Wondering what you can do to minimize your impact on Mother Earth? Look no further! These
are easy ways you can start to reduce, reuse and recycle more often!
- Make a grocery list and go shopping. Weekly!!! (Bring your reusable bags, or opt for paper bags. When you shop for your food, cook from home, pack your lunches and snacks to bring with you, you are reducing waste. In a HUGE way! Think about it. Every single time you dine out, whether it be at a fast food restaurant, food truck or grab and go’s like vending machines and gas stations, you are throwing out garbage, containers and wrappers.
In most recent stats, 44% of Americans eat at a fast food restaurant each week… That is a lot of garbage! - Buy in bulk
Yes, 100 calorie packs and mini containers of pre-cut veggies save us time, but also increases our waste. Here are items to buy in bulk, to cut up and portion out at home, It’s cheaper and better for the environment!
Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts/seeds, Beans, Grains, Rice, Oats, Yogurt, snack items. - Ditch the water bottles ONCE AND FOR GOOD!
Each day, people in the U.S. throw away more than 60 million plastic water bottles. Tap water is great or buy a water filter if desired but let’s ditch those plastic water bottles! Keep a BPA free, dishwasher safe water bottle on hand and refill it up! Some water bottles even have their own filtration system. - Eat Local.
By buying foods close to your home, you are reducing the distance your food must travel, thus the energy it takes to do so! Visit your local farmers market or at least shop for foods that are in season. - Plant a garden
Save the water for your lawn and instead it for a garden. Don’t have enough room? You can plant a few tomato, pepper and herbs in pots on a patio or porch. Great way to make fresh tomato sauce for pasta and pizza nights! - Minimize leftovers
Did you know the US throws away 80 BILLION pounds of food…. A year!!! Use those leftovers! Store them in freezer for use later or you can also add your produce, egg shells, coffee grounds etc to a compost. You can start a simple compost using a 5-gallon bucket and some grass and leaves from your yard.
Even making 1 or 2 small changes can really add up over time!
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb
Kelly Devine, Wellness Coordinator