If you put a lot of effort into cooking and eating environmentally friendly food at home, it can be disheartening to eat at a restaurant that doesn't take the same precautions. If you want to make sure you're eating sustainably when you're out and about, here are 3 tips to follow.
Find a Locally Sourced Restaurant
Your first step is to find a restaurant that cares about the environment as much as you do. Look for establishments serving food made from locally sourced ingredients—a locally sourced steakhouse, for example. On the environmental stage, locally sourced steak requires less resources to get from the farm to your plate, giving it a much smaller carbon footprint than imported meat. Restaurants that buy from nearby farms also support hardworking farmers and boost the local economy, encouraging agriculturalists in the area to rear more animals and plant more crops to sell locally. On top of that, many people report that locally sourced steak tastes better than beef shipped in from other states or countries, and restaurants with local produce often have creative, ever-changing menus.
Choose On-Tap Drinks
Do you like to order a refreshing water or tasty, chilled beer with your meal when you dine out? If so, avoid ordering the bottled or canned kind. As you may well know, bottled water has an enormous negative environmental impact. They're made of a type of plastic that breaks down over time and pollutes waterways and soil. On top of that, they require a huge amount of energy to manufacture, as do cans and glass bottles. While all three types of drink packaging can often be recycled, you can't guarantee that your restaurant will do so, so it's best to avoid them entirely. Instead, choose an on-tap drink that can be poured into a reusable cup; all restaurants will have water available on-tap, and many have soda and beer too.
Ask for To-Go Packaging (But Not Too Much)
Before you leave, remember to ask for a box to put your leftovers in. If you don't take that food home, it'll end up straight in the trash. Though food is biodegradable, food waste has terrible effects on the environment. It piles up in landfills and releases methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases. Taking the food home saves you from buying food you don't need the next day and ensures you're not contributing to the landfill problem. Just make sure the restaurant doesn't give you too much packaging. All you need is a simple cardboard box—say no to any disposable napkins, cutlery, condiments or straws.
I will start by saying I feel sorry for my mum. No matter how hard she tried, she was never more than a basic cook. She always got the family fed, but I did not gain a lot of cooking skills from her. When I left home, I really wanted to learn how to cook but had no idea where to start. Over the years I have built up a collection of cooking techniques from attending classes, watching tutorials, and trying new recipes. My blog is aimed to help others who want to cook bigger and better dishes. From the best kitchen equipment to buy to what to do with a kitchen blowtorch, my blog posts will help inspire culinary creations in your home.