To support the movement towards a more sustainable community, companies are coming up with a wide variety of green household products. Limiting our use of plastic in the kitchen is one way we can promote a healthy environment for the future. Silicone, cloth, beeswax, and bamboo are common materials used to make greener products. We’ve included some of our favorite eco-friendly kitchen items to try.
1. Stasher silicone sandwich bags. Microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe. These bags can also be recycled through the Stasher website once you are done with them. https://www.stasherbag.com/
2. Bee’s Wrap can be used in place of plastic wrap. It is made from cotton, bees wax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. It uses the warmth of your hands to hold together. Bee’s Wrap can be washed with cold water.
https://www.beeswrap.com/
3. To-Go Ware bamboo travel utensils are perfect for your purse, lunchbox, or car console. The cloth pack holds a spoon, knife, fork, and chopsticks. This prevents the need to ask for plastic silverware when picking up your takeout.
amazon.com
4. Who Gives a Crap paper towels. They are made from a blend of bamboo and sugarcane. The towels are individually packaged in paper instead of plastic. This company also donates 50% of their profits to help build toilets for people in need.
https://us.whogivesacrap.org/collections/all
5. Blueland cleaning products are only made with non-toxic ingredients that can be found on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List. The cleaner comes in tablet form and is dropped into a reusable BPA-free bottle.
https://www.blueland.com/collections/sprays
6. Ecowaare mesh produce bags. These bags come in several sizes to best fit whichever fruit or vegetable you are taking home. They replace the need for countless plastic bags used up in the produce aisle.
amazon.com
Information gathered & adapted from:
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-eco-friendly-sustainable-kitchen-items-reusable.html
Pre-packed Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie
Prepping and freezing smoothie ingredients ahead of time makes for quick breakfasts and snacks in the summertime!
Ingredients
1 cup strawberries
1/2 of a whole banana
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
Preparation
1.Roughly chop up the strawberries and banana. Place the fruit, oats, and chia seeds into a Stasher freezer-friendly sandwich bag. Keep in the freezer until ready to use (up to 3 months).
2.Once ready to make the smoothie, pour the ingredients from the bag into a blender. Add the peanut butter and milk. Blend until smooth.
To get even more creative with your premade smoothie packs, try freezing the peanut butter ahead of time to add to your packs. Just use an ice tray! Add to your smoothie pack once frozen through.
Serving Size: 1 recipe
Nutrition Information per Serving: 25.6 grams total fat, 4.1 grams of saturated fat, 63.5 grams carbohydrate, 16.5 grams fiber, 16.7 grams protein, 320.1 milligrams sodium, 1052 milligrams potassium, 25.7 grams sugar
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/banana-peanut-butter-smoothie-709429
