Léa & SachaI must admit that since I moved to Vancouver I have been looking into ways of reducing waste in our kitchen. It first started because of how advanced Vancouver is compared to Quebec. Here the recycling methods are different without mentioning that composting is mandatory. To be honest, if you’re afraid of composting… don’t be. Once you try it out, you can never go back to throwing everything into the garbage bin. What I love the most is that my garbage bin barely gets full after one month. I know what you’re thinking… “It must be a large bin!” Not even, it’s a small one, the kind of bin that fits under your kitchen counter.
As time goes, Léa and I try to pay a particular attention to our everyday habits. We have to be aware that if it’s non-recyclable or non-compostable it will end up in a landfill that will only get bigger with time. Just the thought of it hurts.
Changing our lifestyle habits with those minimalist tips is our way of reducing waste in our everyday life.
SACHA’S LITTLE TIPS
Washing resealable plastic bag (Ziploc)
Single-use resealable plastic bag is far from being eco-friendly. After a single use, it’s ready to be thrown away. To me, that doesn’t feel right, this is why I wash my resealable plastic bag. At some point, I even did a survey on Instagram to find out how many of our followers were washing their resealable plastic bag and I was saddened by the responses. It’s ok, we all have to start somewhere, and you should give it a try! It’s super easy all you need to do is wash your resealable plastic bag with soapy hot water and you let it dry facing down on your countertop. You don’t even need to dry them!
Silicone baking mat
I’m always glad to know that the changes I implement in my day-to-day life can also benefit my wallet. We all know how expensive parchment paper is and how much I love to cook… and how many rolls of parchment paper I used to buy every year. A lot of rolls!
Recently, I fell in love with those silicone baking mats. I love them because they are a no-brainer; so easy to use and to wash. Plus, everything cooks evenly. No need of parchment paper anymore, these silicone baking mats are the bomb!
Oh Oui! Look at those gorgeous cups. Since I moved to Vancouver, I have been running out of time in between the blog, the commute, and work. Therefore, many times a week, I find myself grabbing a coffee on the go. But, did you know that that the traditional coffee cup and its plastic lid are difficult to recycle? I know it makes no sense! As I am always craving for the largest cup of coffee, I was looking for a great to-go cup that would fit my lifestyle. I didn’t want a large and bulky coffee mug, no I needed a cup that could fit in my purse and that I could use anytime I need to. That’s when I fell in love with this on-the-go collapsible Stojo cup. Once you try them, you can never go back!!
I love that they offer multiple formats (small or large) that both fit my purse… and my need for coffee. Plus, the plastic sleeve protects me from the warm coffee while giving the cup a very fashionable look. The best of all is that the Stojo cups are offered in a wide range of bright colours, which I can easily match to my outfit of the day #WhyNot ! Once your coffee is done, you can easily take the cup apart to wash it. I usually wash it by hand to use it the next day and on the weekend, I throw it in the dishwasher.
My favorite Stojo cup is the large pastel pink collapsible cup, which also comes with a straw made of food grade silicone. I don’t know if you know, but Vancouver will soon be banning plastic straws… but that isn’t a problem for me as I already have mine! Ha! Here is another good reason to get your hand on this beautiful Stojo Cup.
LÉA’S LITTLE TIPS
Silicone muffin cups
A couple of months ago, I received these silicone muffin cups as a gift from my sister-in-law. At first, I thought; “What a great gift idea!”. I find it makes a real difference as we are trying to minimize our waste. Mainly because it minimizes the use of single-use products. Since then, no need to buy the traditional muffin cups! What I love the most about them is that they are non-stick, so I can unmold the muffins easily and they take no time to wash. They even go in the dishwasher! As soon as you try those silicone muffin cups, you begin wondering why you never pulled the plug before on single-use muffin cups.
Cloth napkins
Every time I eat something, I need to have a napkin by my side to dry my fingers or my lips, it probably doesn’t help that I am very clumsy as well #lol. While thinking of what I could do to minimize my impact on the earth, I thought that eliminating napkins would be a big one, mostly because they are a single-use product. As I was on the search to find an affordable way to reduce my consumption of napkins, I came across this idea. Let’s be honest here, a cloth napkin can be pretty easy to make. All you need is a piece of fabric cut into squares and hemmed. That’s when an idea popped in my head. I have so many unused tablecloths. You see where I am going right? I transformed some of my old tablecloths into cloth napkins for my weekly needs. I use them every single day. I am very happy about that transformation, as I declutter a drawer filled with old tablecloths to repurpose them in cloth napkins that are used every day. They are not the prettiest cloth napkin, but they certainly do the job!
Reusable squeeze pouch
These reusable squeeze pouches are one of the first purchase I made when I found out I was pregnant. I use them for compote, smoothie or even yogurt. I love them as they can be used on the go, which gives you great opportunities for a healthy snack for your kiddos.
What are your minimalist tips in the kitchen to always reduce your garbage?
Sacha Nadeau
Léa Nadeau
