November 2022

If you’ve been thinking about ways to reduce your impact on the environment, a great place to start is in your kitchen. One of the best things about life at VIDA is that we’ve already set you up for success. We provide modern, energy-efficient appliances in our kitchens. And while we hate to brag, they’re also gorgeous. So, who wouldn’t want to do some cooking at home?

Cooking at home is actually one of the biggest things you can do to reduce your impact. It typically uses less energy and creates less waste than eating out or buying prepared foods. And because you choose the ingredients, you can be more careful about making both healthy and sustainable choices.

Choose Local

Shopping at the Rochester Public Market or other farmers markets makes it easier to find locally grown foods. That means your food doesn’t have to travel as far and you’re supporting small, local farms. Keep in mind that not everything you find at a farm market was grown locally, so be sure to read labels, signs, or ask.

Pass on Packaging

Buying fresh produce, ingredients vs. prepackaged foods, and purchasing from bulk departments all helps cut down on food packaging waste. If you do end up purchasing food in plastic packaging, be sure place the empty packaging in your recycling. And don’t forget to bring reusable bags with you when you shop.

Less Meat or None at All

Raising livestock has a much greater negative impact on the environment than farming, so shifting to a plant-based diet can help reduce your personal impact. If you’re not quite ready to go vegetarian or vegan, try reducing meat portions or not eating meat on some days.

Compost

Composting your food waste reduces what gets put into landfills and produces fewer greenhouse gases. And yes, you can compost and live in an apartment! In fact, at VIDA we’ve gone out of our way to make it easier for you by partnering with Impact Earth. As part of our VIP Program, VIDA residents can get a 20% discount on their curbside composting service.