There are many ways how to be environmentally friendly in the kitchen and your household overall.

Taking care of our environment should be everyone’s priority all the time but especially today. 

Today is Earth Day. A day to not only talk about climate change but also take accountability for our actions. This day is intended to mobilize individuals, businesses (big and small), governments and institutions to take action and be part of the solution.

The goal is to work towards a sustainable future for us all.

Since we always focus on reducing waste here at House of G&K we thought we would share how you too can be more environmentally friendly in the kitchen. 

Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a huge contributor to greenhouse gasses and appropriate use of and redistribution of food around the world is a huge priority. 

1. Try Meal Planning

Meal planning is a great way to help reduce food waste. With the right planning, you can make sure that you are only buying what you need and what you will actually use. 

Read our post on best practices to get started with meal planning.

2. Store Food Properly

Make sure that you know how to store perishable food and that you have the space to accommodate some of these practices. Some of these practices include:

• Storing fresh herbs, like parsley and cilantro, in the fridge with the roots submerged in water. This also applies to asparagus.
• Store washed and prepped root vegetables like carrots and radishes in containers with water.
• Use the crisper in your refrigerator to extend the life of your produce.

3. Don’t Throw Out the Leftovers

There is nothing more heartbreaking to a cook than throwing out a meal they just worked so hard to make. This happens all the time in households across the globe because people don’t know how to repurpose their leftovers.

Read our post on How to Use Leftovers Effectively to get some tips on how to make leftovers a part of your menu planning.

Reduce Other Waste in the Kitchen

Food waste is just one type of waste that is produced in a busy kitchen. In order to prep and clean up we also use non-food items that create waste.

Here are some other ways to be more eco-friendly in the kitchen.

4. Reduce your Use, or Make Better Use, of Disposable Items

Though plastic is recyclable, and you should recycle it if that option exists in your area, it’s still waste. So, the best way to go green in this area is to not use plastic at all or use plastic that is reusable. Here are some shifts that we have made in our kitchen:

• Use silicone baking sheets whenever possible
• If using aluminum foil or parchment paper, reuse if that’s an option
• Use silicone bags instead of plastic sealable bags
• If using plastic sealable bags, wash and reuse them whenever possible
• Replace cling wrap with wax wraps
• Use reusable straws
• Pack on-the-go snacks and lunches in washable containers
• Use cloth instead of paper towels. Check out our small and large crocheted cleaning cloths for reusable options.
• Use washable dish scrubbies instead of disposable sponges. 

5. Pay Attention to the Packaging

There are some items that you can buy in bulk to reduce the impact of packaging. Whenever possible pay attention to items that are individually wrapped and opt for bulk packaging instead.

Convenience is important so make sure that you do your own cost-benefit analysis. With that said, items that are individually packaged/wrapped are often more expensive on a per-item basis so be sure that take that into account as well.

Here are some ways that we try to reduce packaging to be more environmentally friendly in the kitchen:

• Instead of buying individually wrapped cheese strings, get block cheese and cut it to your liking.
• Skip the one serving yogurt cups. Instead, buy larger containers and pack them in small reusable containers for on-the-go snacking.
• Use fabric bags or skip the produce bags altogether. Check out our crocheted produce bags that you can take with you to the market or grocery store.

• Buy dish soap in bulk and transfer it to a small countertop pump for daily use.

Shift Your Consumption to More Sustainable Foods

6. Go Plant-Based

Don’t worry, I’m not saying you have to go 100% vegetarian, although if you want to go for it!! Even if you incorporate a few more plant-based meals into your weekly menu you will be making a difference.

Animal farming is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions out of all agriculture so any reduction in our collective consumption can help.

When we first started this practice in our kitchen, we started by dedicating one day per week to a plant-based day. Over the years this practice has integrated into our habits so plant-based meals have become a regular part of our overall menu.

You will notice in our recipes that whenever possible, we always provide a vegetarian alternative in our meat-based recipes.

Start small and see where it takes you. Check out our vegetarian meals to help get you started.

7. Shop Local

Whenever possible buy food from local producers to reduce the impact of the supply chain of the food you buy.

Ideally, in the summer months, if you live in a geographical location with multiple seasons, you want to shop at your local farmers’ market. Farmers’ markets give you the most direct access to your food source. Plus, it never hurts to support your neighbours.