Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Tell One Friend: Enjoy a Wasteless Picnic

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. It is a great time to enjoy a picnic, have a meal on a camping trip or BBQ in the company of friends and family. However, packing food to cook or eat on the go can produce excess waste. Packing a zero to low-waste meal or snack can sometimes be a challenge, especially when packing for many people.

Plan for your Picnic

When preparing food for your picnic, consider these points:
  • Pack reusable dishes and cutlery.
  • Skip the juice boxes and cans of pop; bring a thermos or reusable bottle filled with a beverage.
  • Fill up reusable jugs, bottles or jars for drinking water instead of purchasing plastic water bottles. 
  • Forget the straws.
  • Pack reusable cups, encourage others who are attending to bring their own cup or mug.
  • Prepare food in advance to avoid buying ready-to-go packaged products. 

Share Your Message Effectively

Try these strategies to help encourage your family, friends and co-workers to keep their picnics, BBQs and camping meals waste free.

Model the Behaviour
Show friends and family how to pack a low or zero waste meal by hosting a picnic, sending wasteless food packing ideas to attendees, and explaining the goals behind these actions.

Make it Normal
Each time you model a wasteless picnic, BBQ or snack in nature, it becomes more accepted and expected.

Offer Timely Prompts
When attending a get-together, be it a picnic, BBQ or camping meal, offer ideas on how those around you can make small changes to help reduce waste.

Give Positive Feedback
"Wow that salad looks so appetizing in your reusable jar."

Highlight the Benefits
Preparing food in advance for a meal on the go in nature can sound like a large task. However, each single-use item that a person can eliminate is a beneficial way to reduce waste. One small change at a time. 

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