Small Steps to Self-Sufficiency in the Kitchen

Reusing items makes sense, not just for your bank balance, but also for your health and for the earth. It can save you time and is a great starting point on your journey to self-sufficient living.

Here is a list of single-use items you can switch in the kitchen. Just pick one and go for it!

Once you’ve implemented these tasks, you’ll find you won’t be racing to the shops for items you’ve run out of which you once thought were a necessity.

• You’ll be more independent of the shops and more in control of your life.
• You’ll enjoy the benefits associated with a simpler way of life.
• You’ll save money on reusing an item hundreds of times, where previously a single-use item was require.

Let’s get started!

1. Butter wraps make a great alternative to single-use baking paper.
2. Switch plastic wrap and foil in favour of fabric bowl covers and reusable baking sheets.They’re actually really fun and easy to make. I used this tutorial to make mine.
3. Eliminate disposable kitchen wipes that are used and thrown out after a week or two, for the cloth variety that can simply be washed every day. Much more hygienic!
4. Swap paper towel for fabric cloths. Fun tutorial HERE or you can just use rags.
5. Eliminate disposable serviettes. Switch to the old-fashioned kind.
6. Stop buying bottled water. Invest in a good quality stainless steel or glass drink bottle and fill it from your tap or rainwater tank. We are so blessed to live in a country with easy access to clean, fresh drinking water; it’s a shame to buy it. Keep a bottle in your car so that you won’t get caught out having to purchase water.
7. If you love to buy a takeaway coffee, gift yourself with a reusable coffee cup and use that.
8. Make your own baby food. Although there are now a number of organic baby food varieties on the market, it can be very expensive and it’s still packaged. So make your own.
9. Make your own icy-poles. In summer, we blend seasonal fruits and pour them into reusable icy-pole bags.
10. Invest in reusable food packaging options and avoid buying pre-packaged portions of food such as yoghurt and fruit puree.
11. Keep your old jars to store leftovers.
12. Check your garden regularly to see what can be preserved.
13. If making your own yoghurt and ice-cream isn’t realistic for you, purchase larger bulk packs rather than individually packaged products.
14. Apart from coming with excessive packaging and novelties (Kiwi fruit spoon, anyone?) pre-packaged produce is often less fresh than the unpackaged variety, and you don’t have the freedom to choose firmness or freshness. Berries are difficult to purchase without packaging, so make sure you recycle the plastic packs or reuse them for craft.