Green Living: How to entertain this summer and stay green
News Articles
Posted 5:13 PM 6/1/2012 : How to entertain this summer the 'green' way
TUCSON - In today's Green Living segment, summer is here and maybe you've already gassed up that barbeque and sent out the word to your friends to come on over to eat and enjoy some sun and fun, now there are ways to entertain and be good to the Earth!
Our "green gal" Tishin Donkersley, M.A. Editor-in-Chief from Green Living Magazine has some fresh ideas to green up that backyard barbeque party!
There are two main wastes that can be found at parties, the food you eat and the products you use to eat and drink with, if you could shift to using products that are recyclable, biodegradable or reusable, you will make a difference by encouraging manufacturers to produce more eco-friendly products and limit waste that end up in our landfills.
In an article by The New York Times, "One's Country's Table Scraps, Another Country's Meal," author Andrew Martin reported that grocery bills and food waste are on the rise, "Americans waste and estimated of 27 percent of the food available for consumption." One would think with rising produce, dairy and meat prices, waste would be at a minimum, not true. According to the EPA, in 2010, over 34 million tons of food waste was generated, it accounted for over 14 percent of municipal solid waste stream, less than three percent was recovered and the other 33 million tons of food was thrown out. In an article by FoodSafetyNews.com in 2010, over 850 million people suffer from hunger everyday.
When planning your parties, reduce food waste by considering serving sizes for children and adults and what meals you can prepare with the leftovers. For example, for leftover grilled corn on the cob, shave off the kernels and use them in a salad or soup. Or barbeque chicken, why not make a chicken salad with black beans, lettuce and corn? Better yet, freeze the food and eat it later when you aren't up for cooking that day.
When purchasing party products and serving accessories, there are biodegradable, recyclable and sustainable options available at grocery and retail stores.
Bamboo is a natural renewable resource, is self-sustaining and the fastest growing plant in the world. Bamboo can be used in a large array of consumer products such as flooring, clothes, linens and dishware.
Biodegradable products are important because the material will decompose organically back into the earth. Look for the "biodegradable" label on product packaging. Recycled products are wonderful because we use what we already have! Purchase products made from recycled materials such as glass, plastic and paper.
Summertime Organic Margarita
2 oz organic tequila - Ex: Casa Noble or 4Copas
2 limes squeezed
1 ½ oz agave nectar
In shaker, add tequila, lime juice and agave nectar, shake and serve over ice.
Recipe Courtesy of Green Living Magazine
Information about Green Living:
We are the premier socially-responsible lifestyle magazines, available statewide. Our goal is to educate, empower and inspire our readers to incorporate simple and easy green solutions into their life. Green Living strives to educate, empower and inspire communities to go green. We promote our health-conscious message through our LIVE, WORK and PLAY sections of the magazine and provide contemporary, simple and applicable solutions to all things green. We offer digital and print subscriptions and for each subscription purchased online, proceeds will go back into the community. www.greenlivingaz.com <http://www.greenlivingaz.com>
Tishin Donkersley, M.A. - www.twitter.com/#!/TishinD
Green Living - www.greenlivingaz.com <http://www.greenlivingaz.com>
EPA - www.epa.gov <http://www.epa.gov>
Crate and Barrel - www.crateandbarrel.com <http://www.crateandbarrell.com>
Whole Foods - www.wholefoodsmarket.com <http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com>
