A resoluntion for me: plan menus in advance. One of my Christmas presents How to Eat Supper by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift, hosts of The Splended Table has a fantastic quote: "The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who wake up thinking about what they're going to eat for supper and those who don't." I truly fall into this category.
In fact, that is what I focus on during my lunch break. And I love such searching and the bliss of finding a yummy new recipe to surprise Paul with when he gets home from work. However, sometimes, it can be very exhausting. And what if I want something, but don't have all the ingredients? I don't pass a grocery store on my way home and hate to drive out of my way. So, I want to start planning dinners a week in advance. I won't get freaked out at noon when I haven't got a clue what to do. And I (hopefully) will keep a smaller stash in my cabinet so my items stay as fresh as possible.
A resolution for you: start bringing reusable bags to the store. It's OK if you have a hard time with this one. Even my mother does. Go through your closets. Got any decent-sized bags? Canvas? Nylon? Ever use them anywhere else? I put all the bags I collect from with drug reps and from Paul's conventions and stuff them all into one bag. Then, I put them in the back of my car and take them into the grocery store or anywhere else I want to use one. When my car is empty of bags, I go around and collect them up again and put them back in the car and start over. I am finally able to train myself and my family to put them at the door as soon as they are empty so I can take them to the car when I go. The bags I use hold more groceries than plastic and are much more effective for making fewer trips from the car into the house.
Why does this program work for me? First, I almost always forget to bring them into, say, Lowe's and end up getting a plastic bag there. Secondly, occasionally, I underestimate and bring fewer bags into the store than I thought I would need. So, I still end up bring a few home. Lastly, someone is bound to give me something in a plastic bag. Plastic grocery bags are important at my house. I use them to line bathroom trashcans. And, when I'm going to cook a lot, I put all the pealing and trash in one bag and tie it up so it doesn't smell up the house when I open the trash can. Still, I never seem to use up all the plastic bags in my cabinet. So, I consider this one way to help the environment without limiting my needs.
