Denise's June Goal: Kicking the Take-Out Habit

My goal: Giving up take-out containers
My quest: To develop a plan we can approach restaurant owners with so that we might be able to indulge in take-out without all of the throw-aways. Any insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

6/1
There are often times when I really crave certain foods and would like to have someone else do the cooking and clean-up. Last Saturday my husband and I ordered burgers from a local diner and picnicked outside. Not only were the burgers encased in a styrofoam container, the lettuce and tomatoes were in a small ziplock bag, the utensils in another and of course, the ketchup, mustard and mayonaise, (not that we asked for all this), were also in separate containers. In addition, all of this was in a bleached white paper bag, placed inside a plastic bag. I wish I could go back to the care-free days when I could enjoy a meal like this, but of course I couldn't, thinking about the enormity of the environmental impact of this meal, and that is not even including the burger itself! So, for this month, I intend to forego take-out.

I think the hardest part about this for me will be giving up the take-out ice tea. I usually make my coffee or tea at home, but every once in awhile, particularly when the weather is warm, I really enjoy a large ice tea from AuBonPain. This large ice tea usually involves a large cup, with a plastic lid and plastic straw wrapped in bleached white paper-ugh! In addition, my daughter, when seeing my large up with the plastic straw has been crying for her own. I confess to allowing her, her own cup and straw so that I can drink my caffeinated drink in peace without sharing.

Denise
6/5
Discovery!
Did you know that if you re-use your disposable cup at Starbucks, regardless of how many times, you only get charged for a re-fill? I've had my cup since long before I made this committment and get charged 50 cents for a Venti Ice Tea! On the contrary, when you bring your own re-usable mug you save a measly 10 cents. Go figure!

6/8
Seriously craving pizza today. Want to bring my own plate and get a slice but feel silly, so we end up eating out. My husband and I share a small personal pie and have 2 pieces leftover. I slip them in my re-usable take out container in which I carried a meal for my daughter(she ate it while we ate our pizza).

6/10
Confession:
So today, I went to a work-related function and we were honored as guests and given a wonderful lunch. I had my re-usable containers with me and could have helped myself without using a styrofoam plate but was afraid of making my hosts uncomfortable and sounding "I'm better than you since I don't use styrofoam," so I used the plate. I did re-use it for desert! Does this count as take-out?

6/12
Looking for a lunch option and not wanting to get take-out so check out the grocery store. Anything I can get is already packaged. Does this count as take-out? I think so, so I opt for leftovers in my fridge, but really wished I could have had the sushi!

6/13
I can't take it anymore! I want an ice-tea. So I go to AuBonPain and get one and put it in my stainless steel water bottle. Shouldn't I get some kind of discount? Got charged for a small but am pretty sure I got short-changed on that deal.