It’s Easy to Be Green in the Kitchen
With all the news in the media about global warming, and the economy still trying to rebound, everyone is trying to find ways to save money and more eco-friendly. One way to contribute is in the kitchen, and it’s easy to be green in the kitchen.
Reduce the amount of meat and poultry you eat. The more we cut back on these foods, the more we can better use the land they live on and reduce water pollution caused by their by-products and chemicals used to raise them.
Buy fish that are not harvested using drag nets. Drag nets are indiscriminate of what fish or water mammals they harm or kill. If the fish are farm raised, ask your fish dealer or fish monger where they were raised and what kinds of chemicals are used in raising them. If he/she can’t tell you, find a new place to buy your fish.
Check out your local farmers markets. Not only will you be buying fresher vegetables and fruits because they have traveled a shorter distance than the produce you get in your local grocery store; but farmers markets generally have an abundant number of farmers who practice organic farming. Organically grown produce has been grown without any pesticides and organisms that have been genetically altered. By patronizing local farmers markets you are also helping to support your local economy.
If you are concerned about your water quality, install a water filtration system. You will not only save money by not having to buy bottled water, but also being green by saving the environment tons of discarded plastic that never biodegrades.
Use cloth napkins. They are far more environmentally friendly than paper napkins and they are much more durable. You can find cloth napkins that are more eco-friendly than others by checking out what they are made of. You want organic cotton or hemp to really be green in the kitchen.
We all love take-out every once in a while, but everything about the packaging is very NOT green. If you do succumb to take out food and are having it delivered, make sure you make it very clear the order-taker that you want NO utensils, condiments, or napkins. If you frequent one particular restaurant, then ask the manager if you can even bring your own container for the food and let them keep that nasty Styrofoam box.
When washing fruits and veggies, fill a bowl with cold water to wash them in instead keeping the water running in your sink.
Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge to use to refill glasses throughout the day as opposed to running the faucet every time you want a drink.
Buying in bulk will not only save you money, but you are avoiding all the excessive packaging that comes be buying smaller packages.
Cook in bulk whenever possible. You are using less heat by cooking things at one time, and you can then package your leftovers to store in the fridge for lunches, or store in the freezer for future use.
If you are cooking in bulk, you are not going to have a problem keeping your refrigerator full; this is a good thing to do since it cuts down on the amount of energy your fridge needs to use to keep cold.
It’s easy to be green in the kitchen, you just have to stop throwing away as much as you used to, and buy wisely when it comes to the food you are putting on the table.