What is Urban Jars and Why is it Zero Waste?

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Each week, Urban Jars prepares 1000’s of meals for our customers. The products are stored and delivered in glass mason jars. We’re like the modern day milk man. We deliver fresh jars weekly, and pick up the jars from the previous week. We sanitize them, and reuse them. We hate single-use plastic and it is our mission to promote zero waste kitchens!

 

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Urban Jars methods are zero waste because:

• we create a seasonally driven menu

• use all parts of the vegetables and fruits, including the skins

• what we don’t use in our jars during prep, we make broth or soups with.

• If we have extra grains that we don’t need that week for soups, we feed to our neighbours pigs.

• we donate a lot to our communities, helping those in need

• we’ve developed a jar recycling program to eliminate singe-use plastic

• we offer weekly meal delivery to hospitals, schools, workplaces to serve a large number of people at once

• by offering this service, we truly believe that people save time, money, waste less food, help contribute to the goal of eliminating single use plastic, and ultimately feel supported in their meal prepping needs.

• Our products are nutritious and delicious as the added bonus. 

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Mission Statement

 

Urban Jars’ mission is to leave everyone and everything better than we found it. This transcends into a mindful lifestyle, thriving communities, and intentional leadership. We start by organizing your fridge!

 

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How to Move to a Zero Waste Kitchen

There is zero downside to reducing wasted food. 

Ways to move towards a zero waste kitchen, and optimal food planning:

1. Meal planning

2. Make use with what you already have.

3. Keep inventory.

4. Have your favourite items on hand.

5. Find local businesses to help you. 

6. Start small. 

7. Write down your goals.

8. Trust the process. 

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Meal Planning

As a meal planning pro i would recommend:

• Meal plan

• Know what you are eating

• Cook in large batches

• Meal prep each week on the same day

• Coincide your weekly meal prep using local services that can help you save time and money, like Urban Jars

• Urban Jars delivers eco friendly and fresh meal weekly on Fridays

• Go online and order between Sunday to Tuesday for Friday Delivery.

• No minimum order required. Order breakfast and lunch jars - portioned. No further cooking required. Empty items from the jar into a bowl, stir and enjoy. We have skillets, soups, dessert and protein bites too.

• The more jars you buy, the less outside meal preparation you’ll have to do. 

• If this service is not assessable to you, you can still use the concept to help you meal prep. 

• Demonstrate with the the Ikea 365+ jar. 

• Use the items in your pantry to make a simple and nutrition, very filling breakfast. Overnight oats - Fresh items, greek yogurt. Add chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp hearts, protein powder, oats from your pantry to the jar (size). From your freezer, add a scope of frozen fruit. Close the lid, shake up, and enjoy the over night oats jar in your fridge for 7 days. 

• Plan the meals you are responsible for once a week, and accept the help, realizing you shouldn’t have to wear all of the hats, all the time!

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Use What You Already Have

• Shop in your refrigerator, freezer or pantry prior to going to the store. 

• Allow the items that you already have in your home to dictate your meals for the week

• This will lessening the items you need to purchase at the store, and minimize food waste and save money.

• Consume what you have first, purchase more later - repeat. 

• If you are able to see what is in your pantry, you can be aware of you inventory, you’ll more likely to use it and not purchase more of it.

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Have Your Favourite Items On Hand

• find your personal or family favourite recipes 

• stock up your freezer and pantry with items that are in the favourite recipes for quick and easy meals i.e smoothies, rice bowls, etc.

• you’ll be more likely to be able to create a quick healthy meal with ease

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Keep Inventory

• Keep an inventory once a month on items in your pantry and freezer

• Keep a weekly inventory of what’s inside your fridge

• Make your grocery list based on real time inventory

• Shop the outside isle of the grocery store, avoiding the middle isles.

• Being aware of the grocery store marketing tactics is crucial in saving money and purchasing less

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Find Local Businesses to Help You

• Our company realizes that if you live alone, it is difficult to cook for 1 person. Many people who live alone love our services because Urban Jars makes it possible to eat a variety of meals. Of course anyone could make our recipes, but as a person is preparing meals for one, it is difficult to justify purchasing the large number of ingredients that you’ll find in each of our salads. The more items you purchase, the more money you are spending on food, and as a result, there will be a higher percentage of potential food waste. 

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Start Small

• Compost

• Participate in your municipalities green bin programs

• When you dine out, bring your own glass jar to put your leftovers in, avoid the use of single-use disposable to go boxes

• Save your scraps for other uses: vegetable peels to make broth, apple scraps to make vinegars, citrus peels to make candies and for cleaning use.

• Wrap your food with beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap – It is flexible, reusable, and made from sustainable resources.

• Join a zero waste community– A community of like-minded people is always a great resource for learning and connecting with people who value the same things you do!

 

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Write Down Your Goals

• Talk about food waste with your family, or if you live alone, write down your personal goals

• The more clear you are on your “WHY” as it pertains to wanting a zero waste kitchen, the more likely you are to achieve it

• Keep a journal. Write down the journey. Often we can only reflect on our zero waste kitchen journey by looking back and reflecting on our progress. It will take effort, patience, planning, accepting help, and trial and error from all people living with the home. 

 

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Trust the Process

• trust that your small efforts are enough. Trust that your efforts are better than no effort at all

• small changes, small amounts of effort, over time make big change, and leave big impact

• do not give up

 

 

“The most important thing an individual can do is be a little less of an individual and join together with others in movements large enough to make a change.” Bill McKibben 

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JARS ARE THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS OF FOOD - EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD IN THEM

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Urban Jars have saved more than 600,000 plastic containers so far.

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FOOD STORAGE

I’m sure we all follow an instagram account that makes food organization look pretty. What makes it look pretty to you? From clutters to organized chaos.. 

• Store food in glass jars

• Swap out your plastic containers for glass ones – Once again, plastic containers are cheap, but aren’t eco-friendly and don’t last very long. Glass is a much better decision for its durability and long lifespan.

• When you can see what you have, you’re more likely to consume it

• make the items that you use most often, most assessable

• Keep everyone in the household in mind

 

Storage of food is important when talking about minimizing food waste:

• Store fruits on the counter 

• Store onions away from potatoes

• tomatoes keep at room temperature, not in the fridge

• limp celery can perked up in a glass of water 

 

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Steps for a Zero Waste Kitchen

1. Make do with what you have on hand. To reduce your waste, upcycle jars for everything. 

2. Invest in Ikea 365+ jars to ensure the jars are safe, food grade and won’t rust.

3. Pack cutlery from the kitchen, carry a cloth napkin, 

4. Think of existing items you own as a resource searching for a purpose. 

5. Repair and take care of your things. 

6. Hang your clothes to dry to reduce energy costs and make clothes last longer. 

7. Season cast iron pans. 

8. Sharpen your knives.

9. Get free stuff or look for a deal. Check out what you need on marketplace or an online buy and sell. 

10. Avoid buying single-use throwaway items. 

11. Clean up spills with a cloth rather than paper towels. 

12. Grease up pans rather than using parchment paper. 

13. Single-use consumer products work like a subscription- you must buy them over and over. 

14. Eat more plants. 

15. Don’t over buy food. It is not a deal iff you don’t eat it. 

16. Buy large amounts of fruit and vegetables in season and preserve them. 

17. Eat more items in season. 

 

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Food Preservation

If you purchase the fruits and vegetables in season, you can preserve them while they are ripe, at their best tasting, and ultimately it will save you money in the long run!

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1. Fermenting - cabbage,

2. Canning - fruits, vegetables, sauces

3. Dehydrating - fruits,

4. Freezing - you can freeze all sorts of food - soup, broth, bread, cooked beans, cheese, eggs, nuts, blanched vegetables, roasted tomatoes, fruits

Eat Foods That Are In Season

What’s in Season in January

Rutabagas, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Red Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

 

 

Eat Foods That Are In Season

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What’s in Season in January

Rutabagas, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Red Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

 

What’s in Season in February

Rutabagas, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Red Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

 

What’s in Season in March

Rutabagas, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Red Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

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What’s in Season in April

Asparagus, Radishes, Fiddleheads, Spinach, Fava Beans,  Rhubarb, Peppers (greenhouse), Tomatoes (greenhouse)

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What’s in Season in May

Asparagus, Radishes, Fiddleheads, Spinach, Rhubarb, Kale, Salad Greens, Morel Mushrooms, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Green Onions, Peas, Cherries

 

What’s in Season in June

Asparagus, Radishes, Spinach, Rhubarb, Kale, Salad Greens, Arugula, Beets, Lettuce, Green Onions, Gooseberries, Saskatoon Berries, Strawberries, Broccoli, Celery, Swiss Chard, Garlic (Fresh), Peas, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini, Fennel, Cherries

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What’s in Season in July

Gooseberries, Saskatoon Berries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Currants, Cherries, Blackberries, Apricots, Nectarines, Green Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower,  Celery, Swiss Chard, Cucumber, Garlic (Fresh), Leeks,  Lettuce, Green Onions, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes (New), Radishes, Rhubarb, Salad Greens, Spinach, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips,  Zucchini, Beets, Peaches, Watermelon, Kale

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What’s in Season in August

Raspberries, Currants, Cherries, Blackberries, Apricots, Apples, Crab Apples, Blueberries, Gooseberries, Melons, Nectarines, Pears, Plums, Prunes, Strawberries, Artichokes, Green Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,  Celery, Swiss Chard,  Corn, Cucumber, Garlic (Fresh),  Leeks,  Lettuce, Green Onions, Parsnips,  Peppers,  Potatoes (New), Radishes, Rhubarb, Rutabagas,  Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips,  Zucchini, Beets, Eggplants, Grapes,  Peaches, Watermelon, Kale, Pears

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What’s in Season in September

Cranberries, Apples, Crab Apples, Blueberries, Grapes, Melons, Pears, Plums, Prunes, Artichokes, Green Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,  Celery, Swiss Chard, Corn, Cucumber, Garlic (Fresh), Leeks,  Lettuce, Green Onions, Onions, Parsnips, Peppers, Potatoes (New), Pumpkin, Radishes, Rutabagas, Salad Greens, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnips,  Zucchini, Beets, Eggplants, Nectarines, Watermelon, Kale

 

What’s in Season in October

Cranberries, Apples, Crab Apples, Pears, Quince, Artichokes, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,  Celery, Swiss Chard, Corn, Garlic (Fresh),  Leeks,  Lettuce, Green Onions, Onions, Parsnips,  Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rutabagas, Salad Greens, Spinach, Turnips, Beets, Eggplants, Kale

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What’s in Season in November

Cranberries, Pears, Quince, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,  Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rutabagas, Turnips, Apples, Beets

 

What’s in Season in December

Pears, Brussels Sprouts, Rutabagas, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Red Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Pears

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What’s in Season in Canada Year-Round

Don’t forget about options available regardless of the season. Mushrooms, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and lettuce.

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IKEA Product details

Use

• Perfect for storing pickled vegetables, preserved berries or other tasty things from nature's pantry, as well as dry goods like pasta, granola, tea or yummy biscuits.

• The airtight seal helps food retain its flavour and aroma longer.

• Easy to clean thanks to glass, which also does not absorb odours or discolour from tomato sauce, etc. Transparent, so nothing is forgotten and left behind.

• The jar can also be used as a serving bowl - or as a storage container, helping you keep things organized throughout the home.

 

Material

• Glass, Natural rubber, Stainless steel

 

Care

• If you want to sterilize the bottle with hot water, preheat the bottle first with warm tap water. This prevents the glass from cracking.

• Dishwasher-safe.

• The glass jar is dishwasher-safe. The gasket needs to be washed by hand.

• Only for food and beverages with a max. temperature of 120°F. 

 

Measurements

Height: 7 cm (2 ¾ ")

Diameter: 7 cm (2 ¾ ")

Volume: 118mL (4 oz)

Package quantity: 3 pack

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Height: 16.5 cm (6 ")

Diameter: 12 cm (4 3/4 ")

Volume: 1 Litre

 

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Height: 21.5 cm (8 ")

Diameter: 12.5 cm (4 7/8 ")

Volume: 1.8 Litres