Did you know that birds have a taste for artificial sweeteners? The pink and blue packets are appealing to our feathered friends, once they get a taste for sweeteners; so much so that many birds will swipe them from outdoor tables at restaurants. Unfortunately, birds are the last animals that need to lose weight, so the zero nutritional content they get from consuming artificial sweeteners can harm them; some birds even starve to death eating them. Keep the packets out of the open when you dine outside, and ask restaurants to stash them to help birds maintain their natural diet.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Pan liners are a cooking innovation designed to save time and effort by negating the necessity to scrub pots, pans and baking trays. You just line them in single-use plastic sheets that you simply throw away when you're done. The problem? Plastic pan liners aren't recyclable, which makes them a 100% waste product. Opt out of pan liners and do what generations of cooks did before you: Cook, bake and roast in your cookware, then scrub it clean when you're done.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Coffee shops are a competitive business, and they're typically willing to meet your requests to ensure that you're happy with your order. When placing your order for whatever keeps you caffeinated, be sure to specify "for here" to make sure it's served in a reusable cup. And to be extra sure, ask "for here in a ceramic cup," which would ensure that no disposable products are used for your order at all. Bring your own reusable thermos to fill up, and you can reduce your single-use consumption to zero.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION