processed food

See Ya Packaged Snacks

It’s Lent for you practicing Catholics out there, a time to give up something that you are accustomed to, or make a sacrifice.

I tried giving up plastic for lent the other year and that was rough.

This year, after much discussion, I have decided to give up packaged snacks. It is not that I eat individually wrapped granola bars every day, but like snacks that come in a plastic bag or in a box.

I am looking at you pretzels and wheat thins.

Those are my go-to for a snack at work. Not only will this be a challenge of my own will, but it will help reduce waste and my processed food consumption. A win-win right?

Now, what should I eat for the next 40 days!?

Starting Tomorrow: Local Food Only

Since making the decision to purchase a CSA share this summer, K and I also decided to take it up a notch.

We figured we were already devoting ourselves to local produce, why not add in locally sourced dairy, meat, and other staples? Since I will have to walk over to the farmers market every week to pick up our share, we might as well grab some eggs and meat too.

How we are defining local:

350 miles from Chicago

local foods map

(Basically, it is about how far a truck can travel in a single day)

What is included:

  • Produce
  • Meat
  • Dairy products & eggs

What is not included:

  • Going out to eat
  • Eating at other people’s homes

Potential Benefits:

  • An increase in vegetable intake
  • A decrease in meat intake
  • A decrease in processed foods
  • A decrease in food packaging, so less waste
  • A decrease in GHG used to transport our food around
  • A decrease in our  waistlines

Potential Costs:

  • $$$$

While our CSA share does not start until June, we are starting when our local farmers market returns outside tomorrow.

HRC telling us how it is on Sesame Street 1993.