Food Intake/Packaging

A.) List each item of food and drink and how much of it that you consume, including water. Indicate whether it is purchased, pre-made (i.e., from the cafeteria, McDonalds, Subway, etc.) or whether you “put it together” yourself. USING THE INTERNET OR OTHER SOURCE, ESTIMATE YOUR TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE FOR THE DAY. Indicate which source you used. Reflect on this amount. Where does your food come from? How much energy and water was used to produce your food? Are your food choices sustainable?

3/6/2010
breakfast
2 “Monster” energy drinks = 20 calories each
¼ lb. of medium cheddar cheese cut into cubes = 535 calories
1 whole apple (green) = 57 calories

lunch
1 philly cheese sandwich = 410 calories = mayo 40 calories
a. mayonnaise
1 ice tea = 88 calories
French fries = 291 calories

dinner
1 bottle of Gatorade = 58 calories
1 cup cake = 121 calories

Total calorie intake: 1640 calories

http://www.thecaloriecounter.com/

B.) List all portable items you purchase or otherwise handle each day, and the packaging they came in. This will take some imagination. For example, you handle textbooks each day – they came to you in a bag with advertising cards; you get your mail, some useful, some junk – count the useful vs. junk; you listen to your MP3 player, you call on your cell phone – did you get it in a box, or in a clear plastic package with cardboard/Styrofoam insert? Did your lunch come in a Styrene or Styrofoam box? Or wrapped in paper that was then put in a bag? Reflect on your list. How much energy and water went into producing this packaging? Is it sustainable? Do you make sustainable choices when shopping for your products?

4 3-ring binders: plastic/metal rings
1 lap top: came in a box with plastic wrap, bubble wrap, paper advertisements, a few CDs
1 PC mouse: came in a plastic wrap with paper inserts
2-3 bottle drinks: plastic with plastic or paper liner around it
several patient charts/files: metal prongs, paper, came wrapped in plastic wrap in a box
several sheets of paper: came wrapped in paper
3-4 ink cartridges: came in a box, wrapped in plastic, and paper inserts
1-2 ink pens: came in a box with plastic wrap
hair products: come in aluminum container and plastic container
5-8 make-up products: all individually wrapped and housed in a plastic container and came in a paper box
toothpaste: plastic/foil wrap, came in a paper box sometimes wrapped in plastic
toothbrush: plastic/came in plastic
deodorant: plastic container wrapped in plastic
body soap: plastic container/bottle
milk: plastic container
meat: styrofoam container wrapped in plastic wrap
rice/noodles: plastic bag or paper box
veggies: aluminum can with paper on outside

butter: platic bin
TV remote: plastic
dishwasher detergent: comes in box wit individual wrapped bags of soap
laundry soap: plastic container
laundry softener: plastic container
bleach: plastic container
dog food: paper bag with paper inserts or coupons
shoes: comes in a paper box sometimes with paper inside or plastic
clothes: comes on a plastic hanger/tags paper

I am sure I left out a few daily items but, this round it up. I think lots of energy went into making all these products and most of them are disposable and we just throw them away. What we all should be doing is recycling the items. Most things now a days can be recycled. I am not doing that very often, but as I see how many thing I buy are plastic and paper I need to be recycling more often!! I think that one thing I noticed right away is that I buy a few items that are individually wrapped for convenience, but how hard it is to use a bottle of dish washer soap and just pour it into the little cup? I really buy a different product. I do try to by green wise stuff when I so shopping now.