Go up and down the aisles in your grocery store that sell juice. Notice how many of the juices are packaged and sold in plastic containers. Try not to buy juices that come in these plastic bottles.
I’ve taken a stand: I buy cranberry juice when it comes in a glass bottle. I go to a certain store in town to buy grape juice in a glass bottle instead of plastic.
Just try to avoid bringing to your house(and then throwing away) plastic battles and containers.
We’ve been told water in plastic bottles is not a good idea. I extend that thought to juices. Just watch how things are packaged and avoid plastics.
This post was submitted by Mary Trenkle.
Always pack a lunch or snacks if you are going to be out for more than 2 hours. Then you wont ever have to buy food while you are out which not only saves money, but is healthier than most food you buy out.
This post was submitted by marissa.
We keep the Sabbath. On Sunday we don’t do anything that makes others have to work, i.e. go shopping, eat at a restaurant, take a drive (in case we have a car problem), go to the movies. Instead we plan ahead for the items needed to cook and bake for Sunday. We go for walks.
This post was submitted by Karen.
Instead of using the plastic, disposable kind, I sewed draw-string sheer bags to be used for veggies at the grocery (or farmer’s market). These I made out of washed thrift store curtain sheers, cut up, re-sewn, and re-strung with left-over grosgrain ribbon for draw strings.
If you want to make a few, start with two pieces of curtain sheer (or other see-through and light-weight fabric) large enough for bundles of veggies. It’s important that the fabric be light weight - because your veggies are often weighed - and see-through so that the cashier can tell what you’re buying. Sew three sides together to make a sack. On the top, unsewn edge, turn down a casing, leaving an opening for the draw string. If, like me, you start with re-purposed curtain sheers, the casing for the curtain rod is already in there so you won’t even have to bother with making one. Bonus! Now insert draw string and whala - reusable veggie bags.
This post was submitted by Brandi.
Though I live in a busy metro area, I built a greenhouse last August and grow as much as I can for my family so that during the summer at least one meal a day is supplemented by food from the garden. I, also, am canning jams and tomatoes, as well as freezing vegetables and drying herbs for use when my garden is producing less in the colder months.
This post was submitted by Susan.
So much is compostable - egg shells, coffee grounds, bread, all fruit and veggie scraps, leaves, grass clippings, tea bags, etc. When mixed together, either outside, or inside with worms, a very nice organic soil is produced, which can be used outside for a garden, or inside for potted herbs. There is a science to composting so a little research may be required…
This is a fun activity which incorporates health and the elimination of more waste going to the landfills. Not to mention the cash savings from eating your own produce.
This post was submitted by Angie Kroening.
Our church, schools, and clubs always have food pantry donation requests. Whenever we sent in food we try to send in meals that are made meat free and organic. We send in marinara sauce, meatless chili, peanut butter, etc. This way we feel like we are helping the people who need help purchasing food in many ways-they are getting healthier food and helping the environment without any effort and hopefully we are introducing them to a food or product that they may not normally purchase.
This post was submitted by Sher.
I eat absolutely no processed food. All fruits and vegetables are purchased in their natural state plus I grow a few things at home. All meat is purchased from local farmers. No, I repeat NO, commercially grown meat. Purchasing whole foods in their natural states helps cut down on waste from packaging and eliminates unwanted chemicals and additives in food. Once I learned how to prepare these foods in different ways I found that it was actually a cheaper way to purchase top quality food so I have extra money in my pocket.
Here are what I call the bonus points of this lifestyle change:
*I have lost 20 pounds and I actually get to eat more food.
*Fewer trips driving to the dump to dispose of trash.
*Saved money on both food and gasoline.
*A skin condition that I have battled for years has totally cleared up with out medication.
Note=== I just found out about you, your website and your book this morning, please keep up the good work and help inspire others to start taking control of their lives.
This post was submitted by Jeanine.
I built a low cost tobacco baler to effortlessly crush and bale plastics (such as milk jugs, juice bottles, soft drink bottles, windshield washer fluid bottles, and any other plastic recyclables). Baling reduces the space required for recycling and makes transport to the recycling center much easier. The baler takes up 3′x 2′. They don’t pay anything for recycled plastic at our recycling center, but the money saved on trash bags and the environmental benefit makes it all worthwhile.
This post was submitted by Ken Brandle.
Imagine a minimal garbage lunch, saving money AND helping our planet.
Follow these steps:
Purchase a recycled lunch bag with containers. NO sandwich bags.
Purchase in bulk and pack quantity needed in containers. Say NO to individually packaged foods.
Recycled old clothes into cloth napkins. Cut into squares.
More importantly, don’t be tempted to re-purchase a lunch box each year. Keep your box clean and it will last a long time. Found ours at Fruitful Yeild.
This post was submitted by Mary Nerge-Elliott.