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One of my goals for 2020 is to be more mindful of how much plastic I use, and it's been an eye-opening experience. Once you start paying attention to all the single-use plastic in your life, it's hard to stop. Up until a few months ago, I used a couple of Ziploc bags to pack snacks for work. If I forgot my water bottle at home, sometimes I grabbed a disposable cup to fill up at the office. And on the rare days I splurged on smoothies, I would look down at the plastic straw and feel guilt creeping in.
Overusing plastic and other single-use, non-sustainable products is a major problem; according to National Geographic, 18 billion pounds of plastic make their way to into the ocean every year. Recycling helps, but one study found that of all the plastic ever produced, only nine percent has been recycled. We can all work to be more mindful of how much single-use plastic we use and how much waste we produce overall, especially when it comes to food products, which has always been the trickiest part for me. Since I'm also committed to eating healthy and cooking for myself as much as possible, I'm on the hunt for not just reusable grocery bags and meal prep containers, but also more innovative new items like reusable baggies and flexible plastic lids to cover up big salad bowls. Check out the products I'll be picking up to eat healthy and reduce my environmental footprint this year.