30th July 5 day update sorry

July 30th

Day 30

Five days in one blog tonight as I have had a few days of being a busy mom. My son has had a serious injury to his eye ball and I have spent the last few days travelling to and from the hospital. He has require treatment ever two hours and I was just too tired to blog. I do apologise for this however I have one day left of plastic free July and I think the kids are delighted. They cannot wait to have a few simple pleasures back in the cupboards. Some of you are possibly thinking that I should not go back to plastic but the truth of the matter is some items are just not available as an alternative. I will however keep a few alternatives that I have found as they work well and also fit in to our lifestyle. I will also seek to find the other alternatives that have been impossible to find in one month. My cupboards are emptying of plastics and I will not be replacing them either, so little by litter we will become a Zero waste family.

The problem at the moment is that the Eco or waste free shops are just not catering for the family market. Prices and practicality are just not in a family range or budget when shopping here and there for goods to feed a family of 6. Tomorrow I will work out for the final day just how much has been spent on plastic free July 2019 compared with my June 2019 spends.
One thing this challenge has shown me is just how wasteful we are in this throw away culture and this is what's going to change in my household. Every family has to start somewhere and this challenge has been very daunting at times where I could have easily gave up. My routine will change and my money will be saved in the long run but as a mother my sanity has to be intact.

The overall issue is that I am one consumer that is making an impact in my lifestyle not to bow down to convenience and let the supermarkets bombard me with plastic covered goods. I am determined to reduce my household waste, this plastic free July challenge has been successful and our household has reduced it's waste by 50%. However it's by far not enough,  have turn to books to help me with some final changes and most authors express that changing your family over totally to waste free is difficult and should be done one thing at a time. I have done more than this each day and have also educated myself on the alternatives and where to go for them. So once the routine slips back in to place I can actually start shopping differently and more excitedly than just popping to Tesco for convenience. I shall make the time to pop in to the city to a larger waste free shop with my weekly menu in hand and make sure I visit the city when the markets are on for the cheaper fruit and veg options. So in one afternoon the waste free shop and market will be visited. The key to the successfulness of a waste free family is definitely in the planning and organisation of my week.  A trip to the city will be a welcomed change.

The overall truth is that our planet needs us to change our convenient ways, stopping us being dictated to by supermarkets who are only fulfilling their profit margins. People are telling me that's its more expensive to go waste/eco free but when they go to the supermarkets their trollies are full to the brim, covered in plastic and most of it will end up in the landfill or recycled bins unused. Money is being wasted in so many ways that we have become accustomed too and there really is no need to acquire so much and then place it in landfill forever. The availability to become a waste free success has to be in the practicality of the refill shops offering us the items needed so that we can cater in such a big family. Cereal for instance.

There is a huge satisfaction in turning to a Eco freak and I for one like it, mine household feels fresher and my burdens are easing due to my cupboards being organised. My bank account will be healthier and so will the planet as I'm turning more and more to waste less, reuse stuff and enjoy up-cycling what I have. A veg patch will be a new addition to my garden over the next year and I will enjoy more baking with the kids. Time is so important.

Today My bread making skills were tested once more as I made hot dog rolls. The children loved them and I did impress myself too.
Advertised all over Facebook was toilet roll options that are tree friendly and made by recycled material. The funniest name ever for this company was "Who gives a crap". brilliant name I thought. An order has been made and a big box will be delivered in a couple of days.

Hope you enjoyed tonight's blog and once again I apologise for the 5 day update.

Hot dogs



They turned out well

Day 25 I need to put the oven on and it's a baking hot day

Day 25

25.07.19

My nephews birthday and I need to bake a cake.



We went to Bells farm shop and the kids were delighted to see the two farmers crisps, crisps is the one snack in our house that is popular. The two farmers crisps packets are compostable and plastic free. We did buy three packs but one did not make it home, however at £2.80 for a large a packet I think for this family walkers packets might be coming back home. Terracycle will be getting my used packets along with toothpaste tubes as I still have not found an alternative for toothpaste. My duty of care towards the kids has to be my number one priority and the dentist needs to be kept happy.

Delighted with Bells farm today as they have started selling the two farmers crisps.

The shampoo and conditioner bars are still going strong after about five uses these have hardly changed in size.

 

 

Tonight I baked a birthday cake for my nephew a lemon drizzle cake, I was unable to taste it due to my intolerances however the family tucked in a commented how nice it was. I do know one thing is there is only three pieces left and I can honestly say it was simple and easy to make.

Today has been about looking after the children in this very hot weather however I am enjoying the sunshine.

Day 24 Summary I needed to cheat for my sainity.

Day 23 Summary

Today I needed to make a few plastic decisions as my cupboards are empty of anything available and gradable for the kids to eat. We are in the summer holidays and I cannot in this heat keep putting the oven on. So I bought light brown sugar in a plastic packaging as there is no where I can find an alternative. I thought the homemade baking of many cookie varieties at different times throughout the week with this one bag of sugar would make up for me buying 6-8 packets of biscuits and ending up with all that packaging. Surely one plastic packet was better than 6-8 different plastic packets. Two packets of biscuits were brought though as I'm not a wonder woman who can bake daily and cereal was brought too as the kids need to eat cold breakfasts in this kind of weather.

Ice cream was brought in a plastic tub and popsicles were found in paper tubes so that's this heat wave sorted to cool the kids down. A really nice find for mom and dad was the gin and tonic popsicles that will also keep the adults cool too.

 

These are a real success with the kids and adults. Gin of course is the adults one lol.


To summarise this day the supermarkets won over with certain plastic covered items that I need to help me through summer holiday days especially in this kind of heat. My children have really supported the plastic free July however day 24 and it's taking its toll so far as snacks and ice cream go. For my sanity and safety in decision making as a mother this was a much needed necessity.  



Day 24 baking by hand now no bread maker in sight

Day 23 Plastic free July


23.07.19

Our menu yesterday was Pizza and I decided to make it all by hand. I usually buy the pizza's in a box with the plastic cover. These handmade pizza's from scratch were easy to make, very tasty, the block of cheese was lovely melted nicely and enough was left over for todays lunch.

looks amazing kids loved it

My nephew pointed out that I was using a kids recipe book and my reply was it was nice and easy.

Tip for the future make it on the tray as trying to place it on a tray once filling is applied was a quite a tricky moment.

This is my pizza with the pepper sauce jar from Sainsbury's, cheese block from Co-op with goats cheese, olives, salami and my friends home grown courgette. Defiantly a recipe staying with my family it was lovely.

I then gave bread a go and it was quite easy however I'm not sure how this is going to be achieved time scale wise in a normal day. At the moment the kids are home due to school holidays and when they return making fresh bread in the morning is just not possible. Unless of course I wake earlier to bake it which I also can't see happening as I have just got my sleeping pattern back after many motherhood years.

Very impressed with the final bake no soggy bottom either Mary Berry would be pleased.  

The rise was supper

However not much left after 6 people attacked it, need to bake another one.

Not much mess to clean up but best of all NO PLASTIC WASTE



Day 23 summery 8 days left

23.7.19

Day 23 and only 8 days left of this madness to find the alternative’s to plastic free. What have I learnt  though is a lot.

I have to say that some plastic items will have to return after plastic free July as much as it pains me as I would like to continue plastic free. THE LOGISTICS of making the biscuits and snacking items are too much for this mom. What I will continue to Keep is the knowledge that there are other options to buying household and food items. I will continue to shop at the farm shops, butchers and local shops rather than huge food chain supermarkets. Using my reusable tubs has definitely reduced the waste to landfill and the two recycling bin’s I put out every two weeks,  this week there will only be one bin. This meaning that my hard work has paid off and I’m only sending out 50% of what I usually do. Mostly tins from the pet food, bottles and delivery cardboard boxes.

Today I used the shampoo and conditioner bars, I was immediately surprised that the shampoo bar actually lathered my hair. The conditioner also went on with ease and I do believe if I have no reaction that this is a welcomed change I am willing to keep.

Once again I also picked up some salami for our pizzas in the week from the deli at Sainsbury’s that was also wrapped in paper. I was surprised to learn how when introducing any kind of change in their store people moan and make the process of elimination hard for the staff to support due to the negativeness they receive. Plastic reduction has to happen and like me with this process I hope people will read that small changes are not that difficult.

Last night the children were invited to our neighbours garden to experience his new toy a ice cream machine. I never told them about it until they got there and when they seen cones and paper tubs with wooden spoons they were ecstatic. We all munch away I a much missed item in this plastic free house.

Sainsbury’s deli also offer plastic free and you can take your own tubs too. 

The shampoo and conditioner bars after one use 

On delighted lad 

Kids said they are available daily to experiment his ice creams lol 

Add caption

Day 22 summary kids snack pacifiers and exciting cereals have all gone

Day 22

22.7.19

It's getting hard now

I remember at the start of July how I was saying the first week was going to be the easiest as we had the contents of our cupboards to eat down. Well I was completely correct it is now day 22 and the good stuff as the children would say is all gone. In my children's eyes the fridge is empty and the cupboards are clear of all things junk. 

In reality the fridge is full of the healthy stuff but the problem is it is not grab ready therefore there is no food in the house. I will say I am feeling tired today and the washing from the weekend away is slowing going through the machine.   

The issue with not having the grab ready snacks now is that the children moan, I going to give them credit though as they have put up without packet biscuits and treats now throughout July. They have also been very supportive of the plastic free task but they are bored of food and their reduced sugar intake is beginning to take it's toll. 

The grab snacks are a needed essential with this family and if I have not baked the snacks then we have the issue of the hunger snack moans.

The children made pancakes last night and also a chocolate concrete however this did not last the morning and by tea time they wanted to eat each other lol. 

The pantry items are running out or have been used up, I cannot find plastic free brown soft sugar anywhere to make more biscuits, but I am going to try the caster sugar to see if that can be used as an alternative. 

My husband and I went to the co-op supermarket today and struggled with many items however it was pleasing to know that the cold meets and cheeses were plastic free from the counter. I was unable to buy grated mozzarella cheese for our pizza making in the week and have gone with an alternative cheddar cheese block  that I hope the children will enjoy.

Lovely to have a paper wrapped cold meat section 

A great selection of meats and cheeses to chose from 

Just the bread in plastic however I am going to use this bread bag again.

The husband returns to work tomorrow and I am left at home with the children and very little junk food to pacify them with. This is going to be the real test of plastic free endurance to be able to get through full summer holiday days plastic free with children.
I must leave now to plan the meals for the week because I do not plan on running here and there with three kids in tow catch up tomorrow. 

Day 21 Camping plastic free!!!!!and a tesco delivery

Day 21

Hi I'm back after a couple of days away glamping with the children, James football team families and a disappointing Tesco delivery that catered for 30 people perfectly. As you can imagine 7 families preparing for a weekend away with two or three children can be stressful, just to pack the clothing and needing to be arriving at camp after the last school day is very time consuming, especially when you have also worked that day. All the mothers planned at a meeting last week the catering for such a large number of people and this plastic free parent was out voted on a few items. The decision to meal plan for each meal and list out a delivery was the easiest and less stressful way of doing the catering for such a large party.

I did fight my corner though on the waste side of things especially when the other moms mentioned buying water bottles. My suggestion was a drink serving dispensers to refill the children's drink bottles. Each adult and child was to bring their drink bottles to refill during their time at camp and the dispensers would be filled with squash and water. The parents agreed on this and of course we saved money this way also. The second suggestion was that I bought the meat from the butcher in order to reduce the plastic packaging that the supermarket always wrap their meat in. The parents agreed that I could order what we needed from my local butcher. So last week I ordered the meat and on Friday morning I turned up at the butchers with my reusable tupawear and collected it. I also baked three different cakes for the children to snack on and a birthday Victoria sponge was homemade too for James 9th birthday.

I could not really do much more because some items on the list included nuts, biscuits, crisps, fruit, bread, salad, dips etc and I'm unfortunately not wonder woman and had to agree on some plastic covered items to feed and pacify 30 people especially 16 kids which included 3 teenagers.

We took two dispensers that I had borrowed from the scout hut.

The campsite owners prepared fresh pizza's for us all the first night so not a plastic wrapper in site, even her tomato base sauce was homemade.

I will say though how impressed I was at the support I was receiving throughout the weekend from all the parents and children who were recycling what they could, composting all compostable foods, egg shells, egg boxes, cartons and paper. The waste to landfill was only one black bin bag at the end of camp from 7 families of 30 people in total which I think is very impressive.  We were staying at a campsite that prides itself on being eco friendly and it had all these waste facilities available to enable us to reduce what waste went to landfill. So overall it was impossible to buy plastic free for such a large number of people as snacks, salad mixed grab bags, biscuits, nuts and most snacks are not offered at the supermarkets (Tesco delivery option) without the plastic wrapping. The weekend shop for each family worked out about £60 which when feeding 30 people in 7 families throughout 6 meals I thought was a reasonable cost. I also feel that it could not have been avoided in anyway as these items when finding alternatives are just not available anywhere without driving here and there to find them. Quite disappointedly it's was not achievable with a  Tesco delivery due to no available alternatives items. I could have baked cookies, shopped for fruit unpackaged, made the dips, brought the salad separately to make up but I could not have done it all, especially when catering for such a large number of people and feel that baking over 120 cookies may have just finished this tired end of term mom off. The one other plastic free was tuna mayonnaise made by one of our mothers from tins however the mayo was plastic bottled, one plastic bottle instead of about 8 tuna mayonnaise plastic made up pots.

As you can witness glasses were used for beverages

The pepper sauce mix my husband found in Sainsbury's was lovely on my pizza. My first pizza in a long time as I have a tomato intolerance.

No packaging in sight just the hubby and the BBQ

All the cutlery was metal and the plates, bowls, mugs etc were all porcelain, washable and reusable. The younger children did have plastic bowls and spoons but these were also reusable.  No waste to landfill at all of these items.

Happy wife, Happy life is what my husband says.

The honest wheelbarrow of unavoidable plastic wrapping catering for such a large number of people.