Biodegradable. Sustainable. Compostable.

No, this post isn't about a recipe or magazine, but in a way, it is about food. At least, it's about what we put our food on, take it out of, and how those items are used and disposed of. While I'm ashamed to say that I'm not as green as I could be, I do make a concerted effort to leave as small a footprint as I can. I bring my bags with me to the grocery store, recycle everything I possibly can and turn lights out when I leave the room.

The one area that I know I do fail is in the kitchen when it comes to using plates. I detest doing the dishes. Unfortunately, my husband is just as fond of that particular job and our four year-old daughter is a tad too young to reach the sink and do them yet (believe me, we've tried....ok, so no we haven't). I hang my head as I share with you that I keep a stack of paper plates on the microwave and when we want a quick snack or are doing a "grazing" meal where everyone wanders around through the fridge and grabs what fancies them most, we use the paper so no one has to take the 30 seconds to rinse of a real plate and shove it in the dishwasher. I know, I know. Yes, we have a dishwasher and I hate emptying it and refilling it as much as washing dishes.

This loathing of doing dishes had bled over into our dinnertime as well. Rather than mess up a serving bowl, I will simply put down a hot pad and plop the skillet or sauce pan of food on top of it at the table. How's that for pathetic. I don't do this with company, but it's a regular family affair.

However, recently I received a box in the mail from my new friends at Marx Foods. Inside was a stack of hexagonal plates that appeared to be made out of a beautiful, textured, very light wood. I was excited, but I have to admit that in the back of my mind was how these would sit on the shelf because I'd just have to wash them if I used them.

Then I pulled out the informational sheet and started reading. These words jumped out at me immediately. Biodegradable. Compostable. Sustainable. They're disposable! It's hard to believe. The plate in the picture held a full meal's worth of grilled chicken thighs without even groaning. My daughter thought we were having company. The plates are made out of palm leaves that are harvested from the forest floor. They're cleaned (duh), stretched, flattened and pressed into various shapes; squares, hexagons, etc. I love them.

The facts are staring us in the face. Garbage has to go somewhere and until we figure out a way to ship it to the moon cheaply, it's headed to the landfill. Every time I recycle a jar or can, every time I take a canvas bag to the grocery store, every time I use a real plate or my new palm leaf plates, that's a time I can look at my daughter and know I'm doing my part to help keep the earth she's going to inherit from me a little cleaner.

The palm leaf plate I used tonight is in the trash and I feel good about that. I'll keep using them. My daughter will keep thinking we're having company. I like that.