Day 1: Tuscan kale and bean soup, Crusty bread
Day 2: Pan roasted chicken with lemon garlic green beans and potatoes (green beans from frozen summer supply)
Day 3: Homemade pizza, Coleslaw
Day 4: Grilled brats with sauerkraut or kimchi, Lemony brussels sprouts
Day 5: Eggplant parmesan (frozen from summer/fall), Sautéed kale
Day 6: Vegetable Minestrone (frozen from summer)
Day 7: Ground pork with apples and cabbage
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Notes: What can you do for the environment this winter?
Well, the holidays are upon us and the year is winding down. We are quickly approaching the shortest day of the year which is the official start to winter. A lot of us are busy with last minute searches for the perfect gift for a loved one or frantically grocery shopping to get everything you need for feasting. In our household we have been doing a TON of baking. There is a lot going on.
This isn’t usually a time of year when we are thinking much about the environment. The news has mostly moved on from hurricanes and wild fires and the temperatures aren’t as warm so climate change isn’t quite “in your face” as much as it is in the warmer months. But don’t get too comfy yet! I think it is important to realize that this is a year round problem. So what can we do for the environment in the winter? The answer is plenty.
Here is a list of things you can do to make an impact on the environment this winter:
- Challenge yourself to eat locally (yes, even in the winter). Here is my guide on How to Eat the Seasons
- Take the Plastic Free Challenge
- We have a tradition this time of year for each member of the family to pick a charitable organization and make a donation. Consider a monetary donation to The Sierra Club, The Natural Resources Defense Council, The National Audubon Society, or Wisconsin Environment (or your state’s environmental group). These are the folks fighting for clean air, clean water, and animal conservation.
- Wrap your gifts in sustainable packaging, like reusable gift bags, newspaper, craft paper, or a scarf. Remember, most gift wrap is coated in plastic. Glitter is plastic too. These types of materials cannot be recycled.
- Use biodegradable packaging tape for shipping packages or wrapping gifts
- Plan to cook more meals at home. Less takeout = less waste
- Start planning out a garden so you will be ready to plant in the spring
- Add a few more vegan meals into your recipe rotation. Read my article “Animal or Vegetable” to find out why.
- Cut back on small driving trips. Try to plan your errands and activities so you are only running out to stores once per week or coordinate with your work commute.
- Minimize shipments to your home. Think twice before pushing the order button. Do you need it or want it? If you are ordering things, consolidate so that everything comes in one shipment.
