FTV?!

F*ck, That's Vegan?! #7

7. "Bagger's Remorse"

If you don't have a plastic bag filled with other plastic bags in your own home, you've definitely laid eyes on one at a friend or relative's house. Bronson's mom has maintained a stock of Key Food grocery store bags organized in this way for years.

It's the only grocery bag that melts in your mouth.

Anything from your most prized possessions to your lunch can be carried around in plastic bags, the reason the Key Food bag earned a spot in the F*ck, That's Delicious book. The versatility of the plastic bag is undeniable, but so is it's contribution to the overall issue of plastic pollution.

That's why FTV?! #7 is a recipe for a bag.. that you can eat.

The sad reality is that no matter how much we do as individuals to "reduce, reuse, and recycle" plastics, changes in govenment policies globally are the only solution impactful enough to save our planet. Too much plastic exists already, and we're only producing more. There are tens of millions of tons of plastics in the ocean, and 80% of those are thought to come from land sources, like rivers and coasts. Proper waste management programs need to be prioritized so that these plastics don't end up in rivers, and countries with successful waste management programs need to be willing to help countries contributing to the most pollution improve their existing programs in order to keep the planet and its oceans inhabitable.

The FTV?! bags are made with agar agar, an algae derived gelatin substitute, so you can throw one into the wind without worrying it ends up in the belly of a sea turtle. You can't really carry your whole lunch with you, but fill one with some nuts, or raisins, or seeds and you have yourself a functional snack bag that's safe for the environment!

Edible Agar Bag Ingredients*:

1 tbsp agar agar flakes
200 ml

Optional:

Food coloring

Instructions:

Add ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil, continuously whisking. Remove from heat and let cool for 1-2 minutes or until mixture has stopped steaming. Pour onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Let dry for at least 24 hours.* Move to a drying rack to help the process after about 12 hours. Gently peel the agar film from the parchment. Cut into desired shape and size, keeping in mind that you'll be folding and sealing at the seams. You'll want to draw or write with food color at this point. Fill and fold in half. Use a finger or brush to dab a small amount of water on edges. Hold or press sealed until dry if too wet.

*Adapted from this recipe
*If there is too much humidity in the room you're drying in, this could be an issue. Use a light-running fan to help.