Conscious consumption is a goal of many, especially when it comes to food. As recently as a few months ago, my grocery shopping was guided by a commitment to minimizing my environmental impact. This meant buying food with no packaging, eating mostly vegan, and not wasting food. I rode my cargo bike to the nearest grocery chain store and filled my jars and cloth bags with the bulk goods and produce my family of five would need for a week.  I prided myself on being almost “zero waste” and making many things from scratch: bread, yogurt, nut milks and butters.

I did not shop at Costco. Other than a few jars of lentils, I didn’t stock much dried food in our pantry. But then, in early March, the bulk bins suddenly “closed.” They were replaced with items in pre-portioned plastic bags. The store asked customers to stop using their own containers. My world was turned upside down. And, worse, my flour jar was empty.

I was genuinely flummoxed: where did one buy raisins if not from the bulk section? Pepitas? What about flaxmeal; does that come in a plastic bag somewhere? All the staples my family was used to consuming seemed elusive. I couldn’t find them in bulk, or even in packaging for that matter. 

My main concern was, of course, the unsettling news about COVID-19. But, practically, I needed to feed my family. Amidst these worrying reports and “stay at home” orders, a glimmer of hope: I saw on social media that several Community Supported Agriculture options were providing local delivery. I immediately signed up for two, and felt the tension in my chest ease slightly with the possibility that I’d found a way to support the local food economy and nourish my family.

Now, once a week, the ultimate gift appears on my doorstep: minimally-packaged local produce. I peer into the boxes and then strategically plan our meals. I cook the most perishable vegetables first. I am careful not to waste anything edible. We’ve enjoyed wild mushrooms cooked in farm-fresh butter, sautéed carrot tops, muffins baked from bruised apples, and sour-milk pancakes. We are surviving without the bananas to which we were accustomed. I am pleased I’ve always known how to deliciously prepare those lentils I had in my pantry.

As for my flour jar, a generous Costco-loving friend gifted me a 25-pound bag. One of the CSAs offers bags of hard red wheat flour, too. It turns out flaxmeal and raisins aren’t too hard to find in packaging. The carbon footprint of that plastic waste is counteracted by the sustainable local agriculture I am supporting. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to return to the bulk bins. But I do know I’ll be keeping these CSA subscriptions indefinitely.

When I first started my “zero-waste journey” I was pretty singularly focused on the waste. I started buying more dairy milk than ever before because I could get it from a local dairy in a reusable glass bottle.

But, as my journey has progressed, I’ve become less focused on tangible waste and more focused on the broader environmental implications of what I’m purchasing and consuming. I recently read an article that included a comment from a food company executive. He said that consumers don’t care about the environmental impact of what they’re buying, they just care about the taste. I disagree. I think more and more of us are taking some time to weigh the ethical consequences of what we purchase and consume.

The issues that plague each variety of plant-based milk are particularly hard to sift through. Almonds are bad: too much water. Coconut milk is marred by the problems of worker exploitation in Southeast Asia. So what is one to do? Which milk should we drink? Thankfully, The Guardian broke it down pretty well for us last month. This article, along with others I’ve read on the topic, have formed my latest set of guidelines to inform which milk is “best” in terms of environmental impacts. These may change in time, but for now, here are my 5 tips for deciding which milk is “best”:

one // Dairy milk is always the worst choice. Even if it’s from a local dairy in a glass bottle, the environmental footprint of raising dairy cows for milk is significantly worse than any of the plant-based milk alternatives.

two // Almond milk, coconut milk, cashew, and rice milk are the worst of the plant milks, but they’re still much better than dairy! Not only does almond milk require way more water than any other dairy milk alternative, but 70% of bees are called on each spring to pollinate almonds. We don’t have that many bees! Cashews are pretty water-intensive crop, too, but the good news for consumers is that they’re relatively cheap. As for coconut milk, the international demand for it is ruining the lives of farmers. Rice milk is also a major water hog, and rice production contributes more greenhouse gases than any other plant (yikes I might need to reassess our rice consumption).

three // Hemp, hazelnut, flax, and soy are all good picks. I, personally, am thrilled that soy is “okay” again after people were all against it for a few years. The looks I sometimes get whey I try to order a soy latte! No one should be eating too much soy, and it should ideally be organic, but it’s totally fine in moderation. Hazelnuts grow on trees which help capture carbon, and are also grown in moist climates so they require less water. Hemp and flax are “niche crops” grown in northern hemispheres which makes them more sustainable than monoculture crops.

four // Oat milk and pea milk are good, with a few caveats: Oat milk is on the up and up (just check out any local cafe!), and it’s good from a growing viewpoint, but there’s a bit of concern about how many pesticides are used on oats. If you’re buying organic you might be better off, but there are unfortunately many organic forms of pesticides that are still pretty bad. Chobani just released an oat milk yogurt which kind of seems like both a good and a bad sign to me…As for pea milk, it’s pretty good on the environmental side, but the main producer Ripple ships it’s peas to the US from France, so that’s not ideal. I’m going to dig a bit deeper on this one.

five // Buy shelf-stable TetraPak cartons, not the ones in the dairy aisle. Milk cartons are made of three materials: aluminum, plastic, and paper. TetraPak presses these three layers together instead of gluing them. This means TetraPak is much easier to recycle than the glued ones. TetraPak also has a clearly defined sustainability mission in which they commit to many progressive environmental practices such as those that support a more circular economy.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this much about your milk? What are your favorites? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not 100% vegan. But you cannot deny the studies that show the immense environmental impacts of animal agriculture. Get informed and then make your decisions!

Here in Denver we are so lucky to have a forward-thinking company that is offering city dwellers zero-waste grocery delivery! Infinity Goods launched last fall, and keeps adding new products all the time. I’ve been following them on social media since the beginning, but finally placed my first order last week!

Not to sound over-confident, but I’m pretty darn good at zero-waste grocery shopping. However, it takes a lot of time. A LOT. When I go to the grocery, it’s more or less the only thing I plan for that day. I have to gather my bags and jars, bike to and from the store, shop for an hour or so, come home and unload, and transfer all the food into jars or containers. When you order from Infinity Goods, everything comes ready to be put in the fridge or pantry. Not to mention everything looks beautiful in reusable containers.

On their website, Infinity Goods offers bulk products and loose produce from local Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, as well as other local markets. They don’t carry meat, but aren’t 100% vegan: they offer some dairy products.

But what’s better than that, is that they’re sourcing several products directly from local companies. So you can buy things like ketchup, tofu, cheese, ice cream and pasta in reusable packaging (or compostable packaging, in the case of cheese) from a local company! How cool is that?

They also are working with local companies who will take back their containers to reuse. I tried the salad dressing from Bloombox and Unwrapp’d energy bites. The dressing is GREAT. I won’t get the energy bites again - too expensive for just 6 balls. I make this kind of thing at home for much cheaper. But if you’re buying Larabars or similar, these would be a good choice.

Another win: EGGS. Eggs with no packaging! Look at those beauties below!

The jars and produce bags are given to you with your order, and you return them the next time you place an order. Or you can just request pick up on their website. I loved how on-point their packaging and branding is. A zero-waste nerd’s dream!

They’re still a relatively new company, so they’re ironing out a few details (for example, some of my jars were labeled with dry erase marker which wiped off and could not longer be read). But they were super open to my feedback and helped address some of my concerns!

As with most delivery services, you’re paying a bit more for the convenience. Infinity Goods prices things by item number or jar size, instead of weight, so it’s hard to do a direct price comparison to Sprouts or WF. However, I priced out some of the items by weight and found I was only paying a little bit more per pound. Totally worth it for the time saved, in my opinion.

If you want to try out their service, use the code PLASTICFREE2020 for 10% off an order. Or you can use the code LOVEOVERPLASTIC to get free delivery February 10-13. This post isn’t sponsored; these codes are available to everyone. I just wanted to share this awesome company. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions!

Have you tried them? What do you think? Would you want this offered in your city?

Happy 2020! I have been thinking about a few goals for the year recently. I realize that one can make goals anytime, and every moment is a chance for a change in one’s actions or behavior. I can see the argument against resolutions; against trying so hard at something you could have been doing all along just because it’s a new year. But there’s no denying that change from one year to a new one prompts people into a state of personal reflection. For me, this has felt especially true this year. I’ve been craving some changes; some goals. It feels like the right time to set some intentions for the months ahead.

I just reading a New York Times piece about eco-resolutions. The piece noted: “Climate change is not a problem that can be solved or mitigated enough by individual behavior, though it is good, important and a place to start.”

Well, shoot. I guess I should nix my resolutions then.

NO! Duh. The NYT goes on to say:

“We can’t fix this alone. We can’t all do everything. But, we can all do one thing. So just pick one thing — whether it’s eating less red meat, or composting, or riding your bike to work, or cleaning up plastic litter in your community, or buying secondhand clothing — and actually do it.”

This year, I’m picking five things. Four of them have something to do with my environmental impact. One of them might be slightly bad for the earth, but good for preserving and cultivating relationships. One or two of them are actions that I’d consider significant individual efforts to combat the climate crisis.

one // Don’t buy any clothes.
I like to shop. I like new clothes. I like feeling pretty. For years now, I’ve mastered the “art” of consignment shopping. I can find pretty good pre-owned clothes. And because I’m buying $2.99 shirts at Goodwill, I tell myself it’s okay. But, really, I have way too many clothes. I have many things I like, but a lot of items I don’t really like. And too many things that don’t fit quite right. It seems, for a long time now, I’ve prioritized quantity over quality.

Having a small wardrobe of high-quality items is the ideal for which many of us are striving. However, I don’t really know how to get there without (irresponsibly) ditching most of my clothes and buying new items (that have used a lot of resources to create).

I don’t really have the answers right now, but I think a first step is to stop bringing more in to my closet. To wear what I have. Hopefully I’ll wear out a few things. After a year, I’ll reassess. Any and all suggestions and comments welcome!

two // Send a card by mail to someone once per month.
There was a time, long ago, that I was really good at sending letters. As a kid, I was all about pen pals. But in recent years I’ve totally sucked at sending mail to those important to me. I could blame it on technology or kids or both, but really all that matters is that I’d like to change. Each month I’ll send a card to someone. A “thank you” or a “happy birthday” or just a “hi.”

three // Walk or bike for any trip less than 2 miles (one way).
This is more of a “keep” than a “start.” I’ve been aiming to do this for most of 2019, but I’m going to keep prioritizing carbon-neutral transportation for short trips. I’m hoping to expand my range a bit too. If all of us made this change, it would have a huge impact on the amount of fossil fuels we’re putting into the atmosphere.

four // Make homemade pasta at least once.
We have a pasta maker. I never use it. I really like pasta. I want to make it. Hopefully more than once. But at least once this year!

five // Learn some basic sewing skills.
I’m not planning to make my own clothes or anything crazy, but I’d like to be able to fix things and maybe make some simple items like produce bags. I found an old sewing machine for free on Facebook. I’m going to pick it up tomorrow, and hopefully get started soon after that!

//

What are your goals for the year? I’d love to hear! Particularly your “eco-resolutions!”

Just like that, summer is almost over and “back to school” time is upon us. Well, in Colorado, at least. With heading back to school comes supply shopping. I have to be honest, I LOVED shopping for my school supplies as a kid. Picking out the perfect new notebook and a fun new set of pencils. Getting it all organized. But, still being honest, school supplies that are made of natural materials that do not end up in the landfill are infinitely more beautiful and exciting, in my opinion.

Stop for just a second and think about how many schoolchildren there are across the country. Across the world. And how many of them are buying a pack of Crayola plastic markers for school. And plastic glue sticks. And plastic folders. And plastic binders. And plastic plastic plastic. Where’s it all going to go when they’re done with it or it break? Ok, enough thinking about that, it’s depressing.

In an effort to “green up” your school supplies, here are my tips:

one // Use what you have. Scour your house for leftover paper from last year. Tear pages out of a half-used notebook and send it to school with your kid (no teacher is going to count the number of pages!). Collect some slightly used crayons to make a full set. Take the free folder you got from a work event and put a sticker on it. Don’t buy supplies unless you truly don’t have them.

two // Look for supplies at secondhand stores. I often find paper, pens, pencils, tape, binders, markers and more at Goodwill and other thrift stores. I’m not sure why they’re there or why they didn’t get used, but someone needs to use them up! It’s always better to buy used than to buy “eco-friendly.”

three // Ask around. I posted on a FB group that I was looking for 1” white binders with clear inserts on the front. Turns out someone works in a courthouse where lawyers leave tons of binders lying around after hearings. So I’m going to go “save” two binders and my daughter will be all set for 2nd grade! You never know unless you try.

four // Work together with classmates and friends! Maybe arrange a school supply swap? Or buy things in bulk quantities and split them up amongst the class. Often things are sold in sets that might be more than you need.

five // When all else fails, buy responsibly. The sustainable goods market is taking off, and it’s not as hard as it used to be to find non-plastic materials that are okay for the earth.

Check out these sites:

• Wisdom Supply Co. - They have almost everything! markers, crayons, notebooks, folders, pencils, dry erase markers…be sure to read their descriptions of products if you have questions. Very helpful. They also have a fantastic document that shows how to swap their products for the more “traditional” ones you might see on your kid’s supply list.

• Package Free Shop - Binders, notebooks, pencils, and crayons. Good place to shop if you also need some household items.

• The Ultimate Green Store - Good selection of pencils, markers, and paper products. Other products too, such as backpacks and household items.

• Onyx and Green - (Available on Amazon) Made mostly of recycled and natural material. Good middle-ground products.

What do you think? Will you give any of these products a go? Or just buy the traditional ones? Does Crayola pay schools/teachers a dividend or something?

Happy back to school, everyone! Now, if someone could just tell me what to do about the two plastic containers of Clorox wipes I’m supposed to buy…

Yesterday, at Sprouts grocery store, I saw more people than ever shopping the bulk section with cloth bags! Fantastic! I was delighted, and give huge props to Sprouts: they’ve started selling their own cloth bags and are using marketing to encourage their use.

However, people seemed confused about how to mark the PLU number on their bulk items. A few were using twist ties (wasteful!) while others were writing the numbers on their grocery lists. I offered up my washable marker once or twice, and the recipients seemed slightly perplexed at why I cared about their grocery shopping experience, but also grateful.

My point here is, even whey you’re trying to reduce your waste, there can be a lot of logistical roadblocks. So to keep things as simple as possible, here’s my 10-step guide to buying low waste groceries:

• one // Make a list. Divide it into sections:

  • bulk items

  • produce

  • deli

  • “middle of the store” items
    

• two // At home, gather your materials:

  • cloth bags for produce and bulk

  • a washable marker

  • large reusable grocery bags

  • empty glass milk containers (if applicable)

  • a couple sturdy containers for the deli counter (if desired)
    

• three // Go to the store. Walk or bike if you can!
  

• four // Stop in the bulk section for any products that were on your list. You want to make sure you have enough bags for the things you really need. Use your washable marker to write the PLU code in large numbers on the outside of the bag, and then fill with the desired amount.
  

• five // Shop produce. When you’re putting your produce in the cart, place it away from your bulk items so any moisture from the produce doesn’t touch the washable marker on your bulk bags. Put things in reusable produce bags if they fall into one of these four categories:

  • You’re buying several of one item (eg. apples or oranges); this will help the cashier weigh them.

  • You’re going to eat the outside of the item and don’t want to wash it (I put many items directly in my cart: cucumbers, cabbage, apples, peppers… but I wash them before eating).

  • You’re buying different types of a similar food. For example, I like to try many kinds of tangerines and oranges. It can get confusing for the cashier if they have to sort by type. (And sometimes you might be charged more if they lump them all together under the code for the most expensive type!)

  • The item is delicate. Such as lettuce and other greens, broccoli, stone fruits, pears, mushrooms, etc.
    

• six // Shop the middle of the store for low-waste items such as:

  • Pasta in cardboard boxes.

  • Legumes and other items in aluminum cans.

  • Sauces, salsas, and juice in glass containers.

  • Beverages in cans.
    

• seven // Return to the bulk section to use up your remaining bags (as desired). Look for items you commonly eat that are on sale or other new treats you might want to try. The beauty of bulk is you don’t have to buy very much. I often get just a handful of something new to see how we like it.
  

• eight // Go to the deli counter and politely request they put your meat or cheese in your own container(s). I’ve never had anyone say “no” to me here in Denver, but I’ve heard it can be difficult in other cities depending on their health codes and ordinances. I do, however, stay close by and watch carefully to refuse any plastic they might slip in. Often the deli worker feels weird about putting the sticker directly on my container so they try to put it on a plastic bag and hand that to me. Obviously, this defeats the purpose, so just enthusiastically tell them they can stick it right to your container!
  

• nine // Hit up the dairy section for milk, eggs, butter, etc. I buy local dairy milk in reusable glass bottles. I always check the back of the fridge for ones with later expiration dates. I also buy two cartons 18 eggs every time I go to the store. Eggs keep for a long time. Butter is unfortunately hard to buy without packaging. I buy the biggest package available; sometimes you can get a pound of butter in one wrapper instead of 4 individually-wrapped sticks.
  

• ten // Check out. Watch carefully so the cashier doesn’t put a rubber band on your eggs or put something in a plastic bag. Sometimes they have questions or comments about my reusable bags, but usually they just figure it out. I assume they experience all kinds of quirky behavior with patrons!

Changing your consumption habits is often massively complicated by the large corporations that dominate the retail landscape. Big “box stores” and major chains seems to sell everything in plastic or other non-recyclable packaging. To decrease your waste, seek out the smaller, local retailer. The one who cares about not only their bottom line, but also the earth. Although, they do, probably care about their bottom line, they just know there’s a great market out there for people who want high-quality produce that aren’t super bad for the environment!

Anyway! Here are some great spots to get zero-waste supplies in Denver:

Joyfill // 3842 Tennyson Street / Berkeley
Lots of beauty products. Soaps. Kitchen and bathroom supplies. Fantastic owner.

The Zero Market (inside Stanley Marketplace) // 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora, CO 80010
All the things, minus food. Essential oils. Soaps. Bath + beauty. Teas. Kombucha. Containers. They make many of their own products, too, like deodorant and toothpaste.

Homefill (inside Modern Nomad) // 2936 Larimer Street / River North
Beauty, cleaning, and household products. And pet treats! This RiNo spot is convenient for urbanites to fill-up, since many other stores are outside the city center.

Eco Mountain Modern Living // 4350 Alcott Street / Sunnyside
Not strictly refill; they stock a range of “eco-friendly, toxic-free and sustainable products.”

Capital Tea // 1450 S Broadway / Capital Hill
Tea! Get your own tea ball or pot and enjoy loose tea without plastic. Did you know almost all tea bags (even those that don’t look like it) contain plastic?

Sprouts Farmers Markets // various locations
My favorite bulk section for food. They’re increasing products all the time are are very receptive to customers bringing their own bags or jars. Some products are only available in organic or non-organic. Great spices too and some teas.

Lucky’s Market // 3545 Wadsworth Boulevard / Wheat Ridge
Ok, if this was closer to my house it would definitely beat out Sprouts. Fantastic bulk section! Most containers are pull down ones, which makes filling up cloth bags or jars very easy. They carry some foods you can’t find elsewhere like specialty flours, orzo, dates, soybeans, and candy.

Whole Foods // various locations
WF is ok for bulk. It varies a lot by location. Union Station is great for bread and meat, but their grains etc. is limited. Check your local store.

Mouthfuls Pet Store // 4224 Tennyson Street / Berkeley
Pet treats!

I love food: Trying new foods. Going out to eat. Ordering Chinese.

But you know what I no longer love? Take out.

Since becoming more intentional about avoiding single-use packaging, going out and ordering food has become more stressful. When I don’t feel like cooking, the option of ordering take out is not a suggestion that puts me at ease. It does quite the opposite.

So, what to do? Here are five ways I avoid the terribleness that is single-use foodware:

I rarely order “take-out” or “to-go” food. This might initially sound like a bit of a downer, but honestly I feel alright about it. Food never tastes as good when you order it as it does in a restaurant. And all the new delivery services are expensive. Plus, take-out food isn’t usually the healthiest. When I’m feeling lazy about making dinner, we eat something super simple like a frittata, baked potato, rice bowl, pancakes or granola. Even if what I come up with isn’t healthy, at least it’s a lot cheaper than take out.

I order pizza. Yep, that’s our main source of delivery. Pizza. It comes in a box that is reusable (great for poster making!) or compostable (the greasy bottom part). Just make sure to ask for no condiment packets and NO “PIZZA SAVER” (that silly plastic table they put in the center of the pizza.

I BYO utensils and cups. I always have small metal cups and reusable utensils and straws in my bag. This way, if we go to a restaurant to dine in, but they’re using disposables (the worst!) then I can still minimize my waste. The cups come in handy for splitting beverages amongst the kids. Or at an event where they’re serving wine in a plastic cups! I have about 10 of them that I bought at H-Mart. Asian grocery stores are a great place to find stainless steel cups and plates.

I take a container everywhere. I always have a little bag, beeswax wrap, or container in my bag for food. If we eat out and there are leftovers, I slide them into my container. Never once have I gotten any negative comments or looks from a server or fellow diner. It works great; you can even take the extra bread! Health codes have provisions about restaurants touching your container. But they can put it on their plates and then YOU can put it in your container. So, even if you don’t want to dine in, you can still order “for here” and then just take it with you!

I usually use an old plastic container because it’s light. But my favorite are the Onyx stainless steel containers. If you can’t find them at a store near you, order (with free shipping!) from the Package Free Shop!

I tell restaurant workers and managers how I feel about single-use foodware. Last month, in California, Berkeley City Council unanimously passed a groundbreaking ordinance aimed at reducing the use of single-use disposable foodware. Restaurants are now required to use real plates and cups and utensils for customers dining in. For takeaway, containers must be compostable and come only at a 25 cent fee. And that’s not all! The city is working on implementing a program of reusable to-go containers with pick up and drop off locations around the city.

This is an example of how real change will happen. We need our systems to fundamentally change. I haven’t started pushing the Denver City Council yet (frankly, our city has a lot of other issues to address first that Berkeley probably addressed in the 1990s), but telling restaurants that I don’t like their single-use foodware is a good place to start. Just last weekend we went to a great local restaurant and our only complaint the whole meal was the plastic drink stirrer in a cocktail.

Demand what you want as a consumer!

Below a picture from a trip I made to Safeway about 2 years ago. This was, clearly, earlier in my zero-waste “journey.” I used to buy some of these items regularly. Now, they are things I only buy a few times a year if I’m really in a food jam or it’s a special treat.

Nevertheless, these items show some of the challenges of shopping without packaging. There are many items you just can’t get. There was a time when I’d buy things anyway…I’d say to myself “well, raspberries only come in plastic, so that’s my only option.” But now, I just won’t buy raspberries. There are so many other fruits available without packaging. It’s hardly a sacrifice!

There are probably less than 1,000 people in the whole world who are actually going to sort of achieve a zero-waste lifestyle. For the rest of us, we have to use our consumer power to “vote.” If we won’t buy things in plastic packaging, we’re sending a message that we want different options. This is our power. Ask the manager at the store. Email the company. There are a lot of ways to make your opinion known. Don’t be shy; express it! And, if you really truly want the raspberries, get them!

1. Pasta. For some reason, pasta is rarely available in the bulk section. Occasionally I've found whole wheat macaroni at Whole Foods and tri-color rotini at Sprouts. But you can't count on it. So, I usually buy pasta in as much paper or cardboard packaging as possible (instead of in plastic bags). It's hard to find a box that's 100% recyclable, but most stores have pasta in cardboard boxes with just a tiny bit of plastic.

2. Alternative milk. I buy cow's milk in reusable glass bottles. I sometimes make nut milks at home. I buy coconut milk in cans. But as a family of 5, we go through a good amount of milk in coffee, cereal, etc. Tetra-pak (shown above, what many milks come in) is not at all a good choice. It's terribly difficult to recycle because it's a combination of plastic, aluminum and paper. Denver now has facilities to recycle it (as do most major U.S. cities), but it's questionable how many cartons are actually being captured and whether or not the material salvaged can really be used in any meaningful way. I buy in moderation and try to buy in a plastic jug if possible. because simply plastic is actually more recyclable.

3. Bread. Thanks to my mom, I have an awesome recipe for homemade bread. I make it regularly. If I don't have it in me to bake, I try to buy a loaf of bread without packaging from a local bakery. But let’s face it: life happens and the kids still need school lunches. Occasionally I buy bread at the grocery. I like this Dave's bread because it's one of few on the market that doesn't have added sugar. Plus it has a good amount of protein per slice. I reuse the bags and then take them back to the store recycling bins for plastic film.

4. Tuna + Beans. Aluminum is one of the most sustainable forms of packaging. Cans contain more recycled content than plastic or glass containers. They are easily melted and reformed into more packaging. They're light to ship. If a type of product is available in aluminum I will chose that over glass or plastic 100% of the time. When I occasionally buy my kids juice, I buy pineapple juice that comes in cans.

5. Yogurt. This is the worst thing I buy! Even though I've started making yogurt at home, and my kids enjoy it, when given the option to pick a "special treat" at the store, they often choose a fancy yogurt. They love the novelty of it, I guess? I hate it. I’ve gotten better at saying “no” or opting for the ones in glass instead, but occasionally I cave. I’m human. I like making my kids happy, and yogurt is a lot better than many things they could pick. I recycle the plastic...but that doesn't really make it much better.

6. Produce stickers and tags. Not much we can do about these unless the industry standards change. Even farmers' markets often have produce with stickers. I try to take the stickers off as soon as I get home so we don't accidentally compost them (on banana peels, avocado skin, etc.).

7. Tortillas. We eat a lot of tortillas. I really want to get a tortilla press and learn how to make my own, but in the meantime I reuse the resealable bags for storing food and produce.

8. Frozen peas. I buy almost all of our produce without packaging. But peas are the vegetable my kids will consume the most of, and so I like to have a “back up” bag in freezer for those times when there aren't any other vegetables in the house or I'm super tired or lazy. I wish fresh peas were more available. Maybe this summer I can find a bunch and shell them an freeze. #goals

::

Other things I occasionally buy with problematic packaging:

• Cheese

• Fish/seafood

• Tofu

• Dates

• Potato chips

• Frozen foods at the Asian grocery - dumplings, baozi, etc.

Foods we love but I try not to buy because of their packaging:

• Clementines

• Grapes

• Cherry tomatoes

• Baby carrots

• Rice cakes

• Crackers

What about you? Do you think about the packaging on the foods you buy? What tips do you have to share?