This month’s goal is to find sustainable ways to cut out plastic from TV dinners/microwave meals. I’ll be honest, I really do rely on microwave meals more than I’d like to admit. Even though I know this is the worst way to use plastic since plastic compounds are more likely to leach into foods when heated. But you know how it is, schedules shift, projects change, and before you know it you have an unhealthy habit. So, it’s officially time to address my TV dinner/microwave meal habit.
What am I considering a TV dinner/microwave meal? Any food that comes in a plastic tray or plastic pouch that just needs to be heated up in the microwave. To be clear, I’m not against using the microwave, it’s single-use plastic I’m trying to avoid.
On a side note: I’m trying something different this month for the replacing TV dinners challenge.
Reflecting on the past few plastic-free challenges, I worry that I’m not presenting things in a very organized way. Right now, the way I structure my posts is – I announce the challenge and my game plan in week 1. Then the next week is what people did before plastic, then the following week is an update, and then the conclusion.
The only problem with my previous structure, at least for me, is it feels jumbled for some reason. Like there’s too much to cover and I can’t make the topics focused and concise. Which is why this month, I’m going to try out a different approach with a focus on plastic-free strategies. With this, hopefully, the information will feel more cohesive and applicable for everyday use.
What the new structure will look like:
- Week 1 – Announce the challenge and sustainable strategy #1
- Week 2 – Sustainable strategy #2 and supporting info
- Week 3 – Sustainable strategy #3 and supporting info
- Week 4 – Conclusion and a book or product review or more supporting info
The 3 sustainable strategies for replacing TV dinners
So, using the new layout, we’ll focus on 3 sustainable strategies for this month’s challenge of replacing TV dinners. When picking the strategies, I set the parameters to what the microwave meals offer. They’re quick to make, usually 15 minutes or less, and all that’s required is to heat up the meal and you’re ready to eat. The biggest appeal for microwave meals isn’t just their convenience, it’s that you don’t have to think about what to make. Let’s be honest, at the end of the day there isn’t always enough mental energy for the dinner project.
Now, all of the strategies below meet the guidelines of just needing to be heated up in one way or another. However, this convenience is due to having put in the work at an earlier time. They require solid meal planning and about one day (or 2 half days) of food prep per month. But trust me the results are way better and healthier, than any plastic-wrapped TV dinner.
Strategy #1 – Freezer meals
This first week, the focus will be on using the freezer meal strategy to eliminate plastic from TV dinners. I first learned this strategy from the book, Frozen Assets. At the time, the goal wasn’t to cut down on plastic but to make life easier at mealtime. The gist of the freezer meal strategy is that in one afternoon you make the bulk of the meals you will eat throughout the month and then freeze them. Since our goal is to cut down on plastic, be sure you have reusable food storage alternatives that can be frozen, like mason jars and silicone bags.
Strategy #2 – Meal-In-A-Jar
Week 2, will focus on the meal-in-a-jar (aka mason jar meals) strategy to replace TV dinners/microwave meals. This is where freeze-dried food can really help cut down on plastic. Making meals-in-a-jar requires assembling dry, shelf-stable ingredients and then adding water when you’re ready to eat them. I recommend using freeze-dried ingredients because of how quickly they rehydrate. You can use dehydrated foods as well, just keep in mind it will take longer to cook/rehydrate them.
Strategy #3 – Legitimate 15 minute meals
In week 3, we will cut down on plastic by focusing on meals that only take 15 minutes to make. This is one I haven’t explored as much as the other 2 strategies. But to replace microwave meals, we need recipes that can be completed from start to finish in 15 minutes. I have one or two meals in mind already so I look forward to seeing how many more can be added to the repertoire.
Whether you use one or all three of these strategies, any of them will work to cut down on single-use plastic in your home. These are all great ways to replace the store-bought microwave meals in your freezer or pantry with homemade plastic-free foods. If I compare these strategies to a marathon, they’re like a quick sprint at the beginning but then the rest is a walking pace. They do take a bit of effort earlier on but the reward is quick, healthy, just reheat meals that don’t require any thought because you already did the work.
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