The second day of my plastic free journey. I realised how we have normalised the use of this material to the point we don't even notice it anymore. We are so accustomed to it we accept its existence without question. I will explain what I mean; As I said before, I am on the road a lot and often pick food up as I go. I'm healthy and don't use fast food places or eat crap. I wanted to get some salad for dinner as I was staying in a hotel and fancied a bedroom picnic. The supermarket I chose was pretty lacklustre in the fresh produce department. I picked up a crunchy salad bowl and told myself "No. Take this pledge seriously" and put it back. I got a bunch of bananas, a glass jar of black olives and some salad dressing and decided to get a salad from Pizza Express later and pimp it up a bit. I am vegan so like to add tofu to things! Being vegan has taught me that ethics and principles are more important than appetite so I am used to denying myself food I know I like but is harmful to the environment. It teaches you to endure self denial for the greater good! Besides, I eat a varied and delicious diet. Whilst I was in the supermarket I bought two greetings cards. When I was unpacking my reusable bag (I always have a small, folded one in my handbag) I realised the cards were wrapped in cellophane(!!) and I hadn't even realised. I had touched the wrappers and still not twigged! A lapse in concentration or an example of conditioning? I was born in 1982. I have grown up surrounded by all types of plastic! And all the plastic from 35 years ago is still here on Planet Earth. As it will be for a long time after I am dead. No wonder we are drowning in the stuff!
A quote from my wise old mum: "When I was young everything was in brown paper bags and they would be flattened out, folded and re-used. We wrapped our sandwiches in them, lined cake tins, stood hot pans on them and ripened fruit in them." Humans have survived very well, for a long time, without clingfilm. Can we not go back to a simpler time?
I have discovered toxin free silicone wrap from a London based company called Honest Miracle. It works a treat and covers and sticks to containers and foods. It sticks to itself too, so wraps well. They also make stainless steel straws. I'll leave the link to their website below.
The only plastic I used was the plastic wrapper of my tofu cutlets and a window in the lid of my Pizza Express salad. Zizzi's take away boxes are all cardboard. Something I will suggest to Pizza Express. I realise I will have to say goodbye to all pre-packaged food, including my beloved tofu. This just means I will have to learn how to make it myself and to be more creative. Anyone who knows me knows I also have a vegan food blog for people who need quick and easy mean inspo. It's not so easy when you're on the road though. That is a lame excuse, I realise. I could have just eaten off a plate in Pizza Express, with a knife and fork!
I decided to email the more prevalent places and ask them to switch to biodegradable cutlery and straws. Veggie Pret have them but not the regular ones. Maybe they cost more and/or they think only people eating a veggie diet want to use eco-friendly utensils...? Or it's another marketing ploy. Like natural, ethical companies being bought up by soulless corporations that fund animal testing. I won't name names.
So it was not a perfect day, but I started this blog whilst in my hotel room (a moment of inspiration and a fire in my belly to "be the change"). I have so many ideas of where to take my campaign for a plastic free society. I hope you will join me.
Please follow my Instagram page (link in bio) and leave your comments or suggestions below.
Thank you for reading : )
Olivia.
Links:
www.myfoodrocks.blogspot.com
www.honestmiracle.com
A quote from my wise old mum: "When I was young everything was in brown paper bags and they would be flattened out, folded and re-used. We wrapped our sandwiches in them, lined cake tins, stood hot pans on them and ripened fruit in them." Humans have survived very well, for a long time, without clingfilm. Can we not go back to a simpler time?
I have discovered toxin free silicone wrap from a London based company called Honest Miracle. It works a treat and covers and sticks to containers and foods. It sticks to itself too, so wraps well. They also make stainless steel straws. I'll leave the link to their website below.
The only plastic I used was the plastic wrapper of my tofu cutlets and a window in the lid of my Pizza Express salad. Zizzi's take away boxes are all cardboard. Something I will suggest to Pizza Express. I realise I will have to say goodbye to all pre-packaged food, including my beloved tofu. This just means I will have to learn how to make it myself and to be more creative. Anyone who knows me knows I also have a vegan food blog for people who need quick and easy mean inspo. It's not so easy when you're on the road though. That is a lame excuse, I realise. I could have just eaten off a plate in Pizza Express, with a knife and fork!
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| Bedroom picnic. Including a jam jar of homemade broccoli soup. |
I decided to email the more prevalent places and ask them to switch to biodegradable cutlery and straws. Veggie Pret have them but not the regular ones. Maybe they cost more and/or they think only people eating a veggie diet want to use eco-friendly utensils...? Or it's another marketing ploy. Like natural, ethical companies being bought up by soulless corporations that fund animal testing. I won't name names.
So it was not a perfect day, but I started this blog whilst in my hotel room (a moment of inspiration and a fire in my belly to "be the change"). I have so many ideas of where to take my campaign for a plastic free society. I hope you will join me.
Please follow my Instagram page (link in bio) and leave your comments or suggestions below.
Thank you for reading : )
Olivia.
Links:
www.myfoodrocks.blogspot.com
www.honestmiracle.com
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