Waste Not

One of the issues dearest to my heart is to live as environmentally responsible as I can. No, I don't have a house with solar panels and a water tank in the backyard (Although I wish I did), but I do what I can. When it comes to food, there are several things that I try to live by:

• Try to buy raw foods (less packaging);
• Always buy organic;
• Try to buy as much local foods as I can;
• Always take my recyclable bags into the supermarket or farmer's market;
• If I have to buy something that is packaged, make sure the packaging is recyclable;
• If our family goes out to eat, don't order more than what we can consume (My husband and I often split a meal and so do my kids); and
• Whatever I do, I do not ask for a to-go container (usually, they are styrofoam so we ask the waiter for foil and use it instead).

I am also a firm believer in portion control so I tried something the other day at a restaurant that worked wonderfully. I went out to eat with my coworkers and knowing that I would not be able to share a meal, I took a glass container with me in a bag. When I was done, I simply put my leftovers in my container. I was worried I might get some looks but surprisingly, nobody seemed to care (or if they did, they did not say anything). It was a win-win situation because my food was stored in a leak-proof container that is safe to heat up and that I don't have to throw away when I am done. Since that day, I have made it a habit to have a pyrex container in my car in case I need it.