Go Green When Dining Out

When I was a kid my mother would tell us to clean our plates because children in other countries were going to bed hungry. But today's green mothers may be less inclined to guilt-trip their kids into eating everything on their plate. The reason is that table scraps that go uneaten can easily be turned into compost for the garden-even when dining out.

A few area restaurants are leading the way and trying to become "green" restaurants. Popular eateries like Chicago's Frontera Grill at 445 North Clark are taking table scraps and instead of dumping them in the trash are setting them aside to be composted. These table scraps are then collected by a composter who turns the leftovers into nutrient rich compost that is used in community gardens and empty lots around Chicago.

See if your favorite restaurant is participating in the composting program at GoingGreener.org