A Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen
A Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen
Have you ever noticed that when guests are gathered at your home, they tend to congregate in your kitchen? For whatever reason, friends and family tend to hang near and around my kitchen. Maybe it’s the food or the freshly brewed something, but for some reason there is a natural draw to my kitchen. For accomplished chefs or proud owners of fantastic prep space, the kitchen is a source of pride and happiness. For others, it can be a source of woe and annoyance.
One way I’ve fostered a sense of glee and joy, is by reducing waste where we can. We went paper-free and so far….it’s going pretty well. If you’ve ever thought about going eco-friendly-start here with a few tips I’m sharing along with photos of my Modern Loft 34 kitchen.
Let me first start by saying, that since my first apartment in college until now, I do not buy paper plates or plastic cups, even for gatherings. Removing other paper and plastic products in the kitchen was no trouble at all, just a slow transition.
Glass Storage Containers
I will say this was all about a change of mindset because it can be budget-friendly to reuse plastic containers. I mean, we buy them anyway, right? Well, I’ve been converted! Glass storage containers make it easy to see what food is stored and how much leftover is available. There’s no guessing game when you open the refrigerator. I do keep a few food plastic containers on hand such as pre-packaged food containers (i.e. sour cream, cream cheese, etc.) for people who want to take food home, all other plastic containers are recycled. There’s no leaving my house with my good glass containers. I may never see them again.
Reusable Zip Bag
I first found some reusable sandwich bags at Home Goods to test them out. Then invested in a full set of bags that included various sizes. They’re easy to clean, durable, and see-through (again, there’s no guessing what’s in it). Also, I’m convinced the reusable bags help my produce to last longer while in the frig. In addition to being eco-friendly, they are also budget-friendly, saving me roughly $4-5 every grocery trip (that’s roughly $208-260 a year).
Cloth Napkins
Cloth napkins are larger than paper towels making them more durable during meal time. I must add that using cloth napkins also makes my meals at home a bit more fancy, even if I’m eating a plate of fries.
If you opt to start using cloth napkins, I strongly recommend you wash them in cold water to help preserve the quality of the napkins.
Reusable Straws
I don’t use straws often because I’ve heard that the regular use of straws can cause wrinkles above your upper lip. I don’t know it to be true, but whatever lil’ bit I can do to preserve my youth, I’ll do it. But when I do, I have metal straws stored in my utensil drawer ready for use. It’s a great way to sip happy and smart! Metal straws, unlike paper ones, don’t add a funny or unfamiliar taste to my sips.
