How to Pack a Waste Free Lunch
Use a reusable lunch box, not a disposable bag., Freeze your ice pack the night before., Pour your drink into a reusable thermos, water bottle, or leak-proof cup., Use fabric napkins, tea towels, or small cotton bandannas instead of paper napkins or...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Use a reusable lunch box
Choose something durable that you can use for a long time.
Many good, insulated models exist. -
Step 2: not a disposable bag.
If you pack your lunch the night before, you can also leave the packed bag in the refrigerator overnight.
It will stay cold longer with the packaging chilled also. , Avoid items that are not recyclable, like boxed juices or bags.
This goes for coffee, too.
If you drink coffee, make it yourself at home and carry it in a thermos.
Use a reusable cup or mug for the stuff.
To cut down on even more waste, make yourself some reusable coffee filters and be sure to compost your coffee grounds.
A thermos can also keep soup hot.
Depending on where you work or study, another option might be just to take a reusable bottle or cup and leave it there to refill from the drinking fountain, watercooler, or coffee machine. , If you didn't have to wipe up any big spills, you'll probably find that you can leave a fabric napkin there for multiple meals.
When it gets dirty, put the new napkin or towel in when you take the old one out, so you don't end up at your destination without one.
A tea towel can also serve as a place mat and/or to wrap your entire lunch if you do not have a lunch box.
See How to Do Furoshiki (Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth). , There are plenty of choices besides plastic wrap and plastic bags.
Wrap your sandwich in a "Wrap-n-mat" or similar item.
This item is plastic on one side to keep your sandwich fresh, as cling wrap does, but it is cloth on the other side and doubles as place mat.
Place your sandwich in a plastic container.
A two- or three-cup flat, plastic box holds a sandwich, keeps it fresh, and prevents it from getting squished.
It may take up a bit more space, so choose a lunch box with that in mind, if you can.
Use durable, reusable containers to hold wet or messy items: pudding, yogurt, dips, salad dressings, etc.
Use reusable fabric sandwich/snack bags to hold dry items: crackers, grapes, chips, sandwiches, etc.
Consider Mason jars, the kind used for canning.
Some spaghetti sauce also comes in these jars.
Save the lids from spaghetti sauce and reuse them to carry things like soup (if you have a microwave where you're going) so they won't leak.
Only use glass containers if the lunch box won't take abuse on a playground. , Thrift stores and garage sales frequently have inexpensive, mismatched flatware (if you would rather have a separate one for your lunch box to avoid breaking up a set you use at home).
You could reuse plastic ones instead, but metal is a lot sturdier and easier to work with.
Get a couple of sets so you can immediately replace the fork, spoon, and knife any time you take dirty ones out.
If you like, you can make a pouch for your fork and spoon, to keep them clean. , Using up leftovers that would otherwise go uneaten means less waste.
If you like to take leftovers for lunch, get in the habit of preparing extra food whenever you cook at home. , Refill small containers from larger ones.
You can carry applesauce, yogurt, trail mix, dried fruits and nuts, crackers, and all sorts of things this way, and you get to choose your own portions.
Buy the ingredients for several lunches at once.
You will generally use much less packaging buying larger quantities of basic ingredients than buying prepared meals.
Use reusable grocery bags when you go.
Cook for yourself and your family.
If you are in the habit of taking a granola bar, candy bar, packaged muffin or can of soup, see if you can come up with home-cooked alternatives.
Muffins, corn bread, and cookies are all easy to make at home.
Choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned or packaged.
Most come in their own truly recyclable packaging, so don't forget to put any peels or cores back into one of the other containers in your lunchbox and take them home to compost. , Trash is not the only environmental cost of a boxed lunch.
Choose foods that haven't been shipped in from long distances, and you'll cut down on fuel usage.
You'll eat fresher food, too. , Meat takes more energy and resources to produce.
Skip meat on certain days.
If you do take meat in your lunch, put it in with lots of other stuff, such as in a salad, a sandwich or wrap with plenty of veggies, or a hearty mostly-vegetable soup.
You'll save money this way, too. , You eat lunch every day, so you have many opportunities to notice how much you usually need.
If you pack too little, you may end up supplementing your lunch with a trip to the vending machine or cafeteria.
If you pack too much and don't eat it, food will go to waste.
Pack foods you or your family like.
If you or they don't like it, it won't get eaten, and it will go to waste. , -
Step 3: Freeze your ice pack the night before.
-
Step 4: Pour your drink into a reusable thermos
-
Step 5: water bottle
-
Step 6: or leak-proof cup.
-
Step 7: Use fabric napkins
-
Step 8: tea towels
-
Step 9: or small cotton bandannas instead of paper napkins or paper towels.
-
Step 10: Use reusable containers for your food.
-
Step 11: Pack a real fork
-
Step 12: and table knife
-
Step 13: or a pocket knife for adults.
-
Step 14: Pack leftovers
-
Step 15: especially if you have access to a microwave.
-
Step 16: Avoid single-serve and heavily packaged items.
-
Step 17: Buy local or grow your own food.
-
Step 18: Eat less meat.
-
Step 19: Pack no more or less than you need.
-
Step 20: Finished.
Detailed Guide
Choose something durable that you can use for a long time.
Many good, insulated models exist.
If you pack your lunch the night before, you can also leave the packed bag in the refrigerator overnight.
It will stay cold longer with the packaging chilled also. , Avoid items that are not recyclable, like boxed juices or bags.
This goes for coffee, too.
If you drink coffee, make it yourself at home and carry it in a thermos.
Use a reusable cup or mug for the stuff.
To cut down on even more waste, make yourself some reusable coffee filters and be sure to compost your coffee grounds.
A thermos can also keep soup hot.
Depending on where you work or study, another option might be just to take a reusable bottle or cup and leave it there to refill from the drinking fountain, watercooler, or coffee machine. , If you didn't have to wipe up any big spills, you'll probably find that you can leave a fabric napkin there for multiple meals.
When it gets dirty, put the new napkin or towel in when you take the old one out, so you don't end up at your destination without one.
A tea towel can also serve as a place mat and/or to wrap your entire lunch if you do not have a lunch box.
See How to Do Furoshiki (Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth). , There are plenty of choices besides plastic wrap and plastic bags.
Wrap your sandwich in a "Wrap-n-mat" or similar item.
This item is plastic on one side to keep your sandwich fresh, as cling wrap does, but it is cloth on the other side and doubles as place mat.
Place your sandwich in a plastic container.
A two- or three-cup flat, plastic box holds a sandwich, keeps it fresh, and prevents it from getting squished.
It may take up a bit more space, so choose a lunch box with that in mind, if you can.
Use durable, reusable containers to hold wet or messy items: pudding, yogurt, dips, salad dressings, etc.
Use reusable fabric sandwich/snack bags to hold dry items: crackers, grapes, chips, sandwiches, etc.
Consider Mason jars, the kind used for canning.
Some spaghetti sauce also comes in these jars.
Save the lids from spaghetti sauce and reuse them to carry things like soup (if you have a microwave where you're going) so they won't leak.
Only use glass containers if the lunch box won't take abuse on a playground. , Thrift stores and garage sales frequently have inexpensive, mismatched flatware (if you would rather have a separate one for your lunch box to avoid breaking up a set you use at home).
You could reuse plastic ones instead, but metal is a lot sturdier and easier to work with.
Get a couple of sets so you can immediately replace the fork, spoon, and knife any time you take dirty ones out.
If you like, you can make a pouch for your fork and spoon, to keep them clean. , Using up leftovers that would otherwise go uneaten means less waste.
If you like to take leftovers for lunch, get in the habit of preparing extra food whenever you cook at home. , Refill small containers from larger ones.
You can carry applesauce, yogurt, trail mix, dried fruits and nuts, crackers, and all sorts of things this way, and you get to choose your own portions.
Buy the ingredients for several lunches at once.
You will generally use much less packaging buying larger quantities of basic ingredients than buying prepared meals.
Use reusable grocery bags when you go.
Cook for yourself and your family.
If you are in the habit of taking a granola bar, candy bar, packaged muffin or can of soup, see if you can come up with home-cooked alternatives.
Muffins, corn bread, and cookies are all easy to make at home.
Choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned or packaged.
Most come in their own truly recyclable packaging, so don't forget to put any peels or cores back into one of the other containers in your lunchbox and take them home to compost. , Trash is not the only environmental cost of a boxed lunch.
Choose foods that haven't been shipped in from long distances, and you'll cut down on fuel usage.
You'll eat fresher food, too. , Meat takes more energy and resources to produce.
Skip meat on certain days.
If you do take meat in your lunch, put it in with lots of other stuff, such as in a salad, a sandwich or wrap with plenty of veggies, or a hearty mostly-vegetable soup.
You'll save money this way, too. , You eat lunch every day, so you have many opportunities to notice how much you usually need.
If you pack too little, you may end up supplementing your lunch with a trip to the vending machine or cafeteria.
If you pack too much and don't eat it, food will go to waste.
Pack foods you or your family like.
If you or they don't like it, it won't get eaten, and it will go to waste. ,
About the Author
Douglas Scott
A seasoned expert in education and learning, Douglas Scott combines 12 years of experience with a passion for teaching. Douglas's guides are known for their clarity and practical value.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: