Getting food delivered nowadays is quicker than ever. Just a few taps on your smartphone and presto, your food is on the way to your door. But efficiency and speed don’t always mean that delivered food will be healthy. There are people who still opt for the good, old-fashioned way of food preparation – from shopping for the best-quality ingredients and products, to cooking them at home – for many lifestyle reasons: to save costs, reduce waste consumption, and to be more active in an age of convenience.

I regularly do market runs because of those reasons. There are a couple of local supermarkets in my neighborhood, but getting what I need can be a challenge because of the language barrier. So more often than not, I source out my cooking essentials at Jenny Lou’s, where I can get imported items that I’m familiar with or have used back home. I can get hard-to-find ingredients for my Christmas fruit salad recipe there, like premium and unprocessed cheddar cheese and condensed milk (which always go out of stock at local stores).

This popular grocery chain has been a go-to for expats since 1993. And just in time for their 25th anniversary this year, they’ve launched Jenny Lou’s Green, their concept store that integrates a cafe, healthy bakery and make-to-order food area into their sprawling supermarket. The first such concept, nestled in the embassy district in Liangmaqiao, was opened in late October 2018.

Jenny Lou’s Green store on Tiangze Road in Liangmaqiao

“[It] promotes a green lifestyle, so some of the goods and ready-to-eat food are specially selected and healthy,” says Lu Qi, CEO and son of founders Lu Xudong and Wang Jianping. “I want to make customers feel at ease. You can take some snacks here, do mobile work, chat with friends or just enjoy a cup of coffee.”

Longtime Beijing resident Hwa Wu, who’s been a patron since the 2000’s, said Jenny Lou’s has been attuned to customer interests ever since it opened. While almost anything, including last-minute Christmas items, can be bought on Taobao, Wu said Jenny Lou’s is a “tried, true, and convenient resource.”

“Over the years, they have increased and changed their offerings to match customer demands. During holiday seasons, there are a lot of specialty items such as candies and decorations but certain items can run out. When I am busy baking or hosting, I run to Jenny’s to pick up last-minute items,” Wu added.

The Jenny Lou’s Green concept store includes a cafe and bakery where you can buy made-to-order food.

For Beijing expat, Pearl Ling, who considers Jenny Lou’s stores to be shopping comfort zones, the Green concept is a welcome development. “I’ve been a longtime customer of Jenny Lou’s, and their new store gives me a feeling that they’re taking care of their patrons.”

This expat-popular brand has also attracted many Chinese who are pursuing higher living standards, so Lu Qi says they will embrace modern lifestyles and offer more services for both their foreign and local customers in the form of other sub-concepts: the Jenny Lou’s Express convenience store and the Jenny Lou’s Lifestyle comprehensive leisure zone, both of which will be launched in the next few years.

Jenny Lou’s Green (World Profit Center)
Building 3, World Profit Center, 16 Tianze Road, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区天泽路16号院润世中心3座婕妮璐（润世中心）店 (6413 1959)

Photos: Courtesy of Jenny Lou’s

It is extremely possible and affordable to eat out for every single meal in Beijing, where food isn’t just about nutrition, it’s a way of life. And it was in a local café that I met up with Carrie Yu (Zero Waste Beijing and the Bulk House) who has offered to mentor our family through our transition to producing less waste.

A simple environmentally conscious dining out kit.

As we sat down and Carrie’s drool worthy iced coffee topped with ice-cream turned up, she pulled out her stainless steel straw, and then gave me some very simple and easily achievable action steps on how families can dine out while reducing consumption of single-use items.

• Go strawless! Stainless steel straws in China are totally affordable, the Bulk House sells them for RMB 10, and last a lifetime. Say no to plastic straws. 500 million of these little suckers are used in the U.S. every day (that’s enough to go 2.5 times around the planet EVERY DAY) so keep your own in your bag and whip it out whenever you have a smoothie or mojito craving. When you place your order, remember to say: “wo buyao suliao xiguan”(I don’t want a plastic straw), “wo you xiguan” (I have a straw). My kids love their new straws – they are indestructible, noisy, and make great swords.
• If you go to Starbucks, ask to have your coffee served in a mug – yes that’s right, Starbucks actually have ceramic mugs, but in my experience you have to ask for it. Take a reusable cup for your to-go coffee. Don’t contribute to the 4 billion paper cups Starbucks use every year. “Wo buyao suliao beizi” (I don’t want a plastic cup), “Qing gei wo putong de beizi” (Please give me a normal cup).
• Stop using sugar. It’s better for your health and there will be one less paper sachet and plastic stirrer in the garbage heap.
• Choose restaurants that don’t use single use plastic cutlery, or take your own. “Wo buyao canju” (I don’t want cutlery) or “wo zhiji you canju” (I have my own cutlery).
• If you know you are eating out and usually end up bringing food home, take your own reusable container.

All the items you need for your dining kit can be found at The Bulkhouse, Taobao, or in your own kitchen. Let’s embrace these easily achievable steps and create a BYO culture instead of a throw-away one.