From Guest Blogger Olivia Jones: Five Ways to Go Green in Your Kitchen
Female Hands Framing Gradated Custom Kitchen Design Drawing and Photo Combination.
If there’s a single trend that has been in the spotlight this year and has the potential only to grow in the following years as well, that’s the health and fitness revolution with its tendency to green up every aspect of our lives, from our eating habits to our choice of wardrobe. With health and Earth-friendly choices as the pivotal reasons behind this change of mindset, it’s no wonder that interior design, as well as our own behavior at home, are taking the leap of green faith as well.
To put it simply, it’s time to elevate your kitchen life to the next level of sustainability and eco-friendly choices, so as to safeguard your own well-being, and do your best to heal our pale blue dot one small, but significant step at a time!
Swap your detergent
We all strive to keep a clean kitchen, even when we make the biggest mess in an attempt to invent the next best cupcake combo. That often includes a slew of store-bought detergents, including the ones that we buy in the attempt to de-crust and de-grease all of our pots and pans. However, these are typically filled with all sorts of nasty chemicals that can wreak havoc on your health. And no, unfortunately, they are not washed completely away, but their residue gets ingested the next time you enjoy your meal.
There are “cleaner” ways to clean – with just a handful of natural ingredients such as baking soda, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, you can mix and make your own cleaning detergents that can be used both for your kitchen floors and your dishes. All without poisoning yourself or the environment! Not to mention the level of affordability.
Buy organic, local and seasonal
When thinking about a “green” kitchen, we often get stuck on appliances, and while they truly are a crucial part of your new eco-friendly design, the food you buy and prepare is equally powerful in impacting the environment. So, buy local, to support your local farmers, plus you have the advantage of knowing the source and contents of your dinner table.
By choosing organic and seasonal, you’ll escape the pesticide pollution and you won’t be adding to the traffic pollution from the import transportation that’s needed to bring all the food to supermarkets.
Buy in bulk
Shopping in bulks and using your own bags while doing so helps preserve the environment to a great extent. First of all, you will spend significantly less fuel with fewer trips to the store, thus reducing your carbon footprint, and you will be able to stock up on fresh produce in less wrapping.
Preferably, stick to your own non-plastic bags that are reusable with every purchase, durable and sturdy, so that you can prevent plastic pollution and protect the planet.
Energy and time-efficient cooking
Choosing the right cookware means lowering your energy bills, which will also mean saving energy in the long-run and cutting your cooking time in half, if not even more. Using Earth-friendly materials, such as stainless steel and steering clear of Teflon and other non-stick toxic options is another way you’ll reduce pollution and stay healthy.
For example, Scanpan cookware selection combines the best of both worlds – the copper core allows for even distribution of heat. This means that food will be prepared evenly in less time and with low heat (which equals energy-efficient cooking), and stainless steel is a safe solution both for you and the planet.
Don’t forget to recycle and reuse
Glass jars and bottles are a perfect way to store your leftover foods and beverages without plastic containers. Then again, they don’t absorb flavors and scents, so you can reuse them as many times as you please, and with all sorts of different ingredients without ever mixing the aromas.
And items such as plastic bags, milk cartons, bottles, Tupperware, corks, appliances – all of these have the potential to be recycled, but most of all, your food! You can compost your leftovers instead of throwing them away, and you can reuse them by making a creative mix out of what you have in the fridge. Look at it as an opportunity to use your cooking ingenuity rather than a waste!
Olivia is psychologist and entrepreneur from Brisbane. Mother of two beautiful children and proud owner of two silly boxer dogs. She is passionate writer, a traveler and conscious consumer, seeking healthy and sustainable products to incorporate into the lives of her family. Her motto is “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
