Ways to have sustainability in the kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of our house and the source of our life. We humans can’t live without food and this food is generated through this kitchen only. Gone are the days when only women used to take care of their kitchens. Now the man of the house is equally interested in the kitchen chores and has an interest in the dishes being made. Even young adults who live away from their families either for studies or jobs maintain excellent kitchens. Maximum of them have sustainability in their kitchens.

What is sustainability

A method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.

Able to last or continue for a long time.

How can it be achieved in our kitchens

It is time to go back in time. Our ancestors always used to teach us the benefits of locally grown fruits and vegetables. During the years, we have learnt these basics and passed on the lessons to the younger generations.

• Prefer seasonal fruits to serve your family like mangoes in Summer and apples in Winter. Similarly, for vegetables, enjoy ladyfinger in Summer and radish, green leafy vegetable like sarso and methi in Winter. This way we consume natural nutrients included in these seasonal fruits n vegetables over cold storage products.
• Cold storage fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year but they are chemically grown during non-seasonal months. We don’t realise how many harmful chemicals we consume when we eat them.
• Prefer fresh juices taken out in front of you rather than canned juices. These contain preservatives that keep the juice fresh in a tin for a longer period of time. The preservatives create throat problems in many individuals.
• Research and depend on those products that grow locally in your state that saves transportation cost also. And products remains fresh with the seller.

Start with your own kitchen

• Teach your child to take only that much serving on his/her plate that can be finished. It is better to take four times than taking all at once and wasting. This applies to the quantity of food we make at home. Calculate and prepare food according to the family members. The amount of food you save may feed someone else who is in the need of food.
• Switch to non-toxic cleaners like vinegar, lemon or baking soda to clean utensils.
• Make food in a pressure cooker as far as possible. This saves time and fuel also because in a closed pan, the pressure is made faster and the food is boiled easily. Your work speeds up.

There are enormous ways in which we can conserve our natural resources and limit our dependency on artificial or depleting resources. We just need to be creative. Add on your ways of making your kitchen sustainable.