Is one of your resolutions for 2020 to reduce waste? Make this year’s lunch routine more eco-friendly with litterless lunches.
Why litterless lunches? Because using reusable containers and beverage bottles is both economical and eco-friendly! From kindergarten to the office – we can all go litterless and do our part for the environment.
1. Look beyond the plastic sandwich bags
Stasher reusable silicone sandwich bags
Think outside the plastic baggie when it comes to packing a healthy lunch. There is a wide array of reusable snack bags, sandwich boxes, bentos, salad containers and more available to you – affordably. You could even have breakfast for lunch with yogurt and cereal & milk in to-go containers too (you can’t have that in a baggie)! We love Stasher reusable sandwich bags–they’re durable, non-toxic, and microwave safe! What more could you need? Consider what you pack regularly for lunches and choose products that fit the needs of the whole family.
2. DIY your bento box
Kids of all ages need to be able to pack, carry, open and close their lunch containers. So choose products that are lightweight and fit neatly into their lunch boxes and backpacks. TIP: you can transform an ordinary sandwich container into a bento-style box by using silicone muffin liners. Want a box that never loses its lid for your younger child?! The Fuel Primary Lunch Sandwich Box is a kid-friendly sandwich container that won’t budge!
3. Look for litterless on-the-go options
Sistema Klip It Salad Containers
Quite often teens don’t want to make their lunch (but then they see the options and prices at the school cafeteria and decide otherwise). You may want to get salad on-the-go containers that can be used for green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, and more. Many have integrated ice packs and separate dressing containers to ensure the salad is the freshest of fresh. And of course, don’t forget to look for packable cutlery – check out Fuel Primary Foldable Flatware for handy foldaway flatware.
4. Create a lunch prep bin
There may be a plethora of containers and lids in your cupboards for leftovers, but consider a dedicated set of litterless lunch containers for the whole family. Create a one-stop-lunch-prep bin or dedicated drawer in your kitchen so that the family can find all the lunch accessories easily. There won’t be any “But Mom I couldn’t find it” excuses for not packing a lunch.
Thermos Funtainer Insulated Sport Bottle
5. Keep cool and don’t forget about your drinks
Using reusable containers is a year-round activity for the whole family. From your office lunch to road trip snacks, litterless lunch accessories make life easier. Moreover, everyone should always carry a reusable bottle for daily hydration. Think cold water, hot chocolate, smoothies, shakes, and more. Something like the Thermos Funtainer Sports Bottle is all you need —it keeps drinks cool for up to 12 hours!
Using reusable containers for lunch is a frugal and functional choice. More and more, elementary schools are encouraging litterless lunches. So, ditch the plastic bags and individual packaging of products. You can role model the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ lifestyle in your home and everyday living. It’s good for the whole family as well as the planet!
Feeling inspired to check out more litterless options?
Take a look at our top eco-friendly picks here or share your ideas with us on Facebook or Instagram.
