Day 10 30 Days Greener - Food Waste

Day 10 or my #30daysgreener challenge and it's all about Food Waste.

If you do one thing today take just 1 minute to watch this trailer and then, go watch the full documentary.  It doesn't matter that this is US based because food waste is one of the biggest contributors to green house gases in Ireland.

WASTED! exposes the criminality of food waste and how it’s directly contributing to climate change and shows us how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century.

Irish householders on average throw out 

€700 worth of food every year*

Though the individual amounts may seem small, when added up the total volume of food waste produced in Ireland every year adds up to over 1 million tonnes* 

Some of the most common types of food we throw away include meat and fish, dairy products, bread, and fruit and vegetables*

The best way to prevent food waste is by planning your meals, writing a shopping list, storing your food correctly and utilizing leftovers.  The EPA have a great resource here  A-Z Foods outlining everything you need to know to prevent food waste, including tips on storage and recipes.   

Today I want you to do at least 1 of the following:

1 - Watch this trailer and then watch the documentary
2 - Tell, or share this link, with at least 5 people, get the conversation going
3 - Waste no food today
4 - Plan your meals for the week
5 - Make a list when you go shopping (use old envelopes #recycle)
6 - Use your leftovers
7 - Store your food properly. Use your freezer.
8 - Encourage your local shops to donate food rather than bin it
9 - Start composting your leftovers at home
10 - Eat what's in season

I live alone so I find food waste is certainly an issue for me.  I really try to use everything but sometimes it just doesn't happen.  Thankfully I eat mostly vegetables so anything I don't eat gets put in the compost. 

I've come up with a few tips and tricks along the way such as with ginger and garlic.  I buy them every few months and chop all the garlic and freeze it in a bag (yes it's plastic so I need to look at an alternative now).  Then whenever I have a recipe that needs garlic I just take it straight from the freezer.  I do the same with fresh chillies and ginger as I always seemed to be throwing them out.

Let me know in the comments what food you throw out the most?  Let's come up with some fab recipes that we can use for our leftovers.

Also have you tried making your own products as opposed to buying?  For example hummus is so easy and cheap to make at home.  Not only that but you are cutting down on the need for those plastic containers! There are hundreds of websites and millions of recipes online if you are stuck for ideas. 

*source: http://www.epa.ie/newsandevents/news/pressreleases2018/name,63589,en.html

DIY Lavender Bath Salts

I don't know about you but I can definitely feel the chill in the air.  The fire has been lit and the candles too and long soaks in the bath are something I'm looking forward too.

If like me, you're a fan of baths but not so keen on all those chemical shop bought bath products have you ever thought about making your own?  

This is one of my favourites and all you need is some lavender from your garden and epsom salts (available to buy from pharmacies) 

It's perfect for Day 8 of my #30daysgreener challenge.  Let's look at all the 'chemicals' we are using in our bathrooms and try to replace at least some of them.  I'll be back with a more detailed post on this as I'm trying out alternatives with less packaging/chemicals but I still have a few to get.  In the meantime if you've made any swaps let me know in the comments.  Likewise, have you made your own DIY products, share them too or are there some you would like to make but don't know how?  

Pick your lavender on a dry day, pop in a paper bag in your airing cupboard and let it dry out for a few days. 

Gather up some empty jam jars or masonry jars to put your bath salts in.

If you have any old brown card or paper packaging in the recycling that can be used for tags.

Start by pouring your epsom salts into a bowl

Break off the lavender flower heads into the bowl (keep the stalks for lighting the fire)

Then pour your mixture into jars.

Using a piece of card or anything from your recycling, cut a rectangle shape

Then cut two triangles from each corner of the rectangle to create a tag shape

Punch a hole in the centre with a hole punch

Write whatever you want on the tag.  I wrote "lavender bath salts"

Now you need a ribbon.  Don't have any in your house?  No problem.  You do actually.  You have so much ribbon its ridiculous.  Go to your wardrobe and pull out a dress or top and see there , those annoying ribbons that keep sticking out when you wear that dress.  Snip it off!  Now you have a ribbon for your tag :0)

Attach ribbon to your tag and add a few sprigs of lavender.

Attach to your jar and voila - you're very own homemade bath salts. 

Just add a couple of handfuls to your bath and soak away your worries and woes whilst knowing you are not polluting the world with chemicals.  

If you make your own bath salts I'd love to see them.  Share your photos  on social media using  #30daysgreener 

For anyone who has just been sent this link I am doing a #30daysgreener challenge for the month of September.  (More deets in this post) 

Day 1 - 30 Days Greener - Be Mindful

I'm taking on a challenge #30daysgreener to do as much as I can to live a "greener" life, create less waste, use less plastic, use less chemicals etc

I'd love for you to join in.  

I've created a Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter account and am asking anyone who follows along to share what they do, what they think etc using the hashtag 

#30daysgreener 

Today on Day 1 I'm asking you to be mindful ... be mindful of how much plastic you are using, how many chemicals are in your toiletries, cleaning fluids, how much rubbish you are generating etc