simple, sustainable party tips and tactics designed to ensure a memorable gathering.  From invitations to decorations, party favors to clean-up, we’ve got plenty of holiday party strategies to help you put a little more green into this greenest of seasons.

Invitations

  • For party invitations, consider using a free online service such as www.evite.com. With its free electronic invitation service you’ll save time and postage – and the cost of paper invites, too.
  • If you still want to send out paper invitations, choose those made from recycled or tree-free paper (such as hemp or rag). Better yet, recycle last year’s greeting cards and use the fronts as postcards for your holiday get-together. Not only will you end up with fun, unique invitations — you’ll save on postage, too! Didn’t save last year’s cards? Begin with this year’s and you’ll start a fun and planet-friendly tradition.

(more…)

Handmade Tortillas – Fast, Cheap and Easier Than You Think

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

I love tortillas. They’re a staple in my family’s pantry because they’re inexpensive, portable and a great way to use up leftovers.  I mean have you ever had a warm tortilla filled with leftover heated mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and a sprinkling of blue cheese? Its heaven deliciously wrapped up. A few months back I was reading an article on making your own tortillas. It intrigued me. I also discovered that tortillas are healthier than I thought.  Here are some interesting statistics from the Tortilla Industry Association: Flour Tortillas:

  • Are a low-fat food.
  • Contain iron & other B vitamins.
  • A flour tortilla averages 115 calories and 2-3 grams of fat per serving.

Corn Tortillas:

  • Are a low-fat, low-sodium food.
  • Contain calcium, potassium and fiber. I recommend organic corn masa whenever possible.
  • A corn tortilla averages 60 calories with 1 gram of fat per serving.
  • Corn is gluten-free. This makes for a great alternative to bread for those with gluten allergies.

After seeing how easy they are to make and that they wouldn’t kill my daily calorie count I figured I needed to own one.  I waved my magical purchasing wand and Wa-lah! We are now carrying a quality tortilla press at Greenfeet.com.
(more…)