It’s back-to-school time, and for most of us, whether we have kids returning to their school routine or not, September feels like a fresh start. It’s a great time to re-evaluate how we prepare our lunches, to be nutritious, delicious, and sustainable.
Investing in a good quality lunch box that can be reused for years keeps your lunch fresh and waste out of the landfill! There are even boxes that use recycled materials. Try to find a lunch box that is plain, durable, and easy to clean so that it won’t get worn out or out of style, and can be reused each school year! And tuck in a small freezer pack to keep food cool.
A good option for packing a sandwich is to wrap it in reusable, washable beeswax wraps. They keep food fresh and don’t expose our meal to plastic, while keeping plastic waste out of our garbage cans. You can also buy small zippered silicone bags that are a convenient way to transport snack foods like crackers or popcorn, and are a breeze to clean.
But you don’t have to spend loads of cash on a fancy new container set. You can simply reuse yogurt containers or mason jars to carry your lunch. Cutlery can be brought from home, and kids may appreciate designating a special set just for school.
Many people, kids and adults alike, enjoy using a bento box instead of a traditional lunch box. You can pack a wide variety of proteins, veggies, fruits and nuts in those tidy little compartments, making a lunch that is fun to eat.
A robust thermos with a wide mouth can be a great tool for packing hot meals, like soup or leftover stew, chili, or pasta. It can also be used to keep foods cool, like chunks of melon or berries. Spoon yoghourt from a large container at home into a small thermos, to avoid the waste of those little plastic yoghourt cups.
Layered salads in mason jars are pretty and practical. Put your dressing in first, at the bottom, then layer in less delicate foods such as chickpeas, diced chicken, chopped carrots, celery or peppers, nuts and seeds. On the top, put the lighter foods like lettuce and spinach, so they don’t wilt. At lunch time, giving the whole jar a good shake gets it ready to enjoy.
We encourage everyone to carry a good water bottle, filled with fresh cold water. Bringing a reusable water bottle with you every day is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce plastic waste and avoid consuming plastic residues on a regular basis. Metal bottles work well, as do glass bottles encased in a silicone sleeve to protect from breakage.
Once you have the right equipment, zero-waste lunch packing is easy! It takes a little bit of investment to get the right tools, but they will last for years. In the long run you will save money over their disposable counterparts, and do your own small part to save the planet!
The ‘dirty dozen’ are 12 crops that have been found to carry the largest number of different pesticide residues. These include: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, and sweet bell peppers. The list may vary slightly from year to year. Limit your consumption of these foods, or choose organic: it Is not only important for your health, but it also supports pollinators and the health of your whole community!
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