Greener dinners out

Restaurants are starting to get on the "green" bandwagon. As customers get more interested in human impact on God's earth, eateries are slowly adjusting. This can be a selling point, even in today's tight economy.

Some restaurants have removed bottled water from their menus, offering filtered tap water instead. In our area, Feast has offered filtered water from the start. Bottled water doesn't just contribute to excessive plastic waste, it also costs us a thousand times more than tap water. Yet up to 40 percent of bottled water starts as tap water! Is it a coincidence that "Evian" is "naive" spelled backwards?

Ted's Montana Grill uses water-efficient toilets and flushless urinals, which seem a bit odd, yet work well. The chain also offers pressed paper straws and biodegradable take-out containers. Overall, the restaurant is 99% plastic-free. The eco-friendly aim is even documented on one of their web pages.

You can encourage restaurants by asking for filtered water. Remember ... turn down water if you really don't want any. You can also frequent those who show a concern for God's earth.