So for the first few weeks/ months of blogging I have a feeling this maybe a place of some bitterness and frustration, for this I apologize. I have some tension that has built up in me that needs an outlet, and hopefully by blogging I may find other mommies and people who can relate and may have words of comfort or encouragement.
So for today I am thinking about fun and food. I have a 3 almost 4 year old and I am finding it difficult to offer him entertaining things to do and play. He gets so bored during the week. I am somewhat of a homebody, I like to go out for walks and such, but not the sort who likes to go stroll the mall. For one, I find that this only stirs something in me that makes me feel discontent with my “out of style” stuff. It makes me feel like buying new stuff and having the latest and greatest is the most important thing. So that said it just seems against my personal goals of sustainability and green living to go stroll the mall. To top all that off, we live in Northern Oklahoma and in the winter it is just plain freezing cold 5 out of 7 days of the week. So I need some ideas of fun creative things to do for myself and my wee one that will fill that hole of boredom and almost “cabin fever depression”. To add I also hope that some of these things can help me to teach global, social , and spiritual elements to my son. So any ideas.
We live in a very small town that doesn’t really offer places to go, other than a park, and where we have to drive to be able to grocery shop at any place other than Walmart. I can barely set foot into that place, because it stands in opposition to all things that represent local and social responsibility. So we drive to Tulsa to shop every few weeks, I live for these days, because we see people who care about the same stuff we do and it reminds us that we are not “weirdos” as many in our hometown seem to think. I know the driving part is not the best, but eating healthy is really important so for now this will have to be.
So as for the food part I have some pictures I will upload later today of some recent meals I have made, and if you want you can make some of them at home. They are pretty quick, as that is my preferred way of cooking. They are vegetarian, but you could add meat if you like.
Quickly a side note on why we are vegetarian. There are really several reasons, first it makes us feel better when we eat vegetarian, we have been doing it since May 2009. Before that we had started limiting our meat intake. If every “American would eat one locally produced, organic, vegetarian meal each week we would save one million barrels of oil a week.” Eliminating meat also saves you on your grocery bill every week. Buying produce and fresh fruits and vegetables is cheaper by approximately $.50 a pound as compared to frozen, canned and processed foods. I have done the math on this one when the ladies at my Co-op where we used to live shared the facts. That alone has made shopping organic much more affordable for us.
So if any of the above interests you I will share a few random things that we do to cut down on our waste and to be more healthy.
* We always carry our own mugs in the car when we are out or traveling, that way if we get a coffee shop craving we can grab a drink without having to use a throw away cup. It also helps to keep your drink warm longer, which is awesome for us because we suck on our coffee like all day. FYI there are many things I am giving up, but coffee is not one of them. Also when you go to a local coffee shop ask if they have a fair-trade or organic blend, if not let them know you want to be a regular and hope they will choose to bring in one.
* When I can choose I always buy food products that are fair trade, free range, and organic. The items that normally offer a choice are the following; sugar, chocolate, coffee, eggs, meats, flours, and many hot cereals. So check your labels. Many of these companies also have eco-methods and tell you about that as well. I just look at my labels and always check for companies that are contributing to some effort or fit into the above categories, that way I am “voting” with my money. Letting people know what is important to me. If your religious and think tithing is important, you can also think of the extra money spent as a form of tithing, since you are paying more for efforts that take care of people and planet.
* I keep a spoon in the car so I can stir coffee and drinks without having to throw out a stir stick.
* eat lunches raw or cold, it cuts down on energy. For every cold meal you will save $1 in electricity.
* Skip the paper napkins and use cloth, you can reuse without washing for a week or so, like a towel. Then wash at the end of the week. We hang ours over the back of our chair at the table that way they don’t get mixed up.
* If you drink bottled water or filtered use a Nalgene or reusable bottle, make sure it is BPA free.
* the no brainer: buy or make reusable grocery bags, and use them. Keep a few in the car for those unexpected grocery trips. In this town people glare at me when I hand them over. It is really funny. Or if I just tell them I will carry my two small products out in my hands, no bag necessary. I it makes me giggle sometimes.
* have people over for dinner and allow your methods and practices of living to show, it always makes for interesting conversation and makes people think about adopting some simple changes themselves. Most people who have eaten in our home end up adopting something from us. Not saying anything about us, but it makes them think.
* When you do have people over make something that is exciting to eat so they see that eating healthy and vegetarian or sustainable can be very rewarding and tasty.
* Give thanks for your food. Talk to your kids about all the people who have made your meal possible. Not just the cook, but the farmers, and the workers that brought the food to you, and talk about how your family supports farmers and people who are making fair wages. If you pray this can be apart of that if not just practices regularly giving thanks with your family.
Okay so that should do for now. I will add more in a day or two if I think of anything. I will put down a recipe today for all you folks who might be interested. Hope you all have a wonderful day. I began all these things in baby steps, and we have adopted new things as we get one thing down. I know you also can do it. Be sure and leave some suggestions about the fun stuff. Thanks for reading.
Some of the info above came from New day Revolution a great “toilet” reading book. I hope to add some links and tags and good reads in a few days.
At least maybe. Let me know what you think and do you feel the same?
