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Packing a "Green" Lunch
Rated by 2 members
On Natalie's first day of kindergarten, her teachers made a request, and it wasn't for boxes of tissue and crayons. They asked children to bring cloth napkins and re-usable cups for lunch and snack time. I was all for it, considering that Americans typically generate about 4.5 pounds of garbage per day per person. In fact, it got me wondering if I could I do more to make less lunch trash.
That afternoon when I cleaned out my daughters' three lunchboxes, I felt as green as an oak in summer leaf. I resort to plastic bags only as a last resort, instead packing sandwiches, fruit, and snacks in re-usable plastic containers. No plastic utensils. No juice boxes. Water or milk travel in re-usable plastic bottles.
Then I asked around to see how other parents cut down on lunch waste -- and quickly downgraded myself to a pale, iceberg lettuce-shade of green. Those darned single-serve packages. So convenient, and I only buy them for raisins and applesauce. And yogurt. Oh, and cereal bars. Over time, it adds up to a heck of a lot of packaging, even if it most of it gets recycled. I vowed to buy big and dole out daily servings into yet more re-usable containers. Trouble was, this quickly led to an overflow in both the lunchboxes and the kitchen sink.
One savvy mom of three had this solved. She introduced me to two lunchbox systems with modular, re-usable containers that both reduce waste and allow you to pack plenty. I hired Ellie and Caitlin, my 10-year-olds, as official testers.
Ellie, 10, favors the coordinated look of Lunchopolis, a traditional-size insulated carrier designed to neatly hold its own four transparent lidded containers and plastic bottle (www.lunchopolis.com.) I like the ease of sticking them all in the top rack of the dishwasher to use again tomorrow and the fact that it's never a struggle to fit everything in the box.
Caitlin is sold on the Laptop Lunch System (www.laptoplunches.com). Now that she's in middle school, a laptop (even a pseudo one) is way cooler than a lowly lunch box. For me, the advantage of the flat case is twofold. One, the case lid fits tightly enough to serve as a cover for all but one of the removable inner containers, meaning there are fewer parts to wash and store (or go missing). Two, it's easy for kids to see and access every item in the lunchbox at once. No more "Oh, there were carrots in there?"
Natalie can't give up her butterfly-print L.L. Bean lunchbox (www.llbean.com). So we thought inside the box. I've replaced her re-usable juice-box-style straw bottle more times than I care to count, which benefits neither landfills nor my wallet. We swapped in a kid-size Sigg bottle (www.mysigg.com). It's pricey, but the cute animal motif is easy to spot and endearing enough that she keeps track of it. Better still, it's made of aluminum -- a plus for moms concerned about the safety of plastics.
The final hurdle: Plastic sandwich boxes are sometimes a struggle for 5-year-old fingers, but baggies are a big no-no when it comes to a green lunch. Enter Wrap–N-Mat (www.wrap-n-mat.com.) This re-usable sandwich wrapper secures with Velcro, so it's simple to open and doubles as a place mat. It's so easy, that now Natalie wraps all of our sandwiches (yes!). Plus, it's easy to wipe clean and takes minimal space to store.
Now that our lunches score a vivid green, we're hungry for more. Look out, breakfast and dinner!
Member Comments On…
Packing a "Green" Lunch
We're obsessed with reducing lunchtime trash and waste and our current obsession in our house with 3 kids are fabkins! Supercute cloth napkins for kids that make lunchtime fun and oh-so easy! They clean up our 3 messy eaters and when we're done, pop 'em in the wash, and reuse! They come in 5-packs which means you can get through an entire week of school lunches. They're a huge hit in our house and all our friends admire them too! It's such an easy way to "go green" Check them out: www.fabkins.com
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When my daughter started Kindergarten this year we were asked to pack her lunch in a reusable lunch box/bag with reusable containers and water bottles. I was at a loss as to what to do, until my daughter asked for a Hannah Montana lunch box, the metal kind like I grew up with. I took it with me to the Container Store and found plastic containers in various sizes that work to fit sandwiches, fruit, veggies, ranch dip, even desserts. I do have to say that I am very proud of her school for taking a big step towards being green. They recycle everything possible, reuse paper (front and back), repurpose whenever possible and buy recycled products.
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I am trying to work on getting my whole family to go greener, but like some other moms didn't even consider some of the things mentioned here. Thanks for all the advice. I can think of so many other ways to do things "greener" now that you got me on a ball. I've really been watching and trying to buy recycled products when I do HAVE to have something disposable.
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I love this article! I cannot stand the thought of buying individually wrapped anything. The price is too high and the waste is too. Here's opne for breakfast. Make a big batch of pancakes and freeze them yourslef! In the morning pop a couple in the microwave for about one minute and Voila! Instant Breakfast. I also take care of my 80 year old father-in-law and my husband and I make a week's worth of breakfast, store in re-usable containers, refrigerate, and leave in the microwave for him to heat up when he's ready. Time and money saving. Thanks to MommaFoley for the Press n seal tip. Never could think of a way to reuse those tv dinner trays. Keep it Green!
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Check out www.fabkins.com - Fabkins are cute cloth napkins made just for kids to pack in lunchboxes and use with meals at home.
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Yippeee!! Thank you for this information! I am so sick of washing out plastic baggies and have been looking for the alumninum drink containers but couldn't find any right for kids. You've really covered all the bases here.
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With 2 kids in school and a one year at home... I saved those plastic baby food containers and lids. They work great for any dry foods, crackers, rasins, dried fruit.. and if they loose them I am not out anything. They also work great for craft supplies. We purchaced a good quality Thermos brand wide mouth container for hot soups and such. I make ahead puddings and jello into the 4-6 oz plastic reusable containers. I also buy large jars of applesause and divy it up into the reusable containers. If they don't want applesause every day you can put it in the freezer so it will not go icky green in the frig. Advantage of this is that it works as a ice cooler too. I did buy smaller blue ice blocks to put in the bags as needed.
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All these suggestions are wonderful... but what do you do when you've done all the green stuff and he keeps losing his lunch box... we are #5 this year. He is in Kinder, and they have all been marked with his name, teacher, class & room #. He loves his lunch box and cries everytime it goes missing, but never the less... it keeps getting lost! I have been buying multiples when I see them for a buck or two! Anyhow... we keep trying to keep it greener!
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I usually opt for the School Lunch, but the more I think about it packing our own would be worth the effort. Thanks for the great ideas for making packed lunch more 'green', (and Healthy). I will have to get cracking on that. Thanks to the other moms' comments too.
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Is the convenience really worth the waste with the kid's lunch portion packaging out there? NO!!! And most of it is not the healthiest choice either :( We found some cute Hello Kitty reusable sandwich cases and drink bottles at the dollar store and they have worked great. Plus they were cheap enough that I bought extra sets to rotate for cleaning. We also re-use old TV dinner plastic trays with that awesome press 'n seal wrap over as well as the disposable plastic animal themed utensils that we wash and reuse as well.
It's not a big deal effort wise, but saves money and the environment. Plus the kids have healthier lunch options as well. Go moms!
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