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 [1] 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 [2] 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 [3] this year.
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers [5] ($35) are separated into three sections, so you can divide snacks and meals into perfect portions, save space in your bag, and reduce the amount of dishes you need to wash. Win-win-win.
Wattne Reusable Sandwich & Snacks Bags
If you love the space-saving convenience of a Ziploc bag, these Wattne Reusable Sandwich & Snacks Bags [6] ($15) are a great eco-friendly replacement. They're leak-proof, freezer-safe, and biodegradable.
Food Huggers Silicone Avocado Huggers
There's no need for cling film or baggies to preserve your avocado halves when you have these Food Huggers Silicone Avocado Huggers [7] ($11). They come in two sizes for large and small avocados. For the best results, slip on the avocado hugger and set the avocado in the fridge.
Organic Cotton Reusable Produce Bags
With these Organic Cotton Reusable Produce Bags [8] ($20), you don't have to go through a handful of plastic produce bags every time you need to bag up fresh fruits and vegetables. These bags are biodegradable, bleach-free, and washable, so you're good to reuse them again and again.
Silicone Stretch Lids
An open container in the fridge is a fast track to spoiled food. Instead of wrapping up your leftover soup or salad in plastic, slip on one of these Silicone Stretch Lids [9] ($12). I used one on a big salad bowl once, and it sealed on tight enough to keep my greens fresh and crisp.
Foldable Reusable Grocery Bags
Pick up this colourful 10-pack of Foldable Reusable Grocery Bags [10] ($21) and you'll never have to bag your groceries in plastic again. Reviewers say these bags are more durable anyway, and they fold up small enough to fit in a purse or a pocket.
Reusable Glass Drinking Straws
Plastic straws are on their way out, but their paper replacements bend and disintegrate pretty fast. Avoid the issue altogether with these Reusable Glass Drinking Straws [11] ($10), which come in different shapes and sizes for every beverage need. This pack includes a two brushes for easy cleaning and a carrying case, so you can take your straw on the go for takeout smoothies.
Contigo SnapSeal Byron Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug
I like to whip up smoothies at night and stick them in the fridge to grab before work the next day, so I'm not tempted to grab a single-use cup from the smoothie shop. Temperature-regulating bottles like the Contigo SnapSeal Byron Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug [12] ($13) keep those smoothies cold and fresh until I'm ready to sip away; a beverage should stay cold for up to 18 hours in this one!