Pack an Eco-friendly Lunch
Some foods come in their own packaging, like bananas and apples, but what about other items like sandwiches or crackers? For the sake of convenience, many use plastic baggies to store lunch items. A bag or two a day may seem minimal until you look at the big picture…
.::MATH TIME::.
Let’s keep this on the more conservative side and take an average from that. For one person, let’s say 2 baggies a day at 5 days a week=10 per week. The average school year is about 40 weeks long, give or take a few. 10 bags a week for 40 weeks=400 bags a year. Ok, maybe that doesn’t seem like a lot to you. Let’s add in how many students per classroom….average of 30. 400×30=12,000! Next, think about how many classrooms are in each school. And then, how many schools? Get the idea? Of course, not all children take lunch to school, but when we look at the “bigger picture”, we can see that’s a lot of plastic we are dumping into our landfills and, inadvertently, our oceans. And this is without factoring in the cost of the bags and the ecological impact on our Earth during the production and distribution of these plastic bags.
Thankfully, there are simple and cost-effective solutions!
Packing your own lunch at home is a great way to save money. And a much healthier way to eat if you are packing wholesome and nutritious foods in your lunch. Reusable lunch bags are available in a variety of styles and colors. The one pictured below is made of recycled cotton, I love the fact that it is washable.
Stainless steel containers are great for fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, or dips. They come in a variety of sizes and are super durable. Bento Boxes have become fairly popular, and they are perfect for larger amounts of food or even a full lunch. I like stainless steel, stackable styles.
Sandwich wraps are great for everything from crackers, pretzels, and sandwiches. I removed the plastic from ours, even though it is made from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). I still prefer to use parchment paper to wrap a messy sandwich.
Reusable bottles are available in a variety of materials, such as stainless steel, glass, and plastic. I prefer glass due to its inert nature. However, stainless steel is a better, and safer, option for kids’ lunch. Add a cloth napkin and you’re ready to go…friendly to both environment and finances!
Daughter of the Earth, Mother of her creations. Ivanna (Evie) doesn’t care for titles, but the ones that fit best are homeschool mom, herbalist, and blogger. Her greatest joy is guiding others to find true wellness within themselves and Mother Earth. When not spending time with her beloved family, she can be found researching everything related to holistic wellness, crafting herbal remedies, or visiting with the plants in the Magical Garden.
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