Jennifer Betit Yen
Actor, "Recovering" Attorney and Author
  • Home
  • Press
  • TV/Film
    • TV
    • Film
    • Commercials
    • Hosting
    • Interviews
    • Readings/Theatrical/Stage
    • Voiceover
  • Photos
  • Media Links
  • Bio
  • Publications
  • Ethical Is Beautiful. Be Beautiful. A Blog.
  • Companies
  • Contact

Plated: An Environmental Nightmare

6/15/2015

0 Comments

 
Meal Ideas and Ingredients Delivered – Easy Breezy?

For those who don’t know, Plated is a delivery service that you subscribe to, like Blue Apron (which I haven’t tried), that sends you recipes and ingredients to cook meals at home.  I love the idea of having dynamic different meal ideas handed to me on a silver platter, along with all the necessary ingredients in one fell swoop – no grocery shopping! – so I randomly chose Plated from among the different service providers and gave it a whirl.  The website was fairly easy to navigate.  They asked me what my food preferences and taste preferences were.  I actually wished they’d asked me more questions because my recommended menu contained food items I am allergic to but I was still gung ho.  I selected my menu and was told the food items and recipe cards would be delivered on a Monday and could be cooked for dinner Monday or Tuesday.

SO MUCH PACKAGING AND WASTE!

True to their word, Plated delivered a box of recipe cards and ingredients to my doorstep, however, imagine my shock when I opened it to find thick plastic cushioning as long as a child sized human being wrapped around all of the produce and grains, each of which was in tiny, individual plastic bags.  I’m talking a separate plastic bag for a single bay leaf.  Yes, one single bay leaf.  The amount of plastic bags was astounding.  To give you an idea, the plastic bags from my delivery filled an entire 4 foot tall trash canister.  There were also giant freezer packs.  That would be ok if I could keep them and re-use them but they were so big they wouldn’t even fit in my freezer – at least, not if I wanted to have food in there, too.  There were also about a million little plastic bottles, including several to hold just infinitesimal dollops of liquid seasonings.  If I were to throw them away, I’d feel like a jerk.  I was able to recycle them (unlike the plastic bags – read on for why not) but not without a maximum expenditure of effort, rinsing and drying each tiny bottle so the recycle people would take it.  With all the time I spent rinsing and drying those little suckers, I could have just run to the corner store and bought myself the groceries or looked up a recipe on my own.

Plastic Bags Can’t be Recycled if Dirty or Wet

So what about those plastic bags?  Why not recycle them?  Not going to happen.  The plastic bags were wet with condensation from the veggies within and had bits of food particles on them – making them pretty much impossible to recycle.  Bags and wraps have to be clean and dry to be recycled, and collecting them in curbside bins with bottles and containers generally leaves them too dirty and wet to be recycled.  See http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/faqs/plastic-film-recycling-faqs.  Also, most frozen food or pre-washed salad bags may contain a barrier polymer or other additives that is not the polyethylene (#'s 2 and 4) plastic that recyclers want. These polymer barriers help protect the food and extend shelf life but recyclers consider them to be a contaminant in the recycling bin. See id.

The huge thick plastic mattress (I can’t think of another word to describe it) that wrapped everything in the box is definitely not recyclable. 

It All Adds Up

If I used this service weekly (or more!) as suggested, the amount of waste I would create is astounding…and horrifying.  I canceled my subscription immediately.  I don’t mean to just pick at Plated; this is an issue endemic to the individual meal delivery type of service.  All you have to do is Google: "Impact of landfill on the environment" and you’ll see the problem is a pretty big deal.  To be fair, one writer really researched another provider, Blue Apron, and found, in some cases (like if you’re buying frozen food dinners), Blue Apron might not be as bad for the environment as those frozen dinners from the grocery store.  See http://www.onearth.org/magazine/home-cooking-delivered-meals for really great and very fair (I thought) write up.

The Solution

I’m taking a page from the online magazine I cite above and doing two things: I am going to use these delivery services but not as a subscriber.  If I’m in need of a fresh new recipe idea and I’m in the doldrums about what to cook, I’ll go to their website and check out what’s on “today’s menu,” then I’ll take their idea without ordering their insane packaging (sorry, guys), walk not drive (no carbon footprint there) to my grocery store (yes, I know not everyone can do that but I’m lucky I can) and pick up the ingredients, trying to go local and organic and steering clear of excessive and unrecyclable packaging.  It’s really not so bad.  You can check out their menu idea at work and swing by the store on your way home.  A lot of their stuff is intentionally simple so almost anyone can make it which makes commandeering the recipe that much easier.  You actually don’t even need to steal recipes from the delivery service people.  There are awesome ones all over the Internet.  If I am feeling “savory” and “crunchy” foods, I’ll literally Google “savory and crunchy recipes without meat” and get a veritable smorgasbord of ideas, most of which are pretty easy and don’t require crazy shopping.

That’s my take on an ethical and beautiful dinner.  ;)

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Jen Yen

    Actor, Author, Attorney
    www.jen-yen.com

    Book cover image

    The Ethical is B ...

    Jen Yen

    $12.95

    Buy Now button

    Archives

    June 2025
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    June 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

    Acting, Writing & Producing
    Activist Thor Guest Blog
    Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Film
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Audition Disasters
    Achoo Moment
    Compassion and Creation

    Cre8ing in Isolation
    Hint of an "Asian American Accent"
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us

    In Defense of Eddie Huang
    Just Noise
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Movies to Watch

    Multi-Sum Game
    Production Journal: Stone Soup
    Production Journal: Prison Sandwiches

    Thank You
    The Opposite of a Fairy Tale
    Trauma
    Welcome to the New Normal

    What's in a Name?
    What's Your Story?  Paul Leach
    What's Your Story? Alex Chu
    What's Your Story?  Kiyun Sung
    What's Your Story?  Sean Lea
    What's Your Story?  Myra Sito Velasquez
    Wha's Your Story?  Allan Tsao
    What's Your Story? Christina Jun
    What's Your Story?  Kevin Chew
    What's Your Story?  Katherina Filaseta
    Words Matter:  Remarks to Filmmakers
    ​  worth.html


    Beauty/Health
    Barrier Creams to Protect Skin
    Beat Inflammation

    Beauty
    Beauty Bars To Go

    Brightening Toner
    Chocolate Cake w protein and NO flour
    Clean Beauty Sans Plastic

    Coconut Oil Skin Therapy
    Ditch the Plastic

    DIY Accupressure
    DIY Beauty
    DIY Eyelash Strengethener

    DIY Natural Household Cleaners
    DIY Scrubs
    DIY Skin Brightener
    Eating Organic
    Energy 
    Energy Bars to Go
    Fashion

    Facial Masks in Your Kitchen
    Forward 
    Garden/Green Space
    Herbivore in Hawaii
    Holistic Health

    Just Noise
    Lead
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica
    Meditation & Stress Relief
    Nickel Allergy Food, Skin Care & Cosmetics 
    Oh My Skin!
    Oils for Your Skin
    Organic Eating

    Outstanding Oils
    Plant Based Eating
    Plastic-Free Beauty
    Recycling
    Serendipity in a Cup
    Save The World
    A Shorter Save the World
    Traveling and One's Face
    Vegan in Vail
    Water, Keeping it Potable


    Food
    Adzuki Beans
    Beauty Bars To Go
    Calamari, Vegan
    Carrot Cake
    Cauliflower Pizza Crust
    Ceviche, Vegan
    CHEESE, for the Love of
    Charcoal Drink
    Chinese (Vegan Dim Sum) Food
    Chinese (Veggie style) Food
    Chickpea  and Quinoa Combo
    Chocolate Cake (flourless w protein)
    Chocolate, Hot
    Crab Recipes, Vegan
    Crackers 
    COFFEE!!

    Comfort Food
    Cookbook Author Charity Bratz
    Crispy "Rice" with sweet "sashimi"
    Detox Bars To Go
    Detox Drink
    Dim Sum in NYC

    Easy Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
    Eating Organic
    Energy Bars To Go

    Foods to Fight  Inflammation
    Herbivore In Hawaii
    Holistic Health

    Hosting a Vegan Wine'n Cheese
    Hot Chocolate
    Best Baked Potato Ever

    Bok Choy Mushroom Stir Fry
    Let's Eat
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Meat Lover Guide to Delicious Noshing
    Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica
    Mofongo 
    Nickel Allergy
    Nickel Allergy Cookbook
    Octopus and Calamari, Vegan
    Organic
    Pasta Alfredo
    Pizza 

    Plant Based Eating
    Plated:  An Environmental Nightmare
    Protein-Packing for Dinner
    Protein Crispy Rice "Sashimi"
    Rice, Crispy
    Sashimi
    Scallops, Vegan
    Seafood, Vegan

    A Shorter Save the World
    Shrimp, Vegan

    Souvlaki
    Squid, Vegan

    Strawberry, Thyme & Lemongrass Tart
    Summer Sips and Snacks
    Sushi
    Thanksgiving

    The Best Nom Noms
    Vegan Brunch
    Vegan Dining in NYC
    Vegan in Vail

    Vegan Mexican
    Vegetarian Thanksgiving
    Water

    Yummy Deliciousness

    Gender
    Activist Thor: Guest Blog
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Beauty
    Bitch
    Cre8ing in Isolation
    #FemicidioEsGenocidio
    Just Noise
    Me Too ... Part I
    Me Too...Part II
    MeToo...Part III:  If You See Something, Say Something
    Micro-Expressions of Sexism at the Gym
    Normalizing Gender Based Violence
    Playing with the Boys
    Real History
    Sorry Not Sorry
    The "Myth"(?) of Women Backstabbers

    Interviews
    40 by 40 with Jennifer Gabriel
    Alex Dabagh, Upcycled Luxury Totes
    Cookbook Author Charity Bratz

    Cre8ing in Isolation
    DIY Beauty Tips from Jackeline Velasco
    Holistic Health w Dr. Anna Folckomer
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Meditation Tips from Lisa Barcelo

    What's Your Story?  Paul Leach
    What's Your Story? Alex Chu
    What's Your Story?  Kiyun Sung
    What's Your Story?  Sean Lea
    What's Your Story?  Myra Sito Velasquez
    Wha's Your Story?  Allan Tsao
    What's Your Story? Christina Jun
    What's Your Story?  Kevin Chew
    What's Your Story?  Katherina Filaseta
    ​

    Race
    Are You Angry?
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Film

    Colorblind
    Cre8ing in Isolation
    Did He Deserve It?
    Does Race Matter?

    Hint of an "Asian American Accent"
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us
    Immigrants:  Homeland by April Xiao
    Immigrants: Not Quite by Ada Cheng
    Immigrants: Home of the Brave by Avantika Rao
    Immigrants:  George by Riti Sachdeva
    Lhasa Apso by Roman Sotelo
    Immigrants:  A Story by Rosa Soy
    Immigrants:  A Story by Valery Valtrain
    Immigrants:  Us me vs. Them ME by Widelyne Laporte
    Immigrants:  No, I'm OK

    In Defense of Eddie Huang
    Normalizing Gender Based Violence
    Real History
    Remedial Race Education
    The Math Professor who Gave Me a Back Massage
    Trauma

    What's in a Name?
    Who is Chloe Wang and Does it Matter?
    #YellowFace
    Welcome to the New Normal
    White Supremacy, The Irony of
    Words Matter:  Language

    ​  worth.html

    Reviews
    Health Care: Forward
    Movies to Watch
    Restaurants


    Travel & Adventure
    Allergic to Delta (aka Allergies and Air Travel)
    Costa Rica
    Eco-Friendly Commuting
    Herbivore in Hawaii

    Kilimanjaro
    Santorini in 4 Parts:
    Santorini I:  When and What to Bring
    Santorini II: The Food
    Santorini III: Adventure
    Santorini IV: Relax and Spa
    SeaWorld:  An Open Letter

    The Maldives
    Traveling and One's Face
    40 before 40
    Vegan in Vail


    Misc Mayhem
    A Despot for the Holidays
    AI

    A Lobster Tale
    A Love Letter
    Animal Experimentation

    A Shorter Save the World
    Atonement
    Catching Kindness

    Chemical Catastrophe
    Chemical-Free DIY Household Cleaners
    Christmas Lesson
    Closing the Loop: Plastic and Luxury Bags
    Consumer, Thoughtful
    Ditch the Plastic
    Don't Hurt the Baby - Animal 
    Experimentation
    Don't Let Cruelty Kill Kindness

    Energy 
    Eco-Friendly Commuting
    Friends
    G19:  When Subtracting Adds to the Whole
    Garden/Green Space
    Je Suis Charlie
    Just Noise
    The Knockout Renovation TKO
    Larry Lee on Father's Day
    Movies to Watch

    My Mortifying Victoria's Secret Swimsuit Moment
    No, I'm OK
    Ode to Nice People
    Oils for Your Skin
    Raymond Betit, The Family Man
    Recycling
    Save The World
    SeaWorld:  An Open Letter
    The C Word
    The Safety Pin and the Nazi
    The Soldier Poet
    Upcycled Luxury Totes
    Welcome to the New Normal
    What's in the 
    Water?

    Other Categories

    All
    Acting
    Writing & Producing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.