Takeout Blues

-

Whenever I’m on the run, and I have to grab a quick meal, my heart sinks a little when I take the proffered disposable plastic cutlery. There’s not much can I do right in that moment, but I’m determined to come up with a solution for future situations. 

In an effort to lower my impact, and avoid that that guilty feeling I associate with take-out food, I’ve decided it’s time to tuck non-disposable eating utensils in my bag and carry them with me always. One idea is to get a vintage pencil case or buy a little pouch from a crafter on Etsy that fits a fork, spoon, and knife – whether from a mismatched set in your home or individual pieces you’ve purchased at a thrift store.

Or, if you’re the crafty type, you can get some vintage fabric and make your own. Or, you can go with a sporty option. Here’s a Swiss Army Knife-like choice, and then there’s the REI Spork for the utilitarian in you.

Whichever option is best for you, be assured that you are lowering your impact on the planet, and dining with considerably more style, by not using disposable utensils – unless they’re biodegradable, of course!

Image: maxedaperture

Vanessa Barrington

Vanessa Barrington is a San Francisco based writer and communications consultant specializing in environmental, social, and political issues in the food system.