Guidelines

The Waste Diet Guidelines

I once heard a speaker at a conference say that Americans throw away 95% of everything we buy in a year! If you think about all the unnecessary items we buy, the amount of unused food we throw away and all the packaging, I totally believe it! And where is "Away"? Usually "away" is the landfill.

The WASTE DIET rules are based upon practicing the 3 R’s. Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it. Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content. Okay, so here are the waste diet guidelines:

1. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Think before you make any purchase, “Do I really need this?” Most of us already have pantries and freezers full of food. We've found it is better to buy less than we think we need, that way we don't throw out as much waste.

Our Overstocked Pantry
2. Try making something instead of buying it. We bake all our own baked goods to avoid excess packaging. As their contribution to the project, the kids had to give up poptarts for the year. We substitute them with our own homemade bagels, cookies, waffles, and muffins. We also make bread, pasta and pizza. We double every recipe so we can freeze some for later. The kids enjoy helping in the kitchen and have started food journals to write about their favorite recipes and baking experiences.

Bread, bagels, muffins, & cookies
3. At the grocery store, look for alternative packaging opportunites. Try the following ideas:
• Use your own cloth bags for groceries
• Use your own Mesh bags or paper bags for produce (try resusablebags.com)
• Buy meats from the meat counter wrapped in butcher paper which can be recycled. We transfer the meat to a plastic container to keep it fresh.
• Bring your own plastic containers to the deli counter for lunch meat and cheese or asked for it wrapped in butcher paper

Shopping "kit"
4. Purchase items in bulk or in the largest amount possible to avoid extra packaging. We purchase items from our local farmers' market and from the bulk bins at the grocery store. We also purchase select items from a wharehouse store like Sam's Club or Costco but there, you really have to be careful because some items sold in bulk at wharehouse stores are also packaged in bulk. We buy pretzels in a large plastic container and when their gone, we refill the container with homemade popcorn or homemade chex mix.

Buying in Bulk
5. Try to fix or repair items instead of throwing them away. We are really going to try this year to fix things instead of throwing them away. You can usually find used tools and sewing machines at the thrift shop that are in good enough shape for minor repairs.

Can we fix it?
6. Shop at second hand stores for items like small appliances, clothes, and books. (You could also look for cloth bags and Tupperware – items to help with #3.) We bought a used Keg refrigerator on Craig's list. It was purchased locally, came without packaging and drastically cuts down on the glass bottles. We purchase kegs from our local brewery which is tastier and cheaper too! The Kegerator will pay for itself after 2 kegs of beer!

The Infamous Kegerator!
7. Look for items that have returnable packaging. We get our milk in glass bottles that can be returned and reused. The milk is hormone free and tastes a lot better than the alternative. Some shipping companies offer the option to take back their own packaging.

Returnable Bottles
8. Make crafts with your kids out of recycled materials. Our kids love to put stickers in the bottoms of plastic caps and trade them with their friends. Most classrooms need items like toilet paper roles for crafts and can use small plastic containers and jars for mixing paint and glue. Visit www.kinderart.com/recycle for more craft ideas.

Recyclable crafts
9. Try to avoid excess paper products. We use cloth napkins for all our meals. I have an assorted collection of colors that we keep handy in a basket. You can find cloth napkins at the thrift shop. We use cloth dish towels and super absorbant reusable wipes for cleaning up messes. We use reusable sandwich wraps and plastic containers for school lunches. We still use paper towels occasionally but try to keep it to a minimum. We use the 7th Generation paper products that are made from recycled paper, they are dye and scent free.

Paper alternatives
10. Recycle as much as you possibly can!

1. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Think before you make any purchase, “Do I really need this?” Most of us already have pantries and freezers full of food. We've found it is better to buy less than we think we need, that way we don't throw out as much waste.
	Our Overstocked Pantry
2. Try making something instead of buying it. We bake all our own baked goods to avoid excess packaging. As their contribution to the project, the kids had to give up poptarts for the year. We substitute them with our own homemade bagels, cookies, waffles, and muffins. We also make bread, pasta and pizza. We double every recipe so we can freeze some for later. The kids enjoy helping in the kitchen and have started food journals to write about their favorite recipes and baking experiences.
	Bread, bagels, muffins, & cookies
3. At the grocery store, look for alternative packaging opportunites. Try the following ideas: • Use your own cloth bags for groceries • Use your own Mesh bags or paper bags for produce (try resusablebags.com) • Buy meats from the meat counter wrapped in butcher paper which can be recycled. We transfer the meat to a plastic container to keep it fresh. • Bring your own plastic containers to the deli counter for lunch meat and cheese or asked for it wrapped in butcher paper
	Shopping "kit"
4. Purchase items in bulk or in the largest amount possible to avoid extra packaging. We purchase items from our local farmers' market and from the bulk bins at the grocery store. We also purchase select items from a wharehouse store like Sam's Club or Costco but there, you really have to be careful because some items sold in bulk at wharehouse stores are also packaged in bulk. We buy pretzels in a large plastic container and when their gone, we refill the container with homemade popcorn or homemade chex mix.
	Buying in Bulk
5. Try to fix or repair items instead of throwing them away. We are really going to try this year to fix things instead of throwing them away. You can usually find used tools and sewing machines at the thrift shop that are in good enough shape for minor repairs.
	Can we fix it?
6. Shop at second hand stores for items like small appliances, clothes, and books. (You could also look for cloth bags and Tupperware – items to help with #3.) We bought a used Keg refrigerator on Craig's list. It was purchased locally, came without packaging and drastically cuts down on the glass bottles. We purchase kegs from our local brewery which is tastier and cheaper too! The Kegerator will pay for itself after 2 kegs of beer!
	The Infamous Kegerator!
7. Look for items that have returnable packaging. We get our milk in glass bottles that can be returned and reused. The milk is hormone free and tastes a lot better than the alternative. Some shipping companies offer the option to take back their own packaging.
	Returnable Bottles
8. Make crafts with your kids out of recycled materials. Our kids love to put stickers in the bottoms of plastic caps and trade them with their friends. Most classrooms need items like toilet paper roles for crafts and can use small plastic containers and jars for mixing paint and glue. Visit www.kinderart.com/recycle for more craft ideas.
	Recyclable crafts
9. Try to avoid excess paper products. We use cloth napkins for all our meals. I have an assorted collection of colors that we keep handy in a basket. You can find cloth napkins at the thrift shop. We use cloth dish towels and super absorbant reusable wipes for cleaning up messes. We use reusable sandwich wraps and plastic containers for school lunches. We still use paper towels occasionally but try to keep it to a minimum. We use the 7th Generation paper products that are made from recycled paper, they are dye and scent free.

	Paper alternatives
10. Recycle as much as you possibly can!