Living a Low Waste Life with Abby from Abby's Food Court

Sustainability is a phrase swirling around the health and wellness community and although sustainability has been around for decades, it is now becoming a crucial element in the almost every industry including health, wellness and nutrition.

Sustainability is defined as "the process of maintaining change in a balanced fashion, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony with one another, ultimately enhancing both the current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations."

Image by Abby's Food Court

Our team here at The NutraMilk prides ourselves in offering high quality products that can save you money on your favorite nut butters, nut milks, seed butters, seed milks and other non-dairy alternatives, but we are incredibly proud to say our NutraMilk products are also sustainable. By using The NutraMilk, you are reducing package waste from purchasing other nut butters and nut milks while essentially creating a low or zero waste.

Fact: When using The NutraMilk there is there is virtually no waste or pulp leftover with the exception of nut and/or seed skins. This is one of the benefits of using The Nutramilk. Don't worry about dealing with any leftover pulp, which is a waste of nut/seed nutrition, not to mention a waste of money.

We know many of our NutraMilk family members are working towards living a low or zero waste lifestyle both inside and outside of the kitchen, which is why we sat down with one of our affiliates, Abby from Abby's Food Court, to discuss her top tips, recommendations and advice about living a virtually zero waste life whenever possible all while using The NutraMilk.

Living Sustainably with Abby from Abby's Food Court

As a dietitian, Abby's expertise lies in nutrition for optimal health and treating diseases, but when it comes to changing eating habits, she knows it's no easy feat. "I found that wanting optimal health for myself was not a good enough motivator for me to refuse tempting treats and the clever marketing claims," says Abby. "It wasn't until I found greater meaning in my food choices that I was able to shift my diet and eat for optimal health."

Image by Abby's Food Court

When Abby initially adopted a low waste lifestyle and began reducing how much waste she produced, she naturally gravitated to the healthiest foods. Abby recalls, "I wasn't thinking 'I should eat this' or 'I shouldn't eat this.' Instead, I made purchasing and eating choices based upon avoiding waste. The healthiest foods are unpackaged and unprocessed and therefore that is what I bought and ate." Think about it. Some of the healthiest foods are fresh fruits, hearty vegetables and wholesome grains and they don't require any packaging. How cool is that?!

When it comes to committing to a low or zero waste life, Abby has three tips anyone can incorporate into their everyday routines.

1. Buy in Bulk

When it comes to shopping for foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains and sweet dried fruits buy them in bulk using your own containers. Abby says, "Filling your pantry with these foods and having them on hand for meal prep and for snacking ensures that you consume the healthiest foods to nourish your body." When buying in bulk, it's important to note the "tare" weight of your containers or bags - the weight of the bag or container empty. Then, upon check out, the cashier should deduct the "tare" weight so you only pay for the weight of the products themselves.

2. Make Your Own Nut Butters and Nut Milks

Unfortunately, many nut butters and nut milks come in plastic containers and have additives, fillers, and/or added sugar, so Abby recommends making your own instead. Using The NutraMilk enables me to control what goes into my nut butters and nut milks and the packaging (or lack there of) involved. I buy my nuts in bulk and then use the machine to make my favorite butters and milks. I love trying different flavor combinations and I find comfort knowing exactly what is going into the food I'm feeding myself and my family. The creations taste delicious and I'm still amazed every time I use it (which is weekly!)."

3. Re-purpose Food Scraps

Eating fresh, whole foods like fresh fruits, hearty vegetables and whole grains may not include extra packaging, but you may still end up with some unwanted food scraps. Instead of discarding them, re-purpose them! Use extra chopped vegetables to place in stews, soups or spreads or toss leftover fruit into your morning smoothie. If there is anything leftover that you cannot re-purpose, add it to your kitchen compost pile.

Here are more tips from Abby on how you can start living a low waste life today.

Think Sustainably

Plastic, especially single-use plastic, is not good for our health, the environment or the health of our planet. Once we recognize that our individual habits really add up, we can start making a lasting change. We have to take care of ourselves and the environment, so it becomes necessary to figure out ways to reduce waste and using The NutraMilk is a great place to start!

Start Living a Low Waste Life Today!