I have a confession to make. I still use plastic. And I don’t see any foreseeable end to it in my near future (certainly not while I’m living in Japan). Am I always striving to find ways to reduce waste and live more sustainably? Yes. But do I think I’ll be able to be completely plastic-free anytime soon? No.
Here’s why.
1. Organic vs. plastic-free
When I’m faced with the choice of organic vs. plastic-free, I’ll choose organic every time. At first, I thought it was a little selfish of me to choose this way. Ya know, my own health vs. the ever looming plastic crisis that’s facing the world. But then I realized something. My family’s health and the planet’s health are one and the same.
When I make the healthiest possible choice for my family, this is also a healthy choice for the planet. Yes, the end result might be packaged in plastic, but think about all the other things organic eating does for the planet.
Eating organic helps the planet in numerous ways. It’s a vote against Monsantos, nicknamed “The World’s Most Evil Corporation.”
The short version is: they’ve been killing bees since day one (and covering it up by buying out research firms), they have a firm grip on the world’s seed industry and they’ve poisoned both the people and land of many third world countries who grow their crops for them.
Remember Agent Orange from the Vietnam War? Also Monsantos. Yet we consume the food that is grown from their seed & sprayed with their pesticides? There’s more than one reason to boycott this lethal corporation.
List of companies that use Monsanto products–almost the whole grocery store!
Photo via Real Farmacy
Choosing organic is not only the best choice for your own personal health, but it’s a vote for a healthier, nontoxic future. Sorry (not sorry), even though my organic sugar comes in plastic…I’m making that purchase.
2. Vegetarian Protein Options
Once again, this comes down to a moral dilemma. If I can eliminate more meat-filled meals and replace them with a vegetarian options, I will. If I can only get tofu in a plastic container, or my meat substitute comes in shrink wrapped plastic, then I would still rather have that over a plastic-free (but meaty) meal.
I was raised in a strict vegetarian household and was taught from day one that all life is sacred. For me, cutting back on meat consumption is important on an ethical level. However, saving animals also means saving the planet. The meat industry is one of the top contributors of greenhouse gases, and is on track to rank above big oil companies.
The less meat we eat, the healthier our planet will be! I ranked “Going Vegetarian” as #1 on my list of how you can help save the planet. Last year alone, 400 million fewer animals were killed for meat compared to 2007. That’s a lot of lives saved! All those meatless Mondays really add up.
3. Surviving Toddlerhood
My daughter just turned one this week, and she’s in full-blown toddler mode now. She’s spunky, independent and pleased with her newfound defiance. Her current phase is highchair refusal (lucky me), where she immediately stands up in her highchair when we put her in it.
Where did my good eater go? We did Baby Led Weaning with her (read more about that here), and she’s always loved to eat! Lately though, most meals are a struggle to get her to eat and I’m lucky if I can pop a few pieces of food in her mouth as she runs around the dining room with glee.
As a result, yes, anything goes. Barring unhealthy and processed foods, if it’s something she’ll eat, we’re gonna buy it. We just discovered that she loooooves the Cascadian Farm Organic Cheerios for breakfast–sure, the bag is plastic…but a moms gotta do what a moms gotta do!
I’ll be honest with you, the last month I’ve had a lot of internal conflicts.
Trying to balance a healthy diet for my family, keeping everyone well-fed, keeping a relatively sane frame of mind and still trying to keep plastic out of our household is difficult (actually, impossible).
I’ve taken a step back from my “zero-waste journey” to reevaluate what is realistic and what is most important to me. I’m constantly on the hunt for more ways to eliminate plastic from our home, but I’ve learned to accept that living a plastic free life isn’t doable for this chapter of my life. A sustainable life? Yes. But a plastic free one? Maybe not yet.
Choosing organic will always come first for me. Finding new recipes and meals that avoid meat will continue to be a top priority to me. Staying sane as my daughter goes through her toddler stages? Also at the top of my list.
So I’ll leave you with this reminder.
Decide what’s realistic for you in this stage of your life. Enjoy the beauty of each sustainable change you make. Incremental steps are key and each eco-conscious decision you make does make a difference, no matter how small. Be kind to yourself on this journey. Take some time to smell the flowers & bask in the beauty of Mama Earth! You’re working hard to protect her, after all.
