Vote With Your Fork
I was reading this article by Marion Nestle where one of the phrases she says, is to vote with your fork.
One of the things she says is that you set an example, and make it social acceptable for others to care. There are no grocery stores in San Francisco that use plastic bags anymore. The smaller food grocery stores, like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods sell reusable bags, and most give you five cents off your bill or something if you bring your own bag. However, they also have brown paper bags for bagging food.
Maybe a year ago, a TJMaxx opened two blocks away, and because I'm an old lady, I went to check it out. I bought a frying pan, and they gave me a reusable bag for it. When I go food shopping, I try to remember to bring it with me. I can't even tell you how many people have commented on it. Always tourists.
I'm not the most environmentally friendly person around, but I'm always happy to promote doing something that's less damaging, so I'll stand there and talk about how no, it's not a huge inconvenience to go through life without plastic bags. Yes, it really is possible to remember your bags when going food shopping. Then I tell them how to get to Macy's, Old Navy, or Fisherman's Wharf.
It's almost like, because I do so little for the environment, I owe it to said environment to encourage others to do what I do. Because it practically is the least that can be done. I'd like to get better in this area. The whole bringing-my-own-bags and refusing bags in stores is not enough. Buying more organics, buying less meat, recycling, composting - these all need to happen. I would like to make sure I donate everything that can be donated, rather than throwing things out. Does it make sense that I want to set a better example for myself?
One of the things she says is that you set an example, and make it social acceptable for others to care. There are no grocery stores in San Francisco that use plastic bags anymore. The smaller food grocery stores, like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods sell reusable bags, and most give you five cents off your bill or something if you bring your own bag. However, they also have brown paper bags for bagging food.
Maybe a year ago, a TJMaxx opened two blocks away, and because I'm an old lady, I went to check it out. I bought a frying pan, and they gave me a reusable bag for it. When I go food shopping, I try to remember to bring it with me. I can't even tell you how many people have commented on it. Always tourists.
I'm not the most environmentally friendly person around, but I'm always happy to promote doing something that's less damaging, so I'll stand there and talk about how no, it's not a huge inconvenience to go through life without plastic bags. Yes, it really is possible to remember your bags when going food shopping. Then I tell them how to get to Macy's, Old Navy, or Fisherman's Wharf.
It's almost like, because I do so little for the environment, I owe it to said environment to encourage others to do what I do. Because it practically is the least that can be done. I'd like to get better in this area. The whole bringing-my-own-bags and refusing bags in stores is not enough. Buying more organics, buying less meat, recycling, composting - these all need to happen. I would like to make sure I donate everything that can be donated, rather than throwing things out. Does it make sense that I want to set a better example for myself?
Labels: Interactive, People watching, Personally
posted by Green at 7/03/2011 08:14:00 AM
2 Comments:
I totally agree with the idea of setting a good example.
I totally hate the idea of banning activities for others based on one's own preferences.
So I am stunned and annoyed to hear the rumor (please tell me it's not really true!) that San Francisco banned happy meal toys.
I LOVE happy meals! They are one of the lowest calorie items on the menu at McDonald's, and my kids love to get them with apple dippers & milk, which makes them, if not exactly health food, then at least not worthy of total disdain.
And when we're traveling, I so very much LOVE LOVE LOVE the happy meal, WITH toys. Gives the kids something to do in the car. They eat their meal, then open their toy and play with it. All told, it's worth at least an hour of peace and quiet while they are occupied. So much better than the fighting in the back seat.
Some of the toys are lame, yes, but others are actually pretty cool. Think "Hot Wheels" cars and Bakugan balls and Legos and Beanie Babies. A cool toy and a meal for under $3.00. What's not to love?
Why oh why would San Franciscans want to rid the world of such inexpensive joy?
If someone doesn't want a Happy Meal, or a Happy Meal toy, then for heaven's sake, don't buy it! But don't tell ME I can't buy one for MY kids!!!
I just don't get it...
It seems like a lot of people misunderstood what was done with the Happy Meals, probably due to inflammatory headlines. Happy Meals were NOT banned. McD's was just told in order to sell happy meals they need to be made healthier, in line with nutritional guidelines.
Setting that aside for a second, ordinarily I'd agree with you on the point that if people don't want to eat something unhealthy then they should just bypass it rather than eating it and then complaining. However, as a country, we're really having this huge (no pun intended) obesity problem, and not self-monitoring, so clearly we DO need help.
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