It’s easy to go green in the kitchen
With all the news in the media about global warming and the economy still trying to recover, everyone is trying to find money-saving and greener ways. One way to contribute is in the kitchen, and it’s easy to go green in the kitchen.
Reduce the amount of meat and poultry you eat. The more we reduce these foods, the better we can use the land they live on and reduce water pollution caused by their by-products and the chemicals used to raise them.
Buy fish that were not caught with trawl nets. Trawls do not discriminate which fish or aquatic mammals harm or kill. If your fish are raised on a farm, ask your fish dealer or fishmonger where they were raised and what types of chemicals are used to raise them. If you can’t tell, find a new place to buy your fish.
Check out local farmers markets. Not only will you buy fresher vegetables and fruits because they have traveled a shorter distance than the products you buy at your local grocery store; But farmers markets generally have a large number of farmers who practice organic farming. Organically grown produce has been grown without pesticides or genetically altered organisms. By sponsoring local farmers markets, you are also helping to support your local economy.
If you are concerned about water quality, install a water filtration system. Not only will you save money by not having to buy bottled water, but you will also be environmentally friendly by saving the environment tons of discarded plastic that never biodegrades.
Use cloth napkins. They are much more environmentally friendly than paper napkins and are much more durable. You can find cloth napkins that are more environmentally friendly than others by checking what they are made of. You want organic cotton or hemp to be really green in the kitchen.
We all love take-out from time to time, but everything about packaging is NOT very eco-friendly. If you succumb to bringing food and it is delivered to you, be sure to make it very clear to the person taking the order that you do NOT want utensils, condiments, or napkins. If you frequent a particular restaurant, ask the manager if you can bring your own food container and let him have that nasty styrofoam box.
When washing fruits and vegetables, fill a bowl with cold water to wash them instead of keeping the water running in the sink.
Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator to refill glasses during the day instead of running the tap every time you want to drink.
Buying in bulk will not only save you money, but it will also avoid all the excessive packaging that comes with buying smaller packages.
Cook in bulk whenever possible. You’re using less heat by cooking things at once, and then you can pack the leftovers to keep in the fridge for lunch or put them in the freezer for future use.
If you’re cooking in bulk, you won’t have a problem keeping your fridge full; This is good as it reduces the amount of energy your refrigerator needs to keep cool.
It’s easy to go green in the kitchen, you just have to stop throwing away as much as you used to and shop wisely when it comes to the food you’re putting on the table.