Month: November 2020

bookmark_borderSustainable Things to Buy This Black Friday

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Hey earth muffins, happy Thanksgiving! πŸ¦ƒ I hope everyone has a day full of food and love; don’t forget to keep your turkey celebrations low waste today! Tomorrow is a huge shopping day – while I don’t think many people will be mobbing the stores, there are tons of deals online! Black Friday is a great time to start your holiday shopping, so I thought I would share some sustainable products you can purchase this Black Friday in preparation for December… Let’s jump right into it!

Santa in Chimney Countdown to Christmas (Amazon affiliate link)

A picture of a wooden Santa in chimney countdown to Christmas

This is something my family uses every single year, so I have a lot of fun Christmas memories around it. Each night, you pull out a block which makes Santa fall further down the chimney. When you pull the last one (on Christmas Eve), he arrives at the bottom with his gifts! πŸŽ… It is just an adorable way to countdown to the holiday, especially with kids. It is made of wood and can be reused every year!

Recycled Paper Ornaments (Wandering Turtle Shop)

A picture of a recycled paper ornament handmade in Vietnam

Looking to add some more ornaments to your tree this year? Don’t opt for those crappy plastic ones, look at sustainable alternatives. The Wandering Turtle Shop offers these awesome recycled paper ornaments, which are handmade by women in Vietnam. They have traditional “ball” and “teardrop” shapes, but you can also find 11 other fun designs (even a mermaid!). 😍 I think these would make great gifts as well.

Bonne Maman Preserves Advent Calendar (Amazon affiliate link)

A picture of a Bonne Maman preserves and honey advent calendar

I LOVE advent calendars; they allow me to look forward to something each day even when it is cold and snowy outside. But, many advent calendars come with candies wrapped in plastic which is not good for the planet… So I love the idea of getting a little jar of jam or honey each day! The jars could be reused in so many different ways; and, it would be a great way to try out some new flavors without having to buy the full jar. πŸ˜‹

Chunky Arm Knit Blanket (Etsy shop CheeryLittle Sheep)

A picture of an arm knit gray wool blanket

I am a HUGE fan of cozy blankets. I wrap myself in one when I work from home, I currently have two on my couch, and even more in our linen closet. I absolutely love the look of these blankets, and it is so important to support small businesses on Black Friday. Etsy is a great place to find small shops, and it is awesome that Etsy offsets the carbon of every order. πŸŽ‰ I love that you can get these blankets in a bunch of different colors, as it ensures it will match your space!

Christmas Bakery Soy Candle (Amazon affiliate link)

A picture of a soy Christmas Bakery candle

Nothing screams the holidays more than a Christmas smelling candle. At the beginning of fall I featured some of my favorite soy candles for autumn; I could definitely write a similar post for winter, as holiday scents are my favorite! This candle company is based in the Midwest (yay!) and all of their candles are handmade. Definitely a brand to check out on Black Friday!

Zero Waste Sensitive Skin Face Mask (Etsy shop Clean Faced Cosmetics)

A picture of the Clean Faced Cosmetics allergy soothing face mask

I love Clean Faced Cosmetics! I use their cake mascara and foundation powder (if I actually wear makeup 😊) and have been itching to try some of their eyeshadows. They have a lot of cool self care products as well, including this face mask! I love that the shop owner is located in my city; she seems cool on Instagram, so I love to share her shop with you all!

Jasmine & Ylang Ylang Butter Block (Amazon affiliate link)

A picture of the Ethique butter block

The last product I want to share in this post is from Ethique. I’ve talked about this brand in the past, and I absolutely adore their soap saving container (affiliate link). 😊 The colder weather means dry skin, so this butter block is perfect for the season! This shop does everything plastic free, and I love that this bar is the equivalent of 2 plastic bottles of products. Such a great thing to purchase this Black Friday! What are you going to be shopping for?

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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderWays to Celebrate an Eco Friendly Thanksgiving!

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Hey earth muffins! 2020 had its ups and downs, but I hope that you all are still thankful for something… Whether it be a family in good health or lockdown increasing your free time. 😊 Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays; you basically just eat food all day! While many Thanksgiving celebrations will look a little different this year, I hope everyone still feasts in some way. To ensure your holiday is “green”, here are my recommendations for an eco-friendly Thanksgiving!

A picture of an autumn forest with the words give thanks

Tips for a Zero Waste Turkey Dinner

I think the trend for this year (with Mister Corona) is smaller gatherings for Thanksgiving dinner. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it could lead to some excess food waste if the recipes aren’t modified for the new guest list. Food waste is a huge problem worldwide, so I suggest reading some of my tips to reduce food waste as much as possible! 😍

Some grocery stores are still struggling to stock everything, which might mean you weren’t able to get all of your usual ingredients. Don’t be afraid to stray from tradition – try something new this year! Especially if less people are there to judge the food, you might as well see if a new dish could be added to the turkey feast.

On a similar note, try to add more eco-friendly ingredients to your meal. Shop local at the farmer’s market or deli, use more plant-based foods, and try to avoid plastic packaging as much as possible. Holidays centered around food lead to a lot of waste in general, so do your part to avoid that as much as possible!

Set your table with reusables! I have been designated as the napkin folder in my family. My mom has nice cloth napkins for every holiday, and I find a creative way to fold them. While the Christmas tree fold is my personal favorite, there are a bunch of different ways to fold them for Thanksgiving! Having a fancy table set with a tablecloth, napkins, and nice dishes really makes your dinner feel like a feast. Plus, it saves on waste!

A picture of a thanksgiving table set with cloth napkins

Try Skyping in family members that are usually there. 😊 I mentioned in my ways to celebrate Halloween post that a virtual party is a great way to adapt to this year. I actually know people who do this yearly on Thanksgiving due to family in different countries, so why not give it a try? This will definitely make the holiday feel more “normal” as well. A great eco friendly way to celebrate Thanksgiving! πŸ¦ƒ

Other Eco Friendly Thanksgiving Ideas!

Thanksgiving in my family has always been more than just dinner. It is a day to be with your loved ones and reflect on the “goods” of the past year. Take some time and write down all of the things you are grateful for. 2020 had a lot of bad in it, but I bet you will still be able to come up with a list of the goods. My family likes to write down the five biggest things we are thankful for and then share them at dinner; it is such a great way to reflect together and see what each family member is thankful for!

A picture of a letterboard with the words Grateful on it

Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! My family watches it every single year, and I’m happy it wasn’t totally cancelled this year. While it will be different, I bet they will try to make it as “normal” as possible. I personally love to watch the snippets from Broadway shows at the very beginning; but, it is also fun to see all of the people celebrating in New York! 😊 Santa’s float is always the last one. It marks the start of the holiday season, but I may have already started listening to Christmas music… 🀫

If you are able to, watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. My family watches the Peanuts on many of the major holidays. I know that for Halloween at least they stopped putting it on TV this year, but I suggest trying to find it another way! The movies are really short and bring back a lot of nostalgia. Plus, I don’t think there are many other films centered around Thanksgiving. πŸ˜‚

Regardless of who you are celebrating with this Thanksgiving, I hope you find ways to make your holiday “green”. And, take some time to truly reflect on what you are thankful for. It will make you feel great, I promise! I am thankful that I have such amazing readers here on Life of an Earth Muffin! 🌎❀️ I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day this week!

How to have an eco friendly thanksgiving pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Reduce Your Food Waste

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Hey earth muffins! A few weeks ago I got an email from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) regarding a Food Matters Action Kit that they launched in September. This kit contains activities for kids and youth centered around spreading awareness of food waste. Such a great idea! 😍 As many holidays are coming up (especially Thanksgiving next week!), I thought I would share their tips on how to reduce food waste in your home. While these tips are important to think about always, they are especially important to think about with holidays centered around food.

Why is Food Waste so Important?

For starters, ONE THIRD of the food produced in the world is wasted. 😦 This statistic absolutely blew my mind – that’s so much food that could be utilized. This wasted food produces about 193 million tons of greenhouse gases; that’s the same amount as driving 41 million cars continuously throughout the year! So, it’s clear that wasted food is definitely a problem… What can you do to reduce it?

1. Plan out your meals

Instead of hitting up the grocery store and buying what looks good, plan out your meals for the week! I personally do this every single Sunday. 😊 My boyfriend and I have a cute menu letterboard in our kitchen, which also helps us keep to our planned out meals. If you don’t want to plan out all three meals each day, just try doing dinner. For lunches I usually just eat leftovers from the night before anyway, so that works out really well!

A picture of a letter board menu

2. Shop your kitchen BEFORE the store

After you plan out your meals for the week, look through your fridge/freezer/pantry before going to the store. You might be surprised at what you already have in the cupboards! If you notice that there are things in the pantry or fridge close to their expiration date, try incorporating them into some of the meals this week.

3. Throw as little food waste in the trash as possible!

When food gets trashed, it ends up in the landfill. Instead of breaking down and producing carbon dioxide, it will create methane. Methane is 25% more potent than CO2, so it is best to avoid it as much as possible!

4. Compost instead

Composting your food is a great alternative to throwing it in the trash. Even if you live in an apartment, there are still ways that you can compost. I personally pay for a composting service to pick up my compost twice a month; I honestly can’t believe how full the bucket gets sometimes. It definitely makes me realize that food waste is a problem that many don’t even think about.

A picture of a compost bin under the kitchen sink

5. Keep organized

Make sure your fridge/freezer/pantry is organized and accessible. This helps you know what you already have in the kitchen. I’m sure you’ve seen someone’s fridge that is a complete disaster, so don’t be like that! πŸ˜… Keeping organized also helps with meal planning and making lists for the grocery store.

6. Share food

If you end up having extra food, share it with others (be safe with Mister Corona though)! Take some to work, share on sustainable apps like Olio, drop off at a friend’s house, etc. Again, make sure that you are throwing away as little food as possible!

7. Use your freezer!

This is one of my favorite ways to reduce food waste. If my boyfriend and I cook something that results in a few extra servings, I will freeze them in mason jars. When I need a quick WFH lunch, I’ll pull something out. I also like to utilize my freezer for saving fruits that are about to go bad. They are perfect for smoothies! Pro tip: when freezing cut fruits/vegetables, freeze them on a baking tray first. This makes them freeze individually so when you put them into a jar you can still pull out the exact portion you want. 😍

A picture of mason jars filled with leftovers for the freezer

8. Learn creative cooking

When looking at the food already in your kitchen, you might be confused on what you can make with certain ingredients. Now is the time to learn how to cook with unique items! Scour Pinterest for new recipe ideas or put the ingredients into Supercook to get personalized recipes. Get out your creativity!

9. Rescue food

Don’t let perfectly good food go to waste! If you see marked down food at the grocery store because the expiration date is coming up, pick that first. Buy single bananas and stick them in the freezer. If you see food nearby on Olio, take it (if you need it of course!). Shop at food “thrift” stores if you have them nearby; I personally love my Aunt Millie’s bakery thrift store. πŸ˜€ There are so many great ways to rescue food!!

10. Spread the word

If you are interested in sharing fun and informative food waste activites, I highly suggest checking out the CEC’s Food Matters Action Kit. It has so many great facts inside! Regardless if you use the kit or not, it is important to spread awareness on food waste this holiday season. I hope you put some of these tips into practice next week and share them with your friends and family. 🌎❀️

How to reduce food waste pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderYay for Earth Review: Sensitive Skin Face Lotion

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Hey earth muffins! In my recent wishlist post, I mentioned the Yay for Earth lotion that I have been eyeing for quite some time now. After posting that, I realized that I should just treat myself – so I placed an order! 😍 I have been using this face lotion twice a day for a few weeks nows; it is the perfect time to share my thoughts on the product. Without further ado, here is my Yay for Earth review!

A picture of the 2 oz glass jar of Yay for Earth sensitive skin face lotion

What I Love About Yay for Earth

First, this company is uber sustainable! I’ve been a long-time follower of the owner (Stevie) on Instagram, and she definitely makes sure the company does everything it should. The lotions are packaged in glass (or a metal travel tin), which is awesome! Not only that, but the rest of the packaging is also eco-friendly. The box is cardboard, the tape they use is paper, and the packing peanuts are water soluble. I found so much joy spraying the peanuts in my sink until they dissolved. πŸ˜…

A picture of water soluble packing peanuts mostly dissolved in a kitchen sink

I also love that the lotion is made of only 4 natural ingredients – that’s right, four!! Instead of finding names of things you can’t pronounce on the label, this lotion has organic olive oil, organic shea butter, local beeswax, and organic pomegranate seed oil.

More Things to Love…

The fact that the lotion is made of simple ingredients is awesome, but it is also very effective too! I apply this lotion after washing my face each morning and then after I get out of the shower each night. My skin isn’t usually that dry, but the colder weather (and the hard water in my apartment) does make it get drier. This lotion is AMAZING! My skin feels so moisturized and healthy after I apply it; when I wake up in the morning it feels so soft too.

A picture of the back of the glass jar of Yay for Earth sensitive skin face lotion

I’ve also noticed that this lotion helps with my acne and sensitive skin. The Yay for Earth website shows some great before and after pictures of those with troubled skin; but, I didn’t want to expect too much even though I’ve been dealing with a lot more acne this past year. Like I mentioned in a recent post, the Mario Badescu face cleanser (affiliate link) literally saved my skin… But I still get some hormonal breakouts at certain points in my cycle. I have already seen a difference in my skin since using this lotion! My breakouts are less often, smaller, and the redness from old acne scars is slowly fading away. I’m super excited to see how this product continues to help my skin!

I also love that this lotion has a subtle smell. To me, it has a faint hint of honey, which probably comes from the local beeswax. I am not a fan of strongly scented products, as many “fragrances” are just chemically based. I love that this lotion barely has any smell, as it stays true to its sustainable background.

What I Dislike about Yay for Earth

A picture of the color of Yay for Earth sensitive skin face lotion

After using this product for a few weeks, there is nothing that I dislike about it. 😬 The only thing I can really think of is that it isn’t a typical lotion consistency – which was expected. This doesn’t bother me at all, but it could bother some people. The product feels oily (as it is oiled based), and you need only a tiny bit. If you are accustomed to other moisturizers this might take some getting used to.

Lastly, I was going to quickly talk about price. I purchased the 2 oz jar for $28, but there are three other sizes to choose from as well. Because you only need a small amount each application, this product will last me a long time – so I definitely think it is worth the price! There are many other brands that sell similar products for less than this, but also many who sell for more. So, use your dollars wisely and vote for sustainability! 😊 I’d 100% recommend the Yay for Earth lotion!

Yay for Earth face lotion review pinterest post
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow To Insert & Remove a Menstrual Cup

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Hey earth muffins! If you are looking to zero waste your period, a menstrual cup is a great option! Last year I was looking into the pros and cons of menstrual cups and wrote a whole post on that. One of my major cons was that I wasn’t sure if it would be easy to insert and remove… Now that I have been using the Lena cup (affiliate link) for a few months, I thought I would share my tried and true tips for inserting and removing cups. I hope these recommendations help any of you if you are deciding to switch too! 😊

How to Insert Your Menstrual Cup

Before you even think about putting it in your body, please sanitize it! 😬 I find that letting it float around in boiling water for a few minutes does the trick. Don’t worry about melting it; most cups are made from medical grade silicone! This is awesome because you can keep them clean AND they will last for many years.

After it is sanitized, it is time to insert. πŸŽ‰ When I researched menstrual cups, I found it strange that this step was not explained in detail. “Fold and insert” didn’t really help me when I was trying this for the first time! I was a pads girl and barely ever used tampons; so, the idea of shoving this cup down there was definitely nerve-racking. My top tip – find the fold that works best for you! Because I never really used tampons, I started with the “punch down” fold. This fold results in the smallest area for insertion:

A picture of a pink menstrual cup in the push down fold

But, after trying this out, it definitely didn’t work that well for me. The cup must create a seal when inserted; this fold wasn’t allowing the cup to fully open for me. Don’t be afraid to try many folds!! I personally like the “C” fold, but there are SO many options to try out. You could even get creative and make up your own. πŸ˜†

A picture of a pink menstrual cup in the C fold

Other Insertion Tips

Even with a perfect fold, you might still have trouble inserting the cup. If you need a bit of lubrication, I suggest running water over the cup before you put it in. It is actually a great idea to insert your cup in the shower, as you will be nice and “wet” and relaxed.

It is definitely a smart idea to know your own body before putting the cup in too. If you aren’t sure where your cervix is or what angle is the best for insertion, use your fingers to figure it out! Insertion is SO much easier if you know the correct angle and how far up you need to push the cup. Every cervix is different, which means cup placement differs for each person. Some people don’t need to insert them very high, while others need to put them a bit higher. If you inserted the cup and it feels uncomfortable or hurts, then you didn’t put it in the right place. Take it out and try again! πŸ™ƒ I have found that after I insert the cup, it helps to use my Kegel muscles to “pull” the cup up into the correct space.

How to Remove a Menstrual Cup

Once the cup is in, you can forget about it for up to 12 hours! I find it amazing that for $25 you can get a menstrual cup to use for years instead of having to throw away pads/tampons every few hours (affiliate link). 😍 So awesome for the planet and your wallet! After getting my cup in for the first time, I was definitely super nervous about getting it out…. But it actually isn’t hard at all…

A picture of a woman holding a pink menstrual cup

First, don’t be alarmed if the cup shifted or moved higher throughout the day. Wash your hands and then insert a finger until you can feel the stem of the cup. Do NOT pull on the stem – the cup is basically suctioned inside of you, so that will be painful. Instead, grab the base of the cup, squeeze gently to release the seal, and then pull the cup out. Remember that it will have blood in it, so I suggest removing it in the shower until you master getting it out without spilling anything. πŸ˜†

If you are having trouble locating the cup, don’t panic! There is nowhere the cup can go, it might just be higher than you expect. I have found that you can push down with your Kegel muscles and this can literally push out the cup… Try pushing and then see if that makes it easier to locate!

Overall, the first time I used a menstrual cup I thought that it would be easy to insert and hard to remove. But, I found the opposite. For me, it took a lot of tries to insert for the first time. Don’t get frustrated – it is a new experience and takes time to learn! It feels so exciting when you finally get it in! πŸ™‚ I am still learning the ins and outs of menstrual cups, but the Lena cup has been a great purchase (affiliate link)! I’d highly recommend it and (if anyone is interested) would love to write a full review on it at some point. Do your part and switch to a cup!

How to insert and remove a menstrual cup pinterest pin

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderEco Books to Read in 2020 – What’s on my List

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Hey earth muffins! A few weeks ago I shared my favorite books about sustainability with you all. Now that I am no longer in college, I have so much more time to read! πŸ“— Reading is one of my favorite things to do; this has been really helpful during the pandemic as it keeps me occupied at home! After sharing my favorite eco-friendly books, I thought you all might like to see what is currently on my “to-read” list. Just like last time, I will affiliate link all of these books to used copies on Amazon! 😍 I hope to start reading these as soon as I finish the book I have checked out right now. Let’s jump right into my books to read in 2020!

ECOrenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Cocreating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World by Marci Zaroff

A picture of an Ecorenaissance book

“ECOrenaissance provides inspiring tips and tricks for how to live and shop in harmony with nature without sacrificing style or luxury, and how best to benefit from the current renaissanceβ€”a global rebirth of sustainable economics, progressive ethics, and green cultureβ€”through the wisdom of eco-entrepreneurs, green fashion designers, organic food purveyors, and innovative leaders of this new movement.”

When I find myself talking with others about sustainability, I find that many think I have “given up” things to be eco-friendly. This is definitely not the case, but it seems to be a common misconception. Eco-friendly products in the past were often expensive, “ugly”, and uncommon… But that has changed with the surge of interest in sustainable production! This book expands on this idea by sharing how to live an elegant green lifestyle without sacrificing the comforts in your life. Marci has been working in the eco world for decades now. She even trademarked the term “ECOfashion” back in 1995, so I bet this book is filled with a lot of interesting information.

Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik

A picture of the cover of Stuff Matters, a book

“Miodownik studies objects as ordinary as an envelope and as unexpected as concrete cloth, uncovering the fascinating secrets that hold together our physical world. In Stuff Matters, Miodownik explores the materials he encounters in a typical morning, from the steel in his razor to the foam in his sneakers. Full of enthralling tales of the miracles of engineering that permeate our lives, Stuff Matters will make you see stuff in a whole new way.”

While not a typical “eco” book, I think books about our material possessions are great reads! They always make you re-think the objects you use without thinking every day. Plus, I bet there are a bunch of products that I think use little resources to make…. But probably take a lot more than I realize!

Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet. by Ashlee Piper

A picture of the cover of Give a Shit, a book

“Give a Sh*t guides you through the transition to a kinder, healthier, more conscious, and sustainable life like no book has done before. With a humorous and nonjudgmental tone, savvy eco-friendly lifestyle expert Ashlee Piper walks you through easy-but-impactful shifts anyone can make to live and be better every damn day.”

I have been wanting to read this book for SO long now; but, my library doesn’t have a physical copy of it yet. The book is organized by room, giving tips for each. While I’ve read a bunch of books set up this way, I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book in particular. I am sure some tips will be the same, but it is always fun to see another person’s perspective! Ashlee has done a lot of cool things in the eco-sphere, so I bet she has a lot of experiences to share along the way too! Definitely one of the books to read in 2020 for me. πŸ™‚

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

A picture of the cover of The World Without Us, a book

“If human beings disappeared instantaneously from the Earth, what would happen? How would the planet reclaim its surface? What creatures would emerge from the dark and swarm? In his revelatory, bestselling account, Alan Weisman draws on every field of science to present an environmental assessment like no other, the most affecting portrait yet of humankind’s place on this planet.”

The concept of this book is really cool – and it might become a reality if we don’t fix our relationship with the planet. 😬 Many eco/sustainable books focus on what we can do to the earth. Taking us out of the equation completely is such an interesting way to think about how our planet could recover by itself! This book has won a bunch of different awards, including Time’s #1 nonfiction book of 2007. I exclusively read nonfiction, so that ranking makes me want to read it even more!

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum

How to Give Up Plastic book cover

“How to Give Up Plastic is a straightforward guide to eliminating plastic from your life. Going room by room through your home and workplace, Greenpeace activist Will McCallum teaches you how to spot disposable plastic items and find plastic-free, sustainable alternatives to each one.”

While I probably have heard many of these tips before, I still want to read this soon to remind myself of them. As I mentioned in a recent post, my boyfriend isn’t as eco-friendly as I am. Because of this, I sometimes find myself getting lazy and reverting back to less sustainable ways. I’ve always gotten really passionate after reading books like this, so I hope that by reading this I’ll get more inspired as well. Maybe my boyfriend will even give it a read too! 😊 Overall, I have a bunch of books I am excited about on my “to-read” list. What are the books to read in 2020 for you? Have you found some good recommendations?

Eco Books to read in 2020 pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Live with Someone with a Different Diet!

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Hey earth muffins! Over the summer I posted about how I have been a vegetarian for more than a year now. What you might not know is that my boyfriend eats meat – and a lot of meat at that! I am a vegetarian for my own reasons and he isn’t for his own…. So I thought it would be interesting to share some of my best practices for living with someone who follows a different diet! This is similar to my post about how to live with someone who isn’t as eco-friendly; if you like this style/format, let me know and I will continue to write posts like this! 😊

A picture of a vegetarian chickpea salad bowl

Tips for Cooking with Different Diets

For my boyfriend and I, we talked about how we were going to cook when we moved in together this summer. I thought it was important for us to not cook two totally different meals every night. We thought it would be better for our relationship to cook one meal that we can enjoy together…. And that has worked out just fine so far! This is definitely a personal preference for us. If you are a vegetarian/vegan and your partner isn’t, there is nothing stopping you from both cooking something and then eating it at the same time! 🍴

I think the best tip I can give is to make recipes and then add the protein as the last step. If we are making spaghetti, we first cook the sauce and noodles. We then portion it in half and he adds his cooked ground beef and I’ll add tofu crumbles/another non-meat protein. Super easy! πŸ˜‹ The same goes for things like fried rice or stir fry: make the base, split into two pans, add the protein. My boyfriend has also been blessed (or cursed?) with a bunch of food allergies, so this is also a great method if I want to add something into my dish that he is allergic to.

If you don’t want to split your dinner into two dishes, you can also easily make things where a different protein is added as you cook. Examples of some of our favorites include tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, and sheet pan dinners (where we put veggies, meat, and tofu/non-meat protein together!). This can help with making sure the different proteins are ready at the same time, which I will talk about next.

A basket of tacos

Because you aren’t eating the same protein, it is important to know how long it will take them to cook. You wouldn’t want one meal to be done 10 minutes before the other. That defeats the purpose of trying to eat together! πŸ˜… I used to eat meat which has helped us, as I didn’t have to learn how long it takes to cook meats. To speed up the cooking process, we will often use an airfry to assist with cooking the proteins. I never thought I would use an airfry as much as we do in the kitchen; I’d highly recommend checking one out (affiliate link)!

Other Tips for Having a Different Diet

Just because you have a different diet doesn’t mean you can’t eat the same recipe! While yes, for my situation, my boyfriend is the only one who can shift to eating my food, but who says you can’t find recipes with totally different forms of protein! We both love mac n’ cheese, which easily accomodates both of us. I make homemade pierogis which, again, fits both of our diets. I have also been experimenting with new recipes this year that I have never tried before, like potato tacos! πŸ₯” It’s time to get creative in the kitchen y’all!

A picture of a bowl of mac n cheese

After you have cooked your meal, just be prepared for slightly more dishes to clean! We usually just have one extra pan than if we had eaten the same food. Our apartment has a dishwasher; this makes an extra dish no problem because everything just gets put into there. If you don’t have a dishwasher, make sure you use as little water as possible when handwashing! πŸ™ƒ It is definitely more sustainable to run a dishwasher than handwash.

Lastly, it is important to discuss your grocery shopping. Some forms of protein are naturally more expensive than others. It is important to talk about what your budget(s) are for food and then stick to them! Overall, it was an adjustment for my boyfriend and I to accomodate both of our (very different) diets. But, we have made it work with these different diet tips – I know you can too! 😍

how to cook for different diets pinterest pin

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_border10 Things I Still Buy in Plastic

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Hey earth muffins! I think it is fair to say that my eco journey has been a slow one ever since 2018. While I strive to make changes in all aspects of my life, I admit that I still buy some things in plastic. πŸ™ƒ And that is okay! No one is perfect; it’s better to be almost plastic-free than to not try to reduce your plastic at all. Every small step counts and makes a difference! To show what areas I am still working on improving, here is a list of the things I still buy in plastic.

What I Am (Eventually) Going to Stop Buying in Plastic

Toilet paper – When my boyfriend and I moved to a new city this summer, I had plans to make some new eco-improvements to our apartment. Some of these things we were able to do (like switching to powder dishwasher detergent). But, the pandemic really messed up my plans for toilet paper. 😬 I hate that an essential like toilet paper comes with plastic waste – so unnecessary! I’ve heard great things about brands like Who Gives a Crap, so I am hopeful that I can switch to a more sustainable alternative soon. This could also be aided by getting a bidet attachment like I mentioned in my recent wishlist post!

Pads – If you have been following my Instagram, you will know that I recently got into using a menstrual cup for my period. I’m still in the beginner/learning phase of this, so I do use a few pads too. A menstrual cup is a great way to zero waste your period, but for someone who barely used tampons it is an adjustment for sure. I’m slowly getting the hang of it and am hopeful that I will be able to make the switch completely soon!

A picture of the Lena menstrual cup

Chips and snacks – My local bulk store doesn’t have a large selection of bulk snack foods… And now with Mister Corona, the section isn’t even letting you bring in reusable bags. So, I’ve started to buy chips and crackers/other snacks in plastic packaging again. 😣 I am hopeful that this is only a temporary thing!! My pro tip during this time is to buy the biggest size you can, as it will save you plastic in the long run.

Shredded Cheese – After moving to our new apartment, I have been searching for good bulk cheese options…. But I haven’t found any yet. My boyfriend and I buy the largest bag of shredded cheese we can find; it lasts for quite a long time! Hopefully I can find some better options soon.

Vitamins – Mister Corona has helped me get into a habit of taking daily vitamins again. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any options that aren’t full of plastic at my local grocery stores…. But, I am hopeful that I will be able to find a company that has (at least) a glass bottle. πŸ’Š

What I Will Continue to Buy in Plastic

Face wash – My skin is acne prone and sensitive, so once I find a product that works for me I am not going to switch it. During my masters program, my skin freaked out. It has been a long journey towards finding something that keeps my skin clear; the Mario Badescu Acne Face Cleanser is a literal godsend for me (affiliate link)! Unfortunately, it comes in a plastic bottle. πŸ‘Ž But, their spot treatment comes in a glass bottle which is nice (affiliate link)! I try to remind myself that the rest of my bath products are a shampoo bar and bar of soap. So I shouldn’t feel so bad about one small recyclable bottle!

A picture of Mario Badescu acne facial cleanser

Bread/tortillas – I’ve mentioned in a few posts that I buy my bakery goods from a local Aunt Millie “thrift shop”. These stores sell items that are close to the sell-by date, which means grocery stores won’t take them. I’m usually surprised by how far out some of these dates are! My boyfriend and I store our bread in the freezer anyway; so, there is no reason we shouldn’t buy it from the thrift. I am just putting food waste above plastic, which I don’t feel bad about at all!

Tofu – I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year now, so I obviously eat tofu often. Think of it this way: if I buy meat it usually comes in plastic and has additional environmental effects too. So, tofu seems like the better option in the grand scheme of things!

A picture of cubed tofu

Laundry detergent – I used to use an Eco Egg (affiliate link) for doing my laundry. But, I’ve had to switch back to “normal” laundry detergent because my boyfriend has sensitive skin. He has been using a certain kind for years and anything else will break out his skin… So, I figured I would take one for the team and use that specific kind. Maybe someday we can find a better alternative…

Ibuprofen – Medicine is something I don’t think about often, as I rarely take it. If I need help with cramps or a headache, I will pop some Ibuprofen… Which comes in plastic. Again, I try to buy the largest size possible; but, it is important to think about if you will be able to use all of the pills by the expiration date!

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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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