This Eco-Friendly Tweak Could Be The Secret To Eating WAY Healthier

But a few years ago, I stumbled upon a secret to sticking with a diet that makes me feel amazing. And I didn't find it in a library book, doctor consult, or research study.

The first step in the project of reducing waste involved analyzing my trash. I faced the garbage in my life, literally and figuratively. Although I prided myself on my vegetable-heavy, nutrient-dense diet, I noticed that processed, packaged, and takeout food crept into my life more than I cared to admit. Plastic containers filled the recycling bin and stared back at me, reminding me of my lack of meal prep and preparedness for busy (and not-so-busy) weeks.

As my garbage emptied, my fridge filled with real, whole foods. I became obsessed with decreasing waste. I tried to avoid packaged food (and products) altogether, opting to make my own meals and snacks using loose or bulk-bin ingredients as often as possible. This led me to finally develop habits and skills I had always wanted to: meal prepping and cooking regularly, cooking root to frond (using the whole vegetable in new, creative ways), and storing food appropriately to preserve nutrient quality. I also found myself eating more mindfully and making fewer impulsive food decisions.

Starting to reduce waste can seem daunting at first, but there's no rush! Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You might just find, like I did, that this becomes fun and addictive in the best sense.

The things we buy repeatedly add up the most, so find alternatives for as many of those staples as possible. What packaged goods do you buy every week? For instance, I used to buy packaged whole grains and nuts every week, but now, I go to the bulk section and get all those staples plastic- and package-free.

Your avocado will make it from the supermarket to your home/apartment just fine. I promise!

Most places allow you to fill up the jar with food and deduct the weight of the empty jar so you're only paying for the food itself.

The first time I forgot my reusable coffee cup at home, I panicked when I needed a caffeine hit. Then I remembered that coffee shops have real cups. Remember those? They aren't just there for lovely Instagram photographs! And, let's be honest, even though we grab beverages to go, we usually down them quickly anyway. Why not take those five minutes, sit down at the café, and drink out of a real cup?

For example, FRUIT. Buy fruit sans plastic and make it readily accessible on your counter or in the fridge to make it as accessible as packaged treats.

Now, three years into implementing these tips into my low-waste lifestyle, fad diets and new products have come and gone, but my commitment to myself and the environment persists.