How to Grab a Bite to Eat AND help the planet

Okay, I'll admit it.

I'm not a very good cook. In fact, I'll go so far as to paraphrase, 'I'm an Adult Child of a Bad Cook' and I have no doubt my husband would agree. (Mike, I really am sorry!) Lucky for me, on the other hand, Mike is a GREAT cook, but understandably, he gets a mite cranky sometimes when I present him with my stir-fry...again.

What about you? Have you ever had a long day at work and for the life of you can't think what to make for supper? Or maybe you (or your spouse) is tired of the handful of recipes you know?

My guess is that most of us have felt the burden of cooking at some point or other. Certainly, I have!

Given that, the question I'd like to explore with you in today's issue is:

What would it take to put the joy back in supper time?

Better yet, what would it take to enjoy a quick and tasty meal AND help the planet?

Guess what?? It can be done.

You CAN grab something to eat, enjoy every bite, AND help the planet...

In fact, here are a few ways:

1. Try 'green' convenience foods.

Behold, convenience foods that are environmentally friendly, well priced and...yummy! Quick, stock up on pizza of all sorts, including PESTO, my fave...macaroni and cheese, chili, shepherd's pie, and lots more...

One of the more frequently available brands of green frozen dinners is Amy's Kitchen. Like several other labels which I'm dying to try, these meals are made from organic ingredients and come in recycled (and recyclable) packaging. Oh, and yes, they are completely vegetarian, but you honestly wouldn't know it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that you can be eating within 10-20 minutes for most of these meals, either. Amy's has saved my butt many a dinner time, let me tell you!

Find a store that stocks Amy's products by clicking on the 'Buy Amy's' link at this site: http://www.amyskitchen.com or, go further afield for to try different options at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com and http://www.ecomall.com/biz/food.htm.

2. Try a 'green' restaurant.

Yes, there is such a thing.

In fact, when in the U.S., you can refer to the Green Restaurant Association's Directory of restaurants at http://www.dinegreen.com and find green coffee houses, delis, restaurants and more. These eating establishments have all been checked out, and regularly conserve energy, recycle, compost and just generally do their bit. Very cool indeed.

When you can't find an 'official' green restaurant, you can green your own restaurant experience by following one or more of these tips:

- Choose vegetarian or vegan food whenever you can. (Mexican and Indian are good bets. Love that guacamole thing, don't you??) These foods take much less energy to grow or raise, and ordering them on a regular basis is a VERY big bonus for the planet. Bigger than you might guess in fact. Just ask Brad Pitt, a very serious vegetarian...

- Choose restaurants that make a point of using locally grown ingredients. It takes a lot of oil and gas to transport food thousands of miles, and even more to keep it fresh all that way. Translation? If you're lucky enough to live near rainbow trout, well heck, no need to order Chilean sea bass! What food specialty is produced in your neck of the woods and where can you order some?

- Choose organic ingredients for the flavor and the planet. Next time you're at a really nice restaurant, you may find some organic beef or poultry dishes on the menu, in which case, lucky you! Organic meals are full of natural flavors, and with no preservatives or chemicals, choosing organic is a great green act, and healthy for you to boot. (Once you've tasted an organic chicken for Thanksgiving, I promise you'll never go back. But that's a topic for another lesson...)

3. When eating fast food, try for little to NO garbage.

We all know fast food isn't the greatest for us, and yeah you guessed it, it isn't the greatest for the planet either, what with over-packaging, the emphasis on red meat, and many other things. But if you're going to eat it, I say, 'please enjoy.' And, while you're at it...here are a few things you can do to leave as little trash behind as possible.

- Eat in instead of taking out. Hey, it's fast already, so why not sit down at least?? Eating in means you don't get an extra paper bag to carry out. That bag usually gets used for a total of 5 seconds anyway right?

- Don't super-size, unless you have a legitimately super-sized appetite. This keeps leftovers out of the garbage. Very big deal!!

- Take only what condiments you need, and 'just say no' to that humungous wad of napkins they try to give you. Seriously, I think that's insulting actually...I have a burger, and I need ten napkins??! Giggle.

- Share a drink, skip the straw, ask for the cookie in your hand not a bag. Every little bit helps!

Wow, it must be my powers of persuasion or something...I'm getting hungry! Off to rummage in our rather tragically snack-less cupboards for something inspiring like...hmm...

What would you think of a lesson on 'How to stock snack foods and help the planet?' I'll put it on the list, along with any others you're interested in, sent to andrea@joytotheplanet.com. I look forward to hearing what YOU find challenging to be green about...

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy knowing you're making a great big difference by applying some of the hints above the next time you go for a quick meal. Heck, try all the tips, and pass along your new habits to everyone you know why doncha? You'll never feel guilty about not being green again!

And of course...if you know of MORE ways to enjoy a convenient meal AND be green about it, drop me a line.

I'll be back next week when we'll talk about another way to enjoy life, and help the planet. Until then...