{"id":5822,"date":"2019-10-17T11:11:11","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T15:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=5822"},"modified":"2019-10-17T11:11:11","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T15:11:11","slug":"what-can-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2019\/10\/17\/what-can-you-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can You Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-5824 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/environment-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"467\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/environment-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/environment-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/environment.jpg 804w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px\" \/>I\u2019m really interested in doing what I <em>can<\/em> do to help save our planet. Things like turning off the water as I brush my teeth and adding a fleece vest over my sweater instead of turning up the heat, are already steps I&#8217;ve taken to cut waste and use less energy. So I feel as if I am doing my part to help the environment, but am wondering if I should be doing more.<\/p>\n<p>Just by looking around my own kitchen and thinking about how I shop and cook, I can see many ways to cut energy usage and reduce waste.<\/p>\n<h2>Energy<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5835\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-17-at-9.27.47-AM-300x225.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-17-at-9.27.47-AM-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-17-at-9.27.47-AM.png 591w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Unplug freezers<\/strong><\/span>: Stand-alone freezers consume around 103 kWh,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/homeguides.sfgate.com\/much-run-freezer-per-month-67647.html\">costing an average<\/a>\u00a0of $170 per year. If you have an empty freezer, save your money and the environment and unplug it until you really need it.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Close the Refrigerator Door<\/strong><\/span>: People spend about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/prezi.com\/qx9pdjkagdbn\/energy-conservation\/\">10 hours looking in an open fridge or freezer<\/a>\u00a0every year. Maybe teenagers think staring into the fridge is a form of meditation, but we adults know it\u2019s an energy drain! I like to prepare a plate of healthy snacks for after-school snacking ready to be pulled from the fridge so there is less roaming and grazing. I try to keep my fridge organized for quick retrieval. Also, as I pack and unpack my groceries, I group refrigerator items together so I can open the fridge door just once to put them all in quickly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Water<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5841\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/washing-food-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/washing-food-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/washing-food.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Limit Use<\/strong><\/span>: Wash and prep your foods for the week all at once to save water.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Dishwasher<\/strong><\/span>: We only run the dishwasher if it is full. My hubby likes to rearrange it to get maximum number of dishes. It\u2019s his \u201cthing&#8221;!<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Fertilize With Water<\/strong><\/span>: The water I have used to cook or steam my vegetables is rich in vitamins and minerals . After the water cools, I toss it on the gardens to enrich the soil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Food<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5830\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/food-waste_for-web-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/food-waste_for-web-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/food-waste_for-web.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Forty Percent of All Food is Wasted<\/strong><\/span>: Ouch. This means not only are our landfills overflowing with food waste, but also with plastic and other packaging materials.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Pre-Plan<\/strong><\/span>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Planning out meals for the week<\/a> ensures you have the foods you need without extra trips to the grocery store, saving money and gas, plus your own precious time.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Shop With a Grocery List<\/strong><\/span>: Using a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/shopping_lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">grocery list<\/a> not only cuts down on your shopping time, but keeps you from having to make multiple trips to the store each week. Remember to use your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/pantry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dinnertime Pantry Manager<\/a> to keep track of what you already have and what you need to re-stock.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Prep<\/strong><\/span>: Rinse and cut up veggies when you get home from the store. I like to prep my lunches at this time too. This reduces the number of times you will need to open the fridge and helps you stay in control of what you have planned.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Reduce Packaging<\/strong><\/span>: I like to bring my own grocery bags and even my own produce bags to the store. My friend will often re-use the grocery store&#8217;s produce bags. Always be mindful as to whether you really need to use a plastic bag for every type of produce. For example, a lemon doesn&#8217;t need to be in its own bag, but loose green beans would.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Shop Local<\/strong><\/span>: Even large grocery chains are committed to bringing you local produce. I try to plan my meals using in-season produce as much as possible.\u00a0The amount of energy used by trucks and planes moving food across the country, and even across the globe, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wri.org\/blog\/2019\/07\/planes-trains-and-big-automobiles-how-heavy-transport-can-reduce-emissions-and-save\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">is staggering<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Cook Once<\/strong><\/span>: Turning on the oven or grill once every couple of days is my ideal way of cooking, plus it reduces the amount of energy needed. At least once a week, I try to make a meal that can be reheated quickly or eaten cold for another night. Adding an extra serving or two to a chicken dish provides me with lunch.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>More Meatless Meals<\/strong><\/span>: Choosing\u00a0 one more<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/vegetarian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> vegetarian meal<\/a> a week reduces the environmental strain.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keeper.com\/why-meatless-monday-is-good-for-the-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Approximately<\/a> 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef compared to 39 gallons of water needed to produce a pound of vegetables.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Interestingly, I find that my energy and waste-reducing measures are also cost-saving measures. Seems like a win-win for our environment and my family! Have your own tips to reduce energy and waste? We&#8217;d love to hear them&#8230;send them to us at <a href=\"mailto:feedback@dinnertime.com\">feedback@dinnertime.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">In-Season Delicious Recipes!<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Search for more<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/fall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0in-season<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/vegetarian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">vegetarian<\/a>\u00a0recipes in your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/chicken\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DinnerTime Recipe Box<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/693\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oven-crusted Chicken Breast<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/1791\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sriracha Shrimp with Zoodles<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/3363\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cauliflower Fried Rice<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/693\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5849 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Oven_crusted_Chicken_.thumb_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Oven_crusted_Chicken_.thumb_.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Oven_crusted_Chicken_.thumb_-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Everyone&#8217;s favorite! Make extra servings to add to a lunch or dinner salad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5850 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SrirachaShrimpZoodles.thumb_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SrirachaShrimpZoodles.thumb_.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SrirachaShrimpZoodles.thumb_-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Flavorful and easy to make.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/3363\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5851 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/cauliflower-fried-rice-pub.thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/cauliflower-fried-rice-pub.thumb-1.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/cauliflower-fried-rice-pub.thumb-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0 Super healthy and easy to re-heat.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m really interested in doing what I can do to help save our planet. Things like turning off the water as I brush my teeth and adding a fleece vest over my sweater instead of turning up the heat, are&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2019\/10\/17\/what-can-you-do\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read&nbsp;More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5822"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}