This one comes from Lori V., over at Do You Realize?, who suggested the other day to stop using straws as one of my green changes — indeed, they pretty much suck. Yes, that is their purpose, but a simple tilt of the glass will get most liquid into one’s mouth, providing you’re not on the moon, of course. And even if the liquid is virtually a solid, like for example a Wendy’s frosty, you can always use a spoon.
I suppose the one time you’d really need a straw is if you’re sick or you’ve just had your teeth pulled, and you’re on a diet of smoothies and can’t really move your mouth properly — even then, however, a solid reusable straw would probably be not only a greener but more pleasant-feeling alternative, rather than the disposable ones (especially the ones that come in individual packages, wrapped in paper or more plastic).
Because I don’t drink much pop, I’m sure this move won’t be too difficult. However, if I find myself on a beach with a piña colada, it really won’t be the same slurping it out in big gulps (I know, life’s hard).
Photo courtesy of Bitzi on Flickr
July 5, 2007 at 1:44 pm |
Well, at least you don’t have kids as this would be a whole lot harder to try to give up. I’ve been trying to reduce our usage of straws, but there are times when those bendy straws are useful (like eating out – where the cup is too tall, the chairs are too short, and milk all over a 3-year-old is inevitable).
July 5, 2007 at 2:36 pm |
Good for you. I hate it when they automatically bring one to you in a restaurant. We’ve cut out 98% of our restaurant visits, but once in a while we find ourselves in one.
July 5, 2007 at 3:10 pm |
I remember vividly traveling in Czechosolvakia in 1968. For many reasons, if you look in your history books. But one of them was being served Czech sodas – with a “straw”. Guess what it was made of?? Yeah. Straw. Gosh, I wonder how that word came into use? Sounds like a chance for a new renewable industry to me- the selection and preparation of good clean oat or wheat straws, for use in drinks. Worked just fine, of course; then out to the compost heap.
Nah. Too sensible, I’m sure.
July 5, 2007 at 5:52 pm |
I suppose you could switch to these, but given their highly nutritious nature, I wouldn’t recommend it. Although they might give that piña colada an interesting flavor.
July 5, 2007 at 6:29 pm |
I found stainless steel straws at a market in town. Since I am a straw addict, I find that they’re a good alternative.
July 5, 2007 at 7:41 pm |
Actually, you shouldn’t use a straw after you’ve had all your teeth pulled either or you’ll get dry socket! And that’s no laughing matter…
July 5, 2007 at 8:15 pm |
what about those plastic straws with the zany shapes that loop de loop? You could carry one of those with your chopsticks. Might be hard to clean.
July 5, 2007 at 10:36 pm |
Haha — I forgot about those twisty straws… I loved those as a kid. But yeah, I’m sure they’d be impossible to clean. I like the idea of a stainless steel one, though. That would be slick!
July 6, 2007 at 9:23 pm |
A reusable straw would be great. I find I absolutely need one when I use my juicer. Fruit and veggie juice stains your lips something horrible!
July 7, 2007 at 8:21 am |
[...] but realyl it is the little things that add up. Like Vanessa at Green as a Thistle saying bye-bye to straws, or the Closet Environmentalist buying reusable vacuum bags. The more little things your do [...]
July 4, 2009 at 1:59 am |
a friend of mine recently point me to an article about your new book. Then got hooked reading this wonderfully insightful blog. so this is going to be a bit late but you could have replaced your chopsticks with 2 reusable straws. When i was young my mother would give me a light slap upside the head for stealing my sister’s straw at a restaurant to pair with my own as chopsticks.