When we think of school lunches, many of us picture a brown bag containing a paper napkin, a sandwich on store-bought bread in a plastic baggy, a box of juice or milk, and perhaps a piece of fruit and a plastic-wrapped cake or cookie.

What we probably don’t picture are landfills heaped with non-biodegradable plastic packaging and brown paper bags that were not recycled. Let’s take a new look at the portable kids’ lunch and find ways to make it less wasteful.

  1. Lunch box not bag

    Not only is a reusable lunchbox or insulated bag more environmentally friendly, but it provides a convenient container and carrier for the reusable containers and flatware your child will be bringing back home.

  2. Reusable containers

    Remember the thermos you used as a child? Filling a thermos with a cold drink is less wasteful than juice boxes, bottles of water, cartons of milk, or other convenience-packaged beverages. Refillable glass, stainless steel or hard plastic water bottles are another great option.

    Covered glass containers or the thermos are good for hot or cold foods – chopped fruit, potato salad, or green salad are good cold options for such containers. Warm food suggestions are pasta, soup, or some of those wonderful dinner-leftovers.

  3. Cloth napkins

    These are not expensive and come in a wide range of designs. Let your child personalize his or her lunch with a unique napkin. Choose cloth napkins that can be washed with your regular laundry.

  4. No plastic straws and flatware

    Straws are really not necessary, especially if you are using a refillable water bottle. Go ahead and pack whatever forks and knives you normally use at the table, or get a special set for your child’s lunchbox. Since you’ll be packing your kids’ lunch in a reusable lunch bag, it’s a simple matter for the flatware to be put back in the bag, brought home and washed.

  5. Home-made food

    Remember the store-bought bread mentioned in the beginning? It undoubtedly came in a plastic bag or packaging. Making your own bread is not only healthier – it’s cheaper and saves on throw-away packaging. The same goes for the meals you pack. If you have to open a can or open a package to prepare their lunch, that’s one more thing you will be throwing away.

    Store-bought cakes and cookies, canned pasta or soup, and bags of chips are some suggestions of waste-producing items you can make yourself or dispense with altogether.

  6. Sandwiches

    How do you pack this old lunch stand-by without plastic baggies? There are all sorts of reusable containers available that are just right for a sandwich. Flat containers with tight covers in hard plastic or glass are a great solution. They are widely available, washable, and they keep the sandwich from getting squished.

Lunch time does not have to be waste time! These tips should help you pack a more environmentally friendly lunch for your kids.

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