The Great Donate 2020 is on! Can you donate, gift, or recycle 2,000 items out of your house this year? The average American household has 300,000 items in it- who needs that much? No one, but there are lots of people who could use what you have sitting collecting dust. Check out The Great Donate 2020 for more inspiration and ideas. 




Food is actually one of the things we are most likely to donate; unfortunately we do sometimes make mistakes in how we do it. When we are emptying out our cupboards, it can be amazing what is still in there! And food waste is a big deal- food waste is one of the most major causes of climate change. Most of that food waste is happening on a business/ corporate level, so there is no reason to beat yourself up, BUT we can still take tiny chips out of this huge problem by taking a new approach to food (and where we give it) in our lives. So many people are grappling with hunger and poverty, so this can be a beautiful way to help.

If you take anything from this post, let it be this- do NOT donate your expired food to foodbanks or food kitchens unless they specifically say that you can. Expired food donations can be a huge waste of man power and financial resources for places like these- they have to pay for the garbage that gets sent out.

In other words, you have to come up with better solutions for your 10 year old jello box. The best way to avoid these sorts of situations is to clean out your kitchen often, and to not have an overflowing pantry where items are likely to hide away long past their expiration date.

Another way to avoid have food wasting in your cupboards? Meal plan. I know we didn't necessarily grow up that way, but I married a person who likes to keep a plan, and it keeps our house from being quite as overwhelmed with things we need to use/ potential food waste.

Now, if you have food to donate, people can definitely use the food sitting in your kitchen. Here are some steps to take to donate your food items so they get used:

1. Do your research- who is accepting food donations near you, and what do they need?

2. Look at Expiration Dates- I will give you ideas for both, but if the food is more than 6 months past expiration, your best bet is to just try Buy Nothing. One of your neighbors might feel more brave if they know the whole story behind the item.

3. Check the packaging- Bad dents, holes, and partially opened items probably won't be accepted by food pantries and kitchens. Save them time, and save the food, by setting those items aside and offering them elsewhere.

For Expired Items

Buy Nothing- The Buy Nothing Project is an localized online space where you can give and ask for gifts from your neighbors. Everything is free, and you can have better luck getting use out of items like expired food. I see people gift each other expired items, half empty gallons of milk, and more. This is a good space to offer food that isn't really suited to the larger bulk needs and requirements of service kitchens and pantries. A perfect way to build community and avoid waste.

Don't have a Buy Nothing? You could offer it on a freecycle group or just on your main facebook page. Offer things to friends before you throw them away.

For Non-Expired Items

Start Local- Check around what is most local to you; the shorter the distance your food travels, the better, because you are helping your neighbors avoid serious hunger. I know in the small town I am from, the churches have an alliance that centers on feeding people. Here, we live near a homeless shelter that always needs food and other items. Ask around with your neighbors and churches; there might be something right under your nose!

Check this website- If nothing comes up, trust me, you still have an option in driving distance. Check out the Feeding America website to start. Any search engine will probably find you something.



Way to keep helping by giving what you have instead of topping it! Here's to another year of less waste and more helping!!

Going absolutely plastic-free can be so daunting (especially when grocery shopping) that it is easy to give up. A few summers ago, we tried our first Plastic-Free July and had an absolute meltdown in the grocery store when we realized that you can't buy much of anything without plastic. I don't think we had ever realized before just how dependent we are on plastic for our food shopping.

The amount of plastic we bring home with our food is a big problem. Plastic food wrappers are one of the largest sources of plastic overtaking our oceans (plastic will outnumber fish by 2050) and our land. We need to clean up our oceans, but we also need to turn off the tap of all of this plastic. Businesses and brands need to take the lead to turn away from plastic, but we can hold them accountable as consumers by refusing plastic-wrapped products and by speaking up. This helps us too- we know that plastic packaging is connected to a host of health problems with our endocrine system, our hormones, and may even lead to cancer. We need single use plastic out of our lives, and soon.

I love people who manage to be zero waste- that is freaking awesome! For me, the goal is to get through the grocery store with 3 plastic-wrapped items or less. This wiggle room gives us freedom (and keeps us from falling off the wagon completely), because we don't have to be perfect. I think perfection is a trap (on that note, we fail pretty often. Then we try again the next time we go. The real trick to making a positive impact on the environment is to just keep trying).

We all have what we can do, and what doesn't make sense for our lives. I try to think of it as a plastic diet- doing a fad or cutting completely probably won't last. Instead, I try to make pretty good decisions most of the time. You can only do what makes sense for your life, so pick a number you feel comfortable with.

So, this is my challenge for you- the next time you go shopping, count how many pieces of plastic you leave with. Could you cut that number in half? How about by a third?

I know that low waste shopping can seem intimidating. It keeps us from our normal routine and does sometimes require some planning. But plastic is absolutely overtaking our planet, so it is worth doing. Here are my best, simplest tips for getting a bunch of plastic out of your shopping trip.

1. Be Prepared and Bring Our Bags

The biggest step is to show up prepared. When we are on point, we have cloth grocery bags, our Colony Co produce bags (love these), and containers for the meat and deli counters.

 If you need tips on how to shift to reusable bags, I have a whole post on that here.

2. Let Our Produce Swing Free

Ok, now if you are like me, you may have some emergency grocery runs mid-week (we are always running out of milk and apples... it doesn't matter how much I buy). If I wasn't planning on coming, I may not be as prepared, but I can usually still make my goal happen. I either dig up a bag in the car somewhere or I ask for paper.

For the produce, I just let my produce roll around in the cart, and then I wash them when I get home. There is truly no reason for plastic produce bags- your apples and oranges get along just fine in the cart.

3. We Shop the Outside Edge of the Store

Most everything on all those aisles in the middle are wrapped in plastic. We just have slowly gotten the hang of mostly just skipping the whole section. We stick to a lot of fresh produce, so we can use our plastic credits for bread, milk, and something else.

4. Eat Less Meat and Processed Food

Meat and processed foods tend to be wrapped in a lot of plastic. If you go absolutely zero waste, you will be buying lots of mushrooms and other plastic-free proteins!

Some meat and deli counters accept containers, but not all. But the truth is, most meat or seafood you buy has already had a pretty high plastic cost. Fishing nets are the number one source of plastic in our oceans and large farms use a tons of plastic for their farming and shipping. Best case scenario, environmentally-speaking, is that we all go vegan. But if you aren't ready for that leap you can still do a lot of good by eating less animal proteins. So we now eat more Meatless Monday meals and tend to choose meals where we can spread one package over several meals (I call them Less Meat Meals).

But yeah, the bad news is that if you are avoiding plastic waste, the cookie aisle is basically going to be a heart breaker. Our regular grocery store has donuts in the bakery you can take away in paper, so we do that. There is also usually a baker at the counter, so in theory you could ask for your favorite item before it hits the packaging. It's all about being strategic and not being afraid to ask questions! Same for the freezer aisle (we make our own popsicles- so easy).

5. Shopping our Local Farmer's Market and Bulk Stores

Unlike grocery stores, farmer's markets won't use fruit stickers and tend to be much more open to using whatever bag you happen to bring. I also love farmer's markets in the summer, because we can get berries without any plastic clam shell.

I am also obsessed with grocery stores with bulk spices, pasta, candy, and grains. We can get a ton of what we need in our own containers so we skip a bunch of plastic containers (this is really great for everything from filling our pantry to filling our Easter baskets). We also can buy these dry goods (and cleaning supplies) in pretty big quantities, so we don't have to do it all of the time. Think you don't have a bulk store near you? Check again! Even our tiny hometown has one 10 minutes away now. Do some research!

6. Beware of Paper Cartons

Pretty often, paper milk cartons are still lined with a thin layer of plastic that keeps the whole thing from being recyclable. You are better off buying one jug, which can be reused for water storage or recycled.

7. We Don't Buy Bottled Water. Ever. 

If you want to kill a bad habit, the first step is to just stop buying it. Just stop with water bottles.

We are lucky to live in a place where our tap water is perfectly drinkable with a healthy filter. I would never, ever buy bottled water, because you are really just paying for tap water wrapped in plastic garbage. It makes tons of sense if you live in Flint. The rest of us just need to stop.

8. We Order Our Paper Goods Online (and Wrapped in Paper)

We mostly use reusable options like unpaper towels and cloth napkins, but if we do need toilet paper, we buy it in bulk and wrapped in paper. THIS IS SO MUCH EASIER THAN GETTING IT FROM THE GROCERY STORE. This post gives you a big list of places you can buy toilet paper without plastic, but the short answer is to just fall in love with Who Gives a Crap, because they are awesome.

9. I Stopped Buying Pads

I have a menstrual cup. It is a freaking game changer, and if you haven't tried yet, look into it. Thinx is another option that people love, but the bottom line is that disposable pads and tampons have huge amounts of plastic in them, and no one needs them. If you want more plastic-free tips for your menses business, I have a whole post for that.

10. We Eat What We Buy 

I am not the best at using everything in our fridge, and we used to throw a lot of food out. My partner in grocery crime has become a pretty committed meal planner, and we throw away a lot less. It's so simple, but using what we have creates less waste. Less food and packaging wasted for nothing.

11. We Use Bar Soap and Refillable Shampoo Bottles

We have been using bar soap for a few years, and I wouldn't go back. It's just as easy, but everything comes wrapped in paper. I think bar soap is sorely due for a big comeback, because you can buy beautiful, local, paper wrapped soap that will last you so much time!

For shampoo, we use refillable shampoo bottle from Plaine Products. They send me a full metal bottle of shampoo every three months, and then I mail them back my empties in the same box. Bar shampoo didn't work for me, but this really does, and it is so simple to do.

That has been the big things that have helped us! Do you have a specific item that you can't figure out? Write me in the comments and I will try to help you find a plastic-free solution!

12. We Skip Boxed and Bagged Salads

Lettuce from the produce aisle takes a few minutes to clean and works just as well.

13. We Grow it Ourselves

We have parsley, basil, green onion, and chives growing in our yard all of the time, so we don't have to buy the little (way overpriced) plastic pouches of herbs. We also grow blue berries, strawberries, and raspberries in our yard. It isn't going to stop all plastic, but it is the most healing and fun way that we cut down on plastic.

14. We Skip Individually Wrapped

Just because you can't cut plastic out completely doesn't mean you can't cut out a whole lot of it. We will never buy those American cheese slices that are wrapped in plastic again. Even kraft sells their cheese slices without all that extra packaging, so we can even get American cheese without so much plastic.



Want more ideas for getting plastic out of your life? Check out our crazy long list of easy ways to cut plastics out! Happy Plastic-Free July!

It's the end of the year! Time to reflect on the meals and moments that made this year great. 

this is number 11, but i couldn't resist sharing the cuteness

For years, The Boy and I have made lists of our favorite meals of the year. We always start saying "I don't know, this wasn't our best year for food," and then by the end we are agonizing about what won't quite fit on the list.

In other words, this becomes another exercise in gratitude and inspiration. I finish making the list and feel psyched for the coming year. We should totally try that new restaurant! Let's make 100 new recipes next year! It doesn't have to be about money or going to the most expensive places, it's just about seeing all the places where growing paid off and where we took a risk and loved it. It's about what we did and what we still want to do. Memories and not stuff.

Gratitude and inspiration pair perfectly together. So maybe instead of looking at your flaws to improve on next year, start with the things you loved and see how you feel inspired! That shift can change a whole lot, and that change in approach can help you avoid that nagging feeling that you don't have enough or that you aren't enough.

So what are your favorite meals of 2018? They don't have to be fancy, expensive, or particularly avant garde. Which meals were the most delicious? Which were you the most proud of? Which will you remember for years to come?

I will share mine, but you go write your list too! 

10. Black bean burger and Rice and Beans

We have been pretty committed to making more vegetarian meals at our house, because we know decreasing the meat in our diet also decreases our environmental impact. This commitment has inspired some of our most creative cooking this year, including these two recipes from my new favorite vegetarian cookbook. I never thought I would like a black bean burger, but I love this one. It's a cool victory from a big leap!

that bag is full of cookies

9. Tusker House Stolen Cookies

8. Taylor Shellfish

You can drive about an hour north of Seattle and visit Taylor Shellfish Farms to eat fresh oysters out in the open air. We drove through the rain with our friend Jim, just to have the clouds park and a perfect afternoon of fresh oysters, throwing the shells on the ground, and climbing around on the rocks. I love oysters so much, but oysters and eating outside? I don't think you can have a more Pacific Northwest experience than eating at Taylor Shellfish, and I keep plotting excuses to go back. 

7.  Junebaby Gumbo

We went to the hip new Seattle restaurant for my birthday, and it was such a treat. We sat at the bar and felt much cooler than the parents of two small kids have any right to be. I had the best gumbo ever, and we even tried pig's ears!

6. Pasta with Clam Sauce

We had family come and visit us for Thanksgiving this year, which was absolutely one of my favorite parts of the whole year. The night before, The Boy and his parents made pasta with clam sauce (a staple in their family) with fresh seafood from the Market. The combination of pure joy at having visitors, family recipes, and fresh, local seafood is hard to beat. It was my favorite pasta with clam sauce ever.

5. Loulay Beets Risotto

4. Hawaiian Fried Chicken

Our favorite Hawaiian wings place closed, so The Boy made his own from a pretty elaborate America's Test Kitchen recipe. And it was so good. My new favorite recipe for sure. If we invite you over for fried chicken, stop whatever you are doing, because we are not messing around. 

3. Our Spicy Taco Cake

Our Baby Bear had a Dragons Love Tacos second birthday party, and after a long string of "meh" cakes, I think I really nailed this one. Except it was too small. But still, it looked like a taco, tasted good, and it didn't fall over. Success! 

2. Lobster Rolls and Finding Family Traditions

We took a quick, packed weekend trip to our old home in California- this is becoming a bit of a tradition for our family, and my favorite part of it is driving down highway 1, stopping to play at the beaches, and finally having dinner at Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. We eat our old favorite lobster rolls with our kids and watch the water with them.

It is such a simple meal, but I felt like this trip solidified it as its own really fun and delicious tradition, and I am really excited about that all on its own. 

1. Matt's in the Market Scallops

If you are visiting Seattle, be sure to get reservations at Matt's in the Market. This restaurant could not be cooler- right across from the market with big beautiful windows and a laid back vibe. Plus, they have really good scallops, which are one of my favorite things to eat.

We went for the first time in February, and I think I have gone back twice since. It has such a romantic (without being overboard) atmosphere and quickly became one of my absolute favorite spots in Seattle. 



Ok, who cares about my favorites- go pick your own favorites! What were your favorite meals in 2018? 

What's the easiest switch you can make for the environment? Eat less meat!

Every week we are exploring vegetarian meals for meat eaters. Cooking with seasonal vegetables can seem really limiting at first, but the possibilities are endless. And it is worth it. Just cutting one day of meat eating out of our diet can keep thousands of pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere a year. No seriously, it's that big a deal. Plus, it's a great opportunity to have some new adventures and try new things. Just another way to take care of the planet AND make life a little bit better!



7 months into writing about Meatless Monday, I have noticed just how many taco recipes are out there for vegetarians and vegans. It makes sense. Dragons love tacos, and most vegetarians are a lot like dragons! We have done plenty of mushroom tacos and black bean quesadillas at our house ever since we decided to eat more vegetarian, and it really is AWESOME. Like, so good. Failsafe vegetarian eating for beginners.

In honor of this awesome vessel for vegetarian beginners, we are just going to look at amazing taco options. I was SHOCKED how many there are, so if you want to try it, but none of my favorites click with you, confer with the pinterest gods! Something is out there for you!

Ok, let's talk tacos!

from Soup Addict

If you have guacamole lovers, my best advice is to keep it simple like these black bean tacos from Soup Addict. Your taco can really feature the guacomole, and the beans just make for a nice hearty, earthy base. Her recipe can be the perfect inspiration for a starter.

from Live Eat Learn

A little less basic are these cauliflower tacos from Live Eat Learn. Don't they look so good? They remind me of shrimp tacos, and the simple slaw looks delicious and easy to pull off. We are definitely trying this one. These tostadas from Foodie Crush use some similar ideas too, if you are looking for something slightly different.

from Cooking Classy

Cooking Classy made this roasted veggies and black bean recipe especially for her meat-loving family. And they love this recipe, so you know if you are just starting to add more veggie-centered meals, this is the perfect recipe to get going.

from Half-Baked Harvest

For us, mushroom tacos have turned out to be a real hit. I love this mushroom taco recipe from Half-Baked Harvest, because it has so many healthy and unexpected ingredients in it, but you could try something a little more typical as a variation on it too. Mushroom tacos really are pretty good.

from Host the Toast

But there are so many great mushroom tacos out there. These mushroom carnita tacos from Host the Toast look super good, and I would never have thought of cooking them this way. But when I read the ingredient list, my mouth waters a little. This looks like a big winner to me!

from Cooking Classy

The other veggie that spends lots of time in tacos is sweet potatoes. Honestly, sweet potatoes are generally not my thing, but they come up so often for this that I am pretty curious. This recipe from Cooking Classy looks really nutritious so I want to see how it is.

from Fooduzi

Fooduzi says they will beat out all the other vegetarian tacos with this recipe. They literally call it the best. Time for a vegetarian taco face off!

from Three Olives Branch

Worried your family won't see these veggie tacos as filling enough? Then clearly you need some Mexican street corn as a side! Or you could do tortilla chips and this Mexican corn salsa from Three Olives Branch. Doesn't that look so stinking good?

Ok, if you aren't dying for tacos now, you clearly have no soul! Let's all try one of these amazing recipes this week!



Want more vegetarian recipes to try? Awesome! Adding more meatless meals to your diet is such a fun challenge and you can discover so many things you like. Check out this page for all of the Meatless Monday Recipe Round Ups!

Dear Disney Parks,

When I read that the Disney Parks were giving up plastic straws this morning, I was so excited! 175 MILLION fewer pieces of plastic a year is AMAZING (as long as there are still some straws for the people who request/need them)! Even better, you taking a stand continues to set a standard for all businesses to use fewer plastics and use greener options instead.

I just visited Walt Disney World a month ago, and we were so excited when on our first day, we got paper straws at Animal Kingdom. But the rest of the parks didn't do it! It was heartbreaking to see, and it only made me notice the epic amount of plastic waste you are creating all over the parks, from the toys, to the TERRIBLE plastic bags (seriously, a park with every inch designed, where everyone is carrying these ugly bags?), to the silverware, and more. In fact, I wrote a post to help Disney visitors avoid the waste, because it was so ubiquitous.

I just saw waste everywhere, and we know you can do so much better. 

You yourself point out that taking care of the environment has always been a part of who you are as a company. I have also always been struck on how mindful you are of creating mindful and innovative solutions to problems you come across in any other park. Those two parts of the Disney spirit can come together by setting a new, greener standard for everyone. You have the resources and the epic efficiency to set big goals and actually achieve them, and this could save the Earth (and your business, clientele, etc) for generations to come. Nothing could be more important for your business or our collective future.

I loved reading your environmental goals, and I think your longterm goal of "attaining a net zero greenhouse gas emissions and zero waste, while conserving water resources" but from what I saw on my trip this June, there is a long way to go. So many of us, individuals and companies, have blind spots about the harm we are doing. And we maintain poor habits, because it's just what we have always done.

So I want to point out some of the key sources of waste you could still address to get you closer to your goals. The emissions of the stuff you manufacture and ship across the world. The waste of all those plastic bottles and utensils. The emissions of the food you serve. It all matters, and all of these areas offer you opportunities to get better. You have taken great steps, but there are many steps left to take.

I am elated about the changes you are making and your commitment to the environment. That said, there is a hell of a lot more to do, and you can keep making This rather long list is only the tip of the iceberg, but these are all attainable goals:

Skip More than the Plastic Straws

I am so glad you are completely eliminating polystyrene cups (and take out containers? I hope?), and that straws are almost done. But you can be much more aggressive in removing single use plastic from your parks.

You know that getting rid of single use plastic is vitally important, because you have already removed plastic straws. All plastic heads to either landfills or water, and it has become a key threat to animals everywhere. As many have noted, plastic has become a major ecological disaster for this generation, and we have produced more in the last ten years than in all of human history.About 50% of this is single use plastics, which has become a major part of your parks. All of your bags are plastic, most of your cups and straws are plastic, and I didn't see any compostable utensils either.

The amount of plastic waste your parks create is unthinkable, and just removing straws and stirrers doesn't address the full problem. 47 million visitors head to Disney World a day. Even at our most conservative guess, you are still tossing 150 MILLION pieces of plastic a year without the straws. And honestly, it is probably in the 100 millions. If the next generation is struggling to find clean water or are all suffering from endocrine system problems because their water is poisoned with plastic, they probably don't have time to come to your park.

All of your single-use plastics can be replaced with better options. Only use recycled paper bags instead of plastic. Compostable utensils are also pretty easy to come by. Switches are already readily available- use them! It may be more expensive, but it is an investment in your future visitors. Do it soon, before plastic chokes out us all.

Have a Featured Reusable Water Bottle (Help Promote Reuse)

Florida is freaking hot- we spent our whole trip sweating! For that reason, I saw people left and right chugging from single-use plastic bottles. I know you have paper cups of water available at every restaurant, but often the lines are long and people would rather have water bottles with them. So there are single use bottles everywhere.

Well, I think there is a better idea.

You are geniuses of promoting. What if every year, you had a feature reusable bottle. You could have an option or two each year as the perfect souvenir and collector item for diehard Disney fans. You could even partner with an amazing American-made company like Liberty Bottleworks. You already offer refillable cups at the resorts which we used a bunch and saw that people loved to carry with them. This just takes that idea and makes it accessible (and collectable) for everyone who visits the park.

Then, be bold and stop selling single use water bottles. People would still have access to cups, reusable bottles, and anything they bring with them, but cut water out of your single use bottles. How could you make this work in the parks if people hate waiting for water cups? I have an idea...

Add Water Bottle Refilling Stations EVERYWHERE 

(Imagineer the Heck Out of It)

Those little counters are pretty awesome. I mean, they leave you feeling like you did something good, and you can see how this little good decision is adding up.

You could do a world of good by adding similar refill stations all over your parks (instead of selling water bottles). It will be the perfect place for people to refill their bottles, but you could also, in your Disney way, come up with a tracker or counter that gives people that positive feeling when they fill up their bottle. You could make it a competition between the parks each day even!

This is not one that will make you more money, but like so many of the little thoughtful things you do at the park, it will warm the hearts of your guests and make their visit that much smoother. Plus keeping thousands of water bottles out of the landfills a year. Not too shabby.

Think Recycled, Not Recyclable

The first souvenir I bought at the park was handed to me in an unecessarily big, gaudy plastic bag. When I asked your completely lovely cast member whether there was another option, she said no, but that the bag could be recycled.

Sigh. Having the possibility of being recycled does not make packaging green. We know that only 9% of plastics are actually recycled, and even your parks had a shockingly low number of recycling receptacles.

You say in your post that you will "reduce" plastic bags. Reduce? How about eliminate and replace them all with recycled (and recyclable and compostable) paper bags? I think that with a cool, maybe vintage-feeling design on it, you could add to the ambiance of the park while eliminating that waste. If there are items you think still need to be carried in plastic, why not make recycled plastic bags? No new plastic is needed ever.

For that matter, how about selling an eco-friendly and recycled line of toys! You could partner with the geniuses at Green Toys and make something really special (and good for this Earth).

Manufacture (Everything) in the US

We were at Disney World the week leading into the 4th of July, so there was patriotic merchandise all over the place. I am all for items that express people's pride in their country, but I have a big issue with what you were selling:

None of it was made in America. In fact, I couldn't find any non-food items that were made in the US in the whole "World."

This breaks my heart for so many reasons. First, because the thousands of items you sell at these parks are all made in foreign countries because they allow lower wages and lower standards. I don't care how cute a Mickey shirt is, if it is made in Poverty, it isn't worth it. If every store is filled with evidence of another human being's mistreatment, it doesn't exactly seem like the Happiest Place on Earth to me.

 Not to mention, if you added 10% of American-made merchandise, you could create so many American jobs, supporting the primary population that frequents your parks. Just saying.

But even more importantly, every object that is made in lower labor standards tend to come with lower environmental standards as well. Then, each object is wrapped in plastic and shipped halfway across the world to Florida, wasting thousands of gallons of fossil fuels in the process. The closer an item is manufactured, the less negative impact it has.

I very much doubt you would ever solely sell made in America items, but why not choose some to make here? And point it out, so Earth-loving Disney visitors can see what their most ethical options are easily? Maybe the day is not coming where everyone will care about this (even if they should), but if they do care, you should have lots of options for them.

Continue to Be a Star of Solar Power

I remember being so excited about your giant Mickey-shaped solar farm in Florida, but I think replicating that success could be a profound way to have a positive impact. How can you make even more of Disney World solar powered? What about your other parks? Right now, you are at 41% lowered emissions, but if you make solar power central to your parks, I bet you could get that number much lower.

Green Your Fleet of Buses

If you asked my two little boys what their favorite part of Disney World was, they would probably start naming off the transportation! And I love it too (but for totally different reasons).

Your excellent public transportation systems, especially for people staying on the resorts, probably saves thousands of pounds of CO2 from the environment. We didn't have to rent a car, and all of our transport was shared. It also worked almost perfectly every time, we barely had to wait at all (minus one time in a thunderstorm, but it was character building). That is already an epically huge accomplishment and should be celebrated.

Now what if you took that huge win, and made it even greater? Finally switching to electric buses. I saw that you tested the idea way back in 2013, but have since replaced most of the fleet with conventional fossil fuel buses. While you are setting all these enormous (and excellent) goals, why not commit to switching over as this fleet needs replaced? You could save tons of money in the long run AND get your emissions down that much further!

No More Tiny Shampoo Bottles

I saw in your proposal that you plan to reduce in-room plastics by 90% in the next few years. My hope is that this includes eliminating those tiny travel shampoo, lotion, and conditioner bottles. All of those can easily be switched out for dispensers that can be refilled, eliminating HUGE amounts of plastic.

Even better, this simple move will hopefully be an inspiration and game-changer for hotels all over the country and world. It can be seen as the better, more ethical choice and will hopefully takeover as the norm. You could start a trend that keeps millions more bottles out of the landfills and water. Well done!

Make Money Off Your Merchandise Twice

This would be totally unprecedented, but looking at how many Disney buy and sell groups there are on facebook, I am convinced you could make a ton of money and help everyone shift their paradigm around secondhand shopping. Secondhand shopping keeps things out of landfills, cuts down on plastic waste (since new items are usually shipped in plastic, and cuts out fossil fuel use. Every item bought secondhand instead of new is a win for the environment.

But I think a secondhand Disney store would be a huge win for you as well.

A Disney thrift shop would require a small staff, no shipping, and a lot of financial rewards. It could be at Disney Springs, so vacationers could stop and sell back their old Disney-branded swag. That t-shirt that didn't get much use or the stuffed Mickey the kid never ended up taking to. You could only accept things in the best condition and still bring in new merchandise every day.

Then you sell it again. And you get to make money off of these souvenirs more than once! People would essentially be trading in old shirts for new ones, and you could make money off of that shirt a second time. I think it appeals to Disney fanatics too, because they can always check for stuff they may have missed the first time. Before I visited Disney, we bought our cute Disney gear secondhand (and after being there and seeing where things were made, I never bought anything new). You could be in on this business, as well as selling higher priced collectibles to those out to find them.

I can't think of any business that does anything like this, but you have always been a trendsetter, and I think it could be a game changer.

Introduce More and Better Vegetarian and Vegan Options

I couldn't help but notice that many of your restaurants, especially the quick dining options, have no or very few options for people who do not eat meat. This seems crazy to me, especially because you have a huge fanbase of park goers who are vegan- they even have their own (pretty awesome) Facebook page!

If you are committed to helping the environment, then providing and promoting meat-free options is another incredible way to do a lot of good. We know that the meat industry is one of the largest creators of waste, a key contributor to climate change (so much CO2 emission), and abuses many of our natural resources (not to mention many of the animals.

If you want to get ever closer to zero-emissions, you need to think of the emissions of the food you serve as well. 

I am not suggesting you make your parks vegetarian, as you are obviously hosting so many people with so many tastes. But what about making a commitment to serve less meat overall in the parks by replacing one meat option on every menu with something vegetarian or vegan? And you have such great food, certainly you can come up with more delicious options people would be excited about.

For example, we had dinner at a Quick Service restaurant in Hollywood Studios that basically only sold hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. It was a food low point for sure (those hot dogs were gross), so why not make it better and do a cool caprese sandwich instead? Or even try some vegetarian hot dogs!?

If you want to have a more positive impact, give people more vegetarian options worth obsessing over! Vegetarian options that even the meat eaters will choose. If any place can rise to this challenge, it's Disneyworld.

Partner with Other Green Companies

You have some partners (I am thinking especially of those cartoon villains at Nestle) who take actively negative roles towards the environment and the people in it. Nestle steals water from the American people and packages it in environment-destroying, super toxic, never going to decompose plastic. They also target their nastiness at vulnerable populations, and are generally the worst. I don't want their Mickey Head ice cream bars of malice.

Want to show real gusto and resolve in saving our world? Stop partnering with companies like these and instead look for companies that are protecting the environment. If other businesses aren't stepping up, the amount of money you are working with certainly gives them a reason to.

Everything else you are doing is vital, but this piece of the puzzle could change everything for the better forever. Stop doing business with people who don't care for the environment, and let's see what magic can really take place.


As you said in your post today, doing right by the environment is an essential part of the DNA of Disney parks. Walt himself said: "conservation isn't just the business of a few people. It's a matter that concerns all of us." Eliminating most plastic straws (hopeful you will still have some for people with disabilities) is a great step to take, but hopefully some of these ideas could also help in really helping you have a more positive impact on the world. There is a lot left to be done, but you are Walt Disney World! You can definitely do it.

Dear Barilla,

It pains me to do this, because there are few things I love more in the world than carbs. We use your pasta a lot, and you have certainly figured out how to dominate the noodle section in most grocery stores.

That said, you have a serious problem. But don't worry, it is so easy to solve.

Each of your boxes of pasta comes with a little plastic window in it. I don't particularly understand why. Are you worried people won't trust you? That you snuck farfalle into the lasagna box? Why do you expect your customers will absolutely not trust you? I just don't understand it.

Your little plastic windows mess up a perfectly good thing. We know that plastic combined with cardboard makes both more difficult to recycle (mostly people don't separate them). We also know that plastic is quickly becoming one of the greatest threats to our food sources, our environment, even our survival! Plastic has all sorts of chemicals in it that we don't want in or near our bodies (because they mess with our hormones, they are linked to cancer, they are the asbestos of our generation).

So why are you putting it near my food? Especially when it is COMPLETELY unnecessary? It's not even aesthetically-pleasing; if anything, it makes your packaging look cheaper. Are you worried the pasta won't have a good enough view without it?

So I am begging you, on behalf of myself and every other pasta lover out there (who would also not like the ocean to be overrun with plastic), change your packaging. Put a picture of the pasta inside on the outside of the box, and I promise we will all believe you. The best way for us to tackle this plastic problem is to start with the stuff that doesn't even make sense and that no one will miss.

That plastic, pointless as it is, still adds up. So get rid of the pasta window, keep thousands of pieces of plastic out of the world, and do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Sunshine Guerrilla

If you like this post, please share it! This blog is all about making small changes. The more people who make these small shifts, the better the Earth will be!

Every week we are exploring vegetarian meals for meat eaters. Cooking with seasonal vegetables can seem really limiting at first, but the possibilities are endless. And it is worth it. Just cutting one day of meat eating out of our diet can keep thousands of pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere a year. No seriously, it's that big a deal. Plus, it's a great opportunity to have some new adventures and try new things. Just another way to take care of the planet AND make life a little bit better! 

I love pasta. I married an Italian boy, and if I had only married him for his lasagna, that would be enough reason. He's pretty great for other reasons, but man, that lasagna...

One of the easiest jumps from meat-eaters to meat-free is to make some pasta dishes. You can put a pasta with no meat on the plate without anyone raising an eyebrow. There are so many great recipes out there, that it felt impossible to just pick a few. So these are some favorites.

from Well-Plated

I have never really tried pasta with avocado, but this recipe from Well-Plated looks so good, and now it's happening. Avocado pasta will be had!

from How Sweet Eats

I love this pasta recipe from How Sweet Eats because it features veggies that are wintery and warm. One of the greenest things we can all do is eat with the seasons, so I am really looking to connect with the things we can get this time of year.

from Celebrating Sweets

For something totally different, you could try this vegetarian chili mac n cheese from Celebrating Sweets. I would never think of something like this, but this could be a really great meal for kids too.

from Vibrant Plate

One of our goals for this year is to try making our own ravioli, so I am always looking for recipes. This one from Vibrant Plate looks delicious and minimal (in a good way), and I really want to try it.

from Life as a Strawberry

We are starting to see asparagus pop up at the farmer's market, so that makes me excited to try this asparagus and pea (and goat cheese... oh how I love goat cheese) pasta recipe from Life as a Strawberry.

from Eat Drink Binge

And here is a vegetarian lasagna, because it is clearly important for my marriage. This one from Eat Drink Binge looks delicious.

See? So many ways to eat more carbs and fewer animals- who can complain when this many carbs are on the table?

Want more vegetarian recipes to try? Awesome! Adding more meatless meals to your diet is such a fun challenge and you can discover so many things you like. Check out this page for all of the Meatless Monday Recipe Round Ups!

10. Hawaiian Wings (in Washington)

Sometimes, you spend a whole morning at a Children's Museum and then it's time to eat. So you quickly look up what's good on yelp, and walk to a Hawaiian place a block away. Doesn't sound like a life changer, but those wings were so so good. Crispy and delicious. Finding good fried chicken doesn't happen everyday (or you will die) but every once in a while, it makes eating meat totally worth it.

9. Biscuits in North Carolina

We took a trip to the South in September to see friends and family. In Asheville, we stood in line for Biscuit Head, and I don't think the praise is undeserved. I knew we were in the right place when they had a Ron Swanson quote first thing through the door.  I got the mimosa fried chicken biscuit which was sweet, spicy, and delicious, though way too big to eat it all. We also got a fruit plate for our baby that was epically huge. Southern people love giant food. I was happy with the food and so excited for the company we ate it in.

8. Oink Lunch

A gem from Edinburgh, this local chain makes sandwiches with pork, stuffing (you can get it with Haggis) and deliciousness. It was so simple and good. Not on the Boy's list, but he is wrong this was delicious. It says so right on the wall!

7. Matt's at the Market's Scallops

The Boy got me tickets for Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrors exhibition (so different than what I expected, but we had fun talking geneology with other Seattlites in line and I am still thinking about it). After our special weekday date, we checked out Matt's at the Market, which people say is one of the best places to eat down there. We had an awesome view of the market AND I ate the best scallops EVER. I know, scallops aren't the most exciting thing, but these were SO GOOD. Isn't the plate so pretty? Can't wait to go back again, because this is definitely in my Seattle top 10 now.

6. Dahlia Bakery Chocolate Cookies

My friend Andre brought us amazing chocolate cookies when he came to have dinner at our house. What a friend! Problem was it was the middle of Lent and we had given up chocolate. We ate them to be gracious hosts- you can't turn down a guest's gift, right?

 They were the best chocolate cookies ever. Sorry, Jesus.

Was it just breaking our Lent promises that made them so delicious? No, we went and got more later this year, and those cookies really are that good. They are from the Tom Douglas bakery, and I will be hankering for one everyday from here on. Even during Lent.

5. Open Air Scotland Brunch

Our first full day in Scotland, we woke up around 11 (a full 5 hours earlier than the day before), and we headed downstairs to the little cafe in Humbie to have a completely memorable breakfast/lunch. We got an Air BnB outside of Edinburgh, one of my favorite places we have ever stayed, which was on top of the small town's only shop and restaurant. It meant we could get fresh bread and Diet Coke whenever we wanted. It also meant we could have amazing sandwiches (and my favorite veggie tart EVER- I know it looks burnt but it was so good) by just walking downstairs. Plus, we got to eat it sitting in the grass in big open Scottish fields with cows, long distance bikers, and not much else in the distance.

We could feel that we were somewhere special, though we perhaps did not anticipate how much adventure (see, smashing a rearview mirror) we would have that day. It also turned out to be our most delicious meal on our whole big trip.

4. Hama Hama Open Air Oysters

For Valentine's day, we drove to another part of Washington we hadn't explored yet. The trip, if we are being honest, was not super successful, but in our desperate (and blow out filled, if I remember right) drive to stay out of an air bnb not safe for kids, we stopped at the Hama Hama Oyster farm, which had an open air restaurant where you could drink hot apple cider and eat oyster shooters. It was cold, but it was fun- we even got to walk on a big field of oyster shells after we were done!

3. Salare's Fancy Macaroni and Cheese

So, we had lots of date nights at restaurants this year (you can't do that many things when you are still wearing an infant on a date). Most places weren't too fancy (and so many Seattle restaurants look like fancy lumberjack mess halls with new American small plates), but I did really like Salare, which is on the fancier side. And they had crazy good macaroni and cheese. The picture isn't that great, but  we still talk about this mac n cheese long after we've forgotten which one was Marine Hardware and which one was Brimmer and Heeltap. Seriously, Seattle, no more

2. Anything with Beets, Goat Cheese, and Pesto

I tried a beet salad at Root Down in the Denver airport that basically shaped our entire year. Beets, pesto, and goat cheese is the best combination ever, so we have tried our own salads, and a crazy amazing beets pasta that our kids beg for (no joke, they love it so much and they look like cannibals). Beets noodles makes me proud too, because it just goes to show you can try new things and have them be great.

I never thought I would like beets, but like so many things, it just depends on how you make them and what you put with them. I even love these roasted veggie (see- beets) quesadillas, who would have ever expected! Now we eat them all the time. They can be so freaking good, and as my husband says, it is the year of the beet.

1. Eventide Oyster Co

This year, we took our sons to my grandparents' cabin in Maine for the first time. It was so fun to watch them play with my Grammy in the lake, throwing in rocks and watching for fish. One of the days there, we spent the morning at the lake with her, then we went to Portland in the afternoon, to play at the children's museum (milking the same cow I did as a kid!), then we went to Eventide Oyster Co for dinner.

Who can fight with oyster shooters and Thomas the train?

It was crazy awesome. First, God bless nice restaurants with outdoor seating, because we can bring our toddler craziness without stressing too much. Even better if the food is awesome- we had oysters, a steamed bun lobster roll, and a ridiculously good tuna crudo. Snobby white people food? Yeah, probably, but we also had cheerios, so that balances it a little right? It can be hard to know what you can get away with when you have two very busy little boys, so it just felt good to share that with them and have them mostly really like it. The meal was just fun and laid back, and we had fun sitting in the sunshine and eating plate after plate.


Ok, so reading my list is great and all, but you go make your list! What are some of your best or favorite meals this year?