A Little Honesty About Plastic-Free Lifestyle

I had mostly been the “I am aware, but financial problems..” one, especially at the supermarket.

I stopped using plastic one week ago which was something I wanted to try and see how it goes but always needed more motivation to take an action towards it. But there was it, we were required to do it, what is a better motive than this?!

FIRST…

I have imagined all the possible shopping scenarios for 2 seconds, what could I buy, what not? Found small solutions in my mind for “what not?” part. Thought about all kinds of unhealthy snacks that I had planned to buy on the way home, but what to do now?

Well, I was very motivated to go home and make a concrete plan and find so many no-plastic solutions for living but I directly went to the supermarket close to my home. I wanted to take it more easy and casual in the beginning, without dedicating myself crazily to find the most free-packaging goods in the city. Strategy: nothing has changed in my life and I just don’t want to buy something wrapped in plastic, let’s see what the supermarket offers me..

Had some food back home so I was only looking for some very unhealthy snacks. There it was! Chocolate in a paper packaging, relatively little more expensive. Did not even consider the price by then. Could not find that many option for different things, got my chocolate and went back home.

The first 3 days passed mostly without that much attention and thinking about it. Easily changed my soap, some self care products into non-plastic packaged ones.Had some food at home so just shopped for vegetables that I usually buy, was very easy to find them unpackaged. Got some eggs for the morning and all was fine.

THEN THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE…

I realized how much money I have been spending after a few days. I went to supermarket mostly every day for snacks and got some bio healty + a little out of my budget snacks for the sake of my new plastic free habits, maybe I was a little too excited for the challenge…

It was time to make a plan.

Strategy: go to the supermarket once a week to shop for every kind of need I have for the whole week and find cheaper solutions.

For me the real challenge started just by then, I could not buy some items which occupies a great portion of my daily food consumption: greens, cheese, toast breads… Gave up on them for a while.

The solution is easy, some packaging-free stores and street markets..

Well, now this is where we begin to be honest to ourselves. There is not a store close to where I live. The street market is during the hours where I am at university. In these kind of situations, you start to hear the little embarrasing argument between your conscience and lazy-self. I could take the easy cheap road which does not require any mental or physical effort than just going to the supermarket and buying those greens. But I know I should not, not because I was asked not to, because this is how it is supposed to be.

Living with no — single-use-plastic strategy requires effort. Not only physical, but small plannings and dedication. You always have to plan where to go what to buy in advance, know what you will eat in the next days, and be ready with your little fabric bags in case you are in the city and run into a shop with fresh greens.

BUT…

On the other hand…

I fixed my over-snacking habits. I spent a little time in the kitchen with some healthy snack recipes.

I put my meal times in order and know I do not spend that much time in front of the fridge thinking what I could cook for tonight. Also, there has been literally no waste of food.

Plus:

A small story of social interaction.

Since I was not able to buy pre-packaged bread for breakfast, there was a moment where I set my eyes on those daily breads behind the bakery counter. But there was the baker that I had to talk in Italian. My Italian is very beginner and I am mostly hesitant to speak to them.

I just had to do it.

Me: Posso avere uno Filoncinioiuo…..(mumbling, had no idea about what I was saying)?

The baker took it very well and sincere since I was trying to speak to him in his own language. He told me the name of it asked me a couple of times if I want something else.

He really encourged me to try to speak more Italian and interact with people while shopping or in a cafe. That behavior of him actually made my day.

So, until now, I faced the struggles which were only mostly about changing shopping habits. My advantage of this week I guess is starting to put my eating habits in order in the long term.