Progress without plastic

This is what dinner looks like when you are trying to clean out the freezer…

I legitimately have no idea when I originally made this (lentil soup) but I had a big mason jar of it in freezer and decided it was time.

I’ve been making an effort to clean out the excessive fridge/freezer stashes I have – odds and ends of jars of various sauces and stuff.  You haven’t seen much of it on the blog because I have been feeding it to the kids and packing it in Kyle’s lunches.  As much as I love a well stocked deep freezer, it feels nice to have things a little more pared down.  We have SO MANY random one servings of meal leftovers – everything from creamy leek pasta to cornbread to beef stew to salmon cakes…etc ETC.  To the infinity.  It’s all delicious stuff, but it gives me a headache when I open the freezer.  And ever since I decided to get organized in the pantry (ditching the plastic), it has transformed my feelings on how much food we even need in general.  Rather than buy something to replenish our supply when it runs out, I’ve been forcing myself to use up something else instead.  Of course, there are exceptions.  But there’s no reason we need EVERY SINGLE dried fruit to always be fully stocked in the pantry.  If there are no more mangoes, we can have apricots or figs.  And if there are no more popcorn kernels to pop, we can have chickpeas or almonds instead.  I WILL ALWAYS HAVE ALMONDS.  😛  Nuts are a non negotiable.  Anyway, it has already thinned out our pantry so much.  The benefits are even two (three?) fold because I’m buying fewer processed things (like bars) and I’m being forced to plan ahead.  The instant pot is VERY helpful in this regard because dried black beans can turn into lunch (with nooch and hemp seeds) in 20 minutes.  But making granola in big batches is so easy to do that I kinda enjoy the sleek glass jar storage system and how it has simplified our food game.  But this whole plastic-free life is NOT without exceptions because like my mentor mamaeatsplants has emphasized time and time again – if you obsess about perfection, you will get discouraged and fail.  There are things I (we) can’t do without that I’m making compromises on, like store-bought almond milk and roasted seaweed and frozen veggies. It’s hard to switch, but my efforts are BIG ones right now and I’m really proud of myself for putting the Earth and our health before convenience and taking whatever sized steps in reducing my waste.  Yes, I liked buying packaged deli meat, and I still will every once in a while, but it’s about awareness.  Wow.  That tangent really took off there!

Oh hi plastic wrapped chocolate!   I had more of my birthday treats after dinner.  The Nugget brand sea salt dark chocolate is GREAT!  I am definitely converted to Nugget’s brand of chocolates.  This was salty and rich and fantastic.  I think it’s actually better than the TCHO bar of the same flavor.  I KNOW!  I really just said that!!!

And of course you all know how Lula’s has my heart and soul forever and ever.