Picnic Without Plastic

Summer is officially here, which means many of us will be spending a lot more time outside sharing meals with friends and family. It’s officially Picnic Season!

Unfortunately, the desire for convenience has led to a massive amount of plastic piling up in our environment. Have you seen some of the recent footage of the enormous plastic problem we have throughout the globe? Here’s one, in particular, that affected us deeply (click here).

So, how do you enjoy the great outdoors, while also being kind to the environment? Well, it wasn’t that long ago that our relatives went on picnics without any plastic at all. And we can do the same, by investing in high-quality, durable, and reusable goods (Yes, even BPA-Free plastics, like our Bento Box, below). You can even recycle existing containers, such as jam jars, to use at your outdoor festivities.

What matters is that you think about creative solutions to this massive problem, because every little earth-friendly decision adds up, just as every single bag or straw added up to get us where we are today.

To get you started, here are a few of our favorite solutions to committing to picnic without plastic:

Glass Jars

Salads are transported easily in large, wide-mouthed, mason jars, while salad dressings can be created in smaller ones and easily shaken for each and every pour. Medium jars are perfect for individual desserts, such as berry parfaits. Yum!

PS: This is a great way to store and carry our very own ‘Cate’s Confetti Cole Slaw’ – which we will be sharing with you next week, from Claudia’s mother! (Hey, if David Letterman can do it, so can we.) Stay tuned!

Bento Boxes

We love our bento box, because it’s the easiest way to transport prepared snacks for a group gathering or an entire meal at one time in a single container. You can pack one up for each member of the family with their favorite things and enjoy a mess-free, ecologically-responsible outing!

Parchment Paper

Did you know you can use parchment paper for more than just baking? It makes the perfect little packets to carry your food. Instead of little plastic snack bags, make parchment paper pouches for your dry snacks like chips or crackers. When the meal is done, the paper is easily recycled. Plus, it’s perfect for kids when you give them each their own “cone” of snacks!

PS: You’ll also see we wrapped our cheeses in one of our new favorites: beeswax wrap. It’s a kitchen staple around here. If you haven’t heard of it, check it out. You’ll be glad you did!

Have fun this summer, by enjoying the best of everything while also being kinder to the earth.

All my best,
Claudia

PS: If you want to see a GREAT video about a solution to the plastic straw epidemic, click here. We love it, and will definitely be adding this to our inventory of useful items.