1. Decent vegetarian cookbook: A diet with less meat is important if your goal is green living. Meat can take a toll on the environment and your body. You don’t need to go totally vegetarian or vegan, but you should incorporate a few meatless meals a week. My favorite veggie cookbook (which actually has some fish in it, so it’s not totally veggie) is Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites. The recipes don’t taste low-fat at all. In fact, the entire Moosewood book line is great – plenty of cool vegetarian and veggie heavy books to choose from.

2. Ice pop molds: This is especially a must if you have kids, but even if not they come in handy. Ice pops molds allow you to use up leftovers (smoothies, yogurt, fruits, etc), and cut down on store bought dessert waste.

3. Silicone: Silicone items rock because they last forever and are reusable and non-toxic. Some ideas for starters include silicone muffin cups and silicone baking sheets which cut out paper cups and foil waste.

4. Reusable coffee filter: If you’re still using paper filters – why? There are way better options on the market. Reusable coffee filters last for years, save you money, and cut out waste.

5. Stack o’ cleaning cloths: Using paper towels comes at a huge eco-cost when you could use reusable cloths instead. Cloths last for years and don’t fill your trash bin.

6. A dishwasher: One major recent study (among others) shows that dishwashers use less energy, water, and soap than hand washing.

7. Organics: You don’t need to hard core pack your shelves with organics. That’s excessive and a waste of money. That said, there are some foods you should always buy organic including the newest dirty dozen.

8. Tap water or a filter: If your goal is green, forget buying bottled water. Drink tap water or filtered.

9. A dedicated home recycling area: All homes need an organized recycling center, and the kitchen is the perfect place to create one. It’s handy and handy means you’ll recycle like you should.

10. Your BIG green kitchen step – purchase green and safe dishes: This is bigger, because you may need to sort out the toxic from the non-toxic dishes you already have, and then set aside a budget to purchase more sustainable options. However, bear in mind, that change can occur slowly. Switching out your dishes doesn’t need to happen in one swift weekend.

Post from: Blisstree

10 Things Every Green Kitchen Needs

However, for today here are some general tips about kitchenware and dish safety…

• The best green dishes are made with recycled and or sustainable materials but that doesn’t always indicate perfect safety. Make sure you look at the whole picture before buying a set of dishes.
• Glass dishes, stoneware, and ceramic dishes made in the U.S. are three of the best green choices when it comes to dishes and these also tend to top out the list for safety as well.
• Buy locally made pieces whenever possible to cut out transport energy issues.
• Buy from people and companies who maintain eco-ethics. You should be able to get this info from the company. You want to make sure they do things like recycle, use less packaging, and possibly even use things like solar energy to run their company.
• Bamboo dishes are one great green wood dish choice.
• Look for non-toxic finishes.
• There are better choices than plastic anything, but if you need/want plastic go with a company who makes recycled plastic options.
• Avoid pots and pans made with perfluorochemical (PFCs): You most likely know PFCs as “nonstick cookware.”
• Stainless steel dishes are another good choice, especially when it comes to green storage solutions. Many recycled options in stainless steel are available now too.
• If you MUST use disposable dishes, for say a party or big barbecue, choose recycled and biodegradable disposable dishes.
• Look for flatware made with recycled handles.
• The best green-minded cookware choices (like stove and oven pieces) are made of recycled glass (i.e. bake ware), cast iron, and stainless steel.

Quick safety points:

• Thrift store and antique dishes do carry a smaller footprint BUT they can be unsafe. First of all, never store food in older dishes and learn how to test your dishes for lead.
• Don’t store liquids in lead crystal glasses or bottles and if you’re pregnant, a child, or a baby, you shouldn’t drink from lead crystal bottles or cups.
• When you purchase new cookware always fill out the registration card and send it in. If there’s a recall, you’ll hear about it.

Have you gone through your kitchen lately to make sure your dishes are safe and green?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

How To Choose Safer & Greener Dishes