If you talk to a lot of people about their resolutions involving food this time of year, they can often be lofty and sometimes unsustainable for long periods of time. You might have something on your list like never eating sugar again or only cooking at home instead of getting takeout. I, myself, have gone down this path many a time, and while that’s great, I find it can be helpful to have some small attainable goals that are, admittedly, more reasonable.

This year, my focus is really cool because I’m just trying think more sustainably in many ways and think of different ways that me and my family can have a more eco-friendly impact on the world and in our community. Here are a few easy ideas to get your mind thinking greener for 2020:

Shop Locally


Buying fruits and veggies from a local farmer’s market, farm stand or food co-op has so many benefits. You get fresher food that has been ripened by the sun, rather than sprayed with gas to move the process along, you get to support your community and you will even reduce fuel and emissions that go along with long-distance shipping. 

BYOB


Reduce trash and plastic use by bringing your own bag to transport your groceries--even better if it is a reusable fabric tote bag or canvas produce bag. Just make sure you wash these fabric bags regularly since harmful bacteria can grow on them. If you do opt to use plastic bags, try and keep your eye out for bins at the store to recycle the used plastic bags.

Ditch Plastic Bottles

There are so many functional and stylish water bottles out there on the market so there is no reason to reach for buying the plastic ones anymore. Get your family a good water filter and bring a refillable sports bottle made of glass or aluminum instead.

Think About Reducing Waste When You Shop

Try to buy in bulk when you can (which usually means less packaging per item), pick fresh ingredients and look for products with recyclable packaging. Switch to cloth napkins, or buy paper towels and napkins that are labeled as “recycled”. Find a tutorial and make reusable snack bags with fabric and Velcro to replace zip-top bags.

Fire Up That Grill More Often


Outdoor grills typically use less energy than your stove and keep heat out of the house, reducing costly strain on your air conditioner. 

Clean Green and Mean

Try to avoid using synthetic chemicals to keep your house clean--instead, keep your pantry stocked with the best natural cleaners: baking soda, lemon juice, white vinegar, club soda, and essential oils. Don’t leave that tap water running while you are scrubbing dishes and set a goal to only run the dishwasher when it is completely full.

Do you have any other tips for being more mindfully green this year in the kitchen? I can’t believe how much my family has changed from just three years ago. We are so much more mindful about waste, recycling and water usage. While it might seem that one person cannot make much of a significant difference, it has been said that it is far better for tons of people to be a little better than just a few people to be perfect at recycling and reusing. These ideas could be some resolutions to strive for this year that will make you feel great and make a positive difference in the world.