(Tiny Tips) – Gifts for Cooks & Foodies – The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and giving. Foodies and cooking enthusiasts can enjoy a meal while giving a gift while minimizing their environmental impact. Choosing the perfect gift that matches their values can be an enjoyable but challenging task. To simplify your gift hunt, here’s a collection of sustainable Christmas gifts that will surprise and delight your loved ones.
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Eco-Friendly Food Storage Solutions
Silicone Food Storage Bags
Stasher’s reusable silicone storage bags are BPA-free, microwave and dishwasher-safe, perfect for storing leftovers, pickled foods, or packaging snacks. These are a great alternative to single-use plastic bags that can replace plastic sandwich bags. Cleaning is easy; just soap, rinse, and place the bag upside down on a drying rack.
Silicone isn’t often recycled, but Stasher has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle damaged and worn bags through the mail for free.
Beeswax Food Wraps
Abeego Beeswax Plastic Wrap is a great alternative to plastic wrap and aluminum foil, made from organic cotton coated with beeswax, jojoba oil, and resin. They are washable, compostable, and an eco-friendly way to keep food fresh. Abeego bags range in size from 7×7 inches to 13×24 inches. Choose from a variety of combinations to surprise the holiday cook with a convenient, reusable way to store leftovers.
Reusable Produce Bags
Purifyou’s reusable produce bags are a must-have for any environmentally conscious shopper who frequents the grocery aisle or farmer’s market. Made from durable materials by a family-owned business, these clear bags are perfect for transporting and storing fresh produce in the refrigerator. They are made from machine-washable polyester and can withstand hundreds of uses. The starter set contains five large bags, two extra large bags, and two small bags, making it perfect for the conscious foodie who doesn’t want to tear open yet another disposable shopping bag in the store.
Sustainable Kitchen Tools and Accessories
Compostable Dish Sponges
Most kitchen sponges are made of polyurethane and are not recyclable because they become heavily contaminated when used. Make kitchen cleaning easier and more sustainable by gifting your favorite chef Gray Twig’s compostable sponge and bamboo bristle brush. Made from natural materials like hemp and loofah, these sponges are an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic standards. They are biodegradable and perfect for everyday kitchen cleaning.
Natural Dish Soap Bar
Dishwashing detergent packaging is a disaster, and a new wave of detergent boxes is exacerbating microplastic pollution. Gift your beloved chef SIMPLUT zero-waste dish soap, a vegan dishwashing liquid made from natural ingredients and packaged in plastic-free, compostable paper. These effective, long-lasting Soar Bars remove oil while being gentle on your hands. Do you want to contribute to the kitchen year-round? Consider a SIMPLUT dish soap subscription.
Educational and Inspirational Reads
Sustainable Kitchen Cookbook
The Sustainable Kitchen is a guide every cook can use, combining delicious recipes with sustainable cooking practices. Written by nutritionist Heather Wolfe and beautifully illustrated by Jaynie McCloskey, this book is for those who want to explore low-impact cooking techniques through recipes while reducing their environmental footprint in the kitchen For you, this is an ideal gift.
Getting to Zero-Waste
If you have a friend or loved one who is already on the path to a sustainable cooking life, give them the gift of The Zero Waste Chef: Plant-Forward Recipes for a Sustainable Kitchen and the Planet. This book goes beyond the basics to help you make use of leftovers and aged ingredients, even if they’re no longer perfect. Ann-Marie Bonneau’s guide (and blog) is designed to help people change at their own pace.
Innovative Kitchen Gadget
Lomi Composter
We still love our Lomi electric countertop composter, which turns food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Check out our review of Lomi, which can reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50%, whether your electricity is renewable or generated by burning fossil fuels. We have also found that it is a great alternative to discarding some bioplastics that are not accepted into municipal composting programs. Lomi is a great tool for reducing food waste and is ideal for city dwellers who don’t have access to composting services.
It’s the Season for Giving Back to the Planet
By choosing eco-friendly kitchen gifts, you can not only bring joy to your loved ones but also make a positive impact on the environment. Let’s celebrate this holiday season with the gift that keeps on giving – to the people we love and to our planet.