Zero-Waste Lunch for School or Work
Lunchtime is one of the highlights of the school day for most students, and often greatly anticipated by adults too. Bringing a packed lunch from home saves money, gives you healthy options, and can easily be made more sustainable with just a few swaps.
First, skip the paper bags. According to the USDA, food is unsafe to be eaten if it’s kept in an old-fashioned brown paper bag longer than 2 hours. An insulated lunch box will keep your food fresh and more protected on the morning commute.
Second, skip the disposable paper napkins. Martha Stewart must be pleased that cloth napkins are back in style! A fabric cloth is usually larger, for more lap coverage, and easily tossed in the laundry hamper to be washed and ready to use again another day. Shop Etsy for many handmade options that use organic and other safe fabrics.
Third, sustainable food containers are readily available, such as reusable “zipper-lock” baggies, glass bowls that let you pop your leftover soup right in the microwave, and many styles of fabric sandwich wraps. Head to the thrift shop for some stainless steel (or real silver on a good day) utensils to put in your lunch box – they don’t need to match each other, that’s part of the fun! The smaller salad forks and dessert spoons are a good size to stock up on for lunchtime. Eco Maniac, a Virginia business, has a large selection of lunchtime supplies!
Lastly, consider these zero-waste shopping tips:
- Nature provides the best super-sustainable wrappers for oranges, bananas, and nuts!
- Buying bulk food items such as oatmeal, granola, and dried fruit using your reusable mesh bags saves money and eliminates single-use containers;
- Local farmers markets offer produce that’s not wrapped in cellophane or set on Styrofoam trays; just remember to bring your reusable mesh bags;
- Pass by the individually wrapped juice boxes. Purchase a large bottle of juice and fill a fun reusable bottle with the juice, or plain old good-for-you water!
With just a little planning, you can make lunch time zero-waste time!