We’ve talked before on Postconsumers about how setting a family dinner time can reduce stress and increase satisfaction (as can cooking with and for your family). There’s no doubting that having dinner together as a family (however you define that, which can also just mean you and your closest friends) can be important social interaction time as well as a good way to ensure that you’re eating healthily instead of rapidly throughout the course of a busy day. But family dinner can also be a time to actively reduce your family’s carbon footprint. Here are some ways to reduce the waste at dinner time.
Limit Disposables
This one may seem obvious, but you also may be surprised how many families use disposable plates, forks and spoons at the dinner table to cut down on clean-up afterwards. However, you may also be using wasteful disposables in places that you haven’t thought of – like individually packaged beverages or even paper napkins. While, for most families, the idea of not using disposable, single-use items at all during dinner isn’t realistic, take the time to think about what disposable, single-use items you can cut out. For those that you are using, try to purchase napkins and other items that are made by eco-conscious providers. Finally, if your dinner for the night involves take-out that you’ll be eating at home, be sure to tell the take-out restaurant to leave out the plastic utensils and any other items that you already have at home.
Be Conscious of Water Use
Do you clean your dishes in the sink and then wash the entirely clean dishes again in the dish washer? You wouldn’t be the only person in the world who did. But even if you simply wash your dishes in the sink, most people don’t think about how much water they’re using and wasting to wash dishes. Try avoiding leaving the faucet running the entire time and instead only turn it on when you actually need to rinse a dish.
Only Pour or Spoon What You Need
Americans waste enormous amounts of food. While food that’s still in the pot or serving dish is likely to get stored for left-overs, food that’s already on a plate or beverages that are already in a glass are likely to just get thrown away. Put smaller portions on your plate and in your cup. You can always add more later! Not only will this help you (and your family) waste less food by throwing less away, it will also help you eat more healthy portions of food.
Consider Meatless Monday
The production of meat is one of the least eco-friendly practices in the world, particularly to accommodate the amounts of meat eaten in America. We’re not telling you to give up meat – what you eat is a personal decision. But reducing meat in your family’s diet can have both health benefits as well as benefits to the environment. Consider getting your family excited about Meatless Monday. You’ll eat less meat, give a hand to the environment and learn some new recipes along the way.
Make Waste Reduction During Clean Up a Family Goal
Get the whole family involved! If your family has shared after-dinner chores, make those chores about reducing waste. Have your family brainstorm ways to recycle more, waste less and reduce energy and water use. Give a family reward like a night free of chores to the person who succeeds the most each month.
Have more ideas for ways to make family dinner more eco-friendly? Comment below, or like us on Facebook and tell us about them.
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Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: Parker Knight
