I'm stil working on my 100 mile diet. I'm not going all out, but it has definitely forced me to think about the foods I'm buying and where they come from. And with me, trying is the name of the game. I'm not one of those cold turkey people. I can't just stop doing something and drastically change things. I'll end up reverting back to my old ways at the slightest set back.
Because of this, I'm rather upset at the tone of two recent posts at The Huffington Post. Kathy Freston has made a pointed argument that the best thing you can do for the environment is be a vegetarian. And while I don't disagree with her conclusion, she's left a lot out that makes many omnivores take offense (as you can tell by the comments). Basically, she makes it out to be all or nothing. Vegetarian or omnivore. But I am all about shades of grey. And along with taking steps to eat less meat, I think taking baby steps toward any thing can be a better course than just cold turkey.
And this brings me around to the point of my post. I believe in baby steps in all aspects of life, especially regarding things that may be difficult or tedious. And for many, giving up meat is both. So instead of going all out there are smaller steps you can make that will have a positive effect, but won't be so difficult. This is not going to be a list of things everyone has to do. But this is a list of things I've done to be more green.
1. Meat free lunches.
I'm not a vegetarian but I am very conscious of what I eat. And an easy meal to swap meat out of is lunch. I've had pasta, casseroles, sandwiches, fondue, and all sorts of other things. Mostly though, I just eat the things I already like, that just happen to be vegetarian.
2. Bringing lunch to work
Along with being cheaper and healthier for you, bringing your own lunch also produces less waste. Instead of going through the drive through for a burger, fries, and a drink you can bring your own food and not have to throw away the bags, cups, or napkins. Not only that, but staying at work and not driving to the fast food place will save your gas.
3. Bringing my own utensils and napkins
I received a really nice table cloth and cloth napkins from an old friend of mine. The napkins are just plain white cotton but I've started packing them with my lunch. This way I have less to throw away from my lunch, and I get to feel a little more upscale with my nice napkin. And for the utensils, it's more because I push down hard with my utensils when I use them, and I HATE it when the plastic ones break. By bringing my nice metal ones, I'm saving myself potential frustration.
4. Ditching paper towels
I have a bunch of hand towels from a gym I used to be a member of. They're not very soft, so they were not very good for wiping sweat off your face, but they wash up beautifully and do really well to wipe up messes. I've basically gotten rid of paper towels and use these instead. I have enough of them that I can use them once (or twice) and throw them in the laundry.
5. Lowering the thermostat in the winter
I am going to be really honest here and say that I over use my AC. I have done so ever since I first lived in AC 4 years ago. To make up for it, I keep the thermostat as low as I can bear it in the winter and walk around in sweatshirts and sweatpants all winter long.
6. Wash clothes in cold water
Washing clothes in cold water saves energy which in turn saves you money. They also now make detergent that works best in cold water. I've found however that my regular detergent works just fine on all my clothes using cold water.
7. Cloth grocery bags
It took me a surprisingly long time to get around to using cloth grocery bags, but I'm not sure why. Once I started using them, I couldn't imagine going back. Not only do they hold more without ripping, they're easier for me to carry. On top of that, the ones I use are made from recycled plastic bags and they are also recyclable.
8. Not drinking bottled water
I've invested in two water pitchers with built in filters and they have been great investments. I get the great taste of bottled water without the plastic.
9. Reusing glasses
At home I drink mostly water or juice. To cut down on the number of dishes I have to do, if I've only had water in my glass I'll reuse it. I save water because I have to wash fewer dishes and saving water, saves money, and of course is green. :-)
