The Weekly Theme
Each week, we feature a new theme of solutions for those passionate about learning in-depth on how we are building a better world!
The Optimist View: Healthy Kitchens Week
“Everything happens in the kitchen. Life happens in the kitchen.” – Andrew Zimmern The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home. That’s where we gather with our families or friends to break bread, get nourishment, find connection. To celebrate Earth Day, which really has grown to Read More...
The Climate Diet: A guide to living for a greener future
We at The Optimist Daily are big fans of lifestyle changes that contribute towards slashing greenhouse gas emissions and offer a sense of autonomy in creating a greener future. We’ve written at length about the benefits of shifting towards a plant-based lifestyle and reducing personal waste and Read More...
6 Creative recipes to put your food scraps to good use
Last year, scientists from Pennsylvania State University released a report revealing that the average US household wastes about 31 percent of the food it buys — that’s one in three bites ending up in the bin. And while the best way to prevent waste is to stop buying more food than you need, Read More...
Healthy Kitchens Thought Leader: Food Activist Chef Ahki
Adopting new healthy habits that stick isn’t always easy, but having some inspirational leadership for guidance sure does help. Today we’re highlighting one of our favorite Healthy Kitchens voices: Chef Ahki. Sepsenahki, or "Chef Ahki," is on a mission to inspire everyone, but especially Read More...
7 Things you should have in your kitchen to help reduce waste
The kitchen is the heart of many households. It's where we share meals, laughter, and cook all our food. But all that hustle and bustle also means a lot of waste. Here are seven items that will help you reduce your kitchen waste significantly. A compost. Most of the waste generated in a kitchen Read More...
7 Eco-conscious ways to unclog your sink
Fixing a clogged sink is one of the most tedious household tasks. No one wants to put their hand into water that has the soggy remains of everyone’s dinner floating around in it, but that doesn’t mean we should turn to convenient chemicals to blast things down the pipes. Here are seven Read More...
15 healthy longer-lasting staples to keep in your kitchen
Whipping up an easy meal or snack that’s packed with nutrients usually requires a well-stocked kitchen. However, if you're trying to avoid food waste, then you are likely not stocking up on a lot of highly perishable items. That said, there are still several healthy, long-lasting staples for your Read More...
Don’t toss that! How to cook with nutritious food scraps
Earlier this week we shared the No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook which encourages home chefs to rethink how they use items like vegetable skins, seeds, and roots. Today, we’re elaborating on that idea with six types of kitchen scraps that can be repurposed into nutritious food sources. Read More...
Keep your stovetop squeaky clean with this 3-ingredient DIY cleaner
Your stovetop is the real MVP in the kitchen, withstanding heat, grease, and grime every day. If you don’t show it some regular TLC, it won’t be a very pleasant or hygienic place to make your meals. Here are some tips on keeping your stovetop squeaky clean with homemade cleaners, so you can Read More...
This countertop device turns food scraps into compost
Composting is a great way to generate fresh food for your garden and keep scraps out of the landfill, but if you don’t have a yard or access to green waste pickup services, it can feel impossible to dispose of scraps sustainably. Fortunately, Vitamix has launched a gadget to help. The new Read More...