Guide to Packing Waste Free Lunch

The start of the school year is an excellent time to start new routines and commit to new goals. This year, try packing a waste-free lunch, in other words a lunch packed in reusable containers and devoid of single-use plastic bags, utensils, and packages. A waste-free lunch is better for you and better for the planet!

"An inconvenient truth"

Upon first glance disposable plastic seems like a convenience, but it's actually anything but. An average kid’s school lunch creates 67 pounds of waste per year, which adds up to about 18,760 pounds for an average-sized elementary school! It requires a lot of resources to get rid of that trash—an inconvenience on the school, the community, and the planet to say the least!

Packing waste-free is better for YOU

At MightyNest we’ve tried and tested almost every kind of reusable lunch gear. To meet ours (and our kids’) standards, lunch gear must be:

• Safe - No concerning chemicals, such as BPA, PVC, phthalates and lead, which can leach into foods 
• Functional - Easy to open and close, and convenient to use (leakproof, insulated, dishwasher-safe, etc)
• Waste-Free - Reduces the growing piles of disposable, single use products (like individually wrapped foods, juice boxes, plastic baggies)
• Durable - Built to last, ultimately saving us money over time
• Fun - Vibrant, colors and patterns that make lunch something to look forward to, inspiring kids to eat a bit more

Components of a Waste-Free Lunch Lunchbox 

1. Reusable Lunchbox

The first step in packing a waste-free lunch is choosing a reusable lunchbox that’s functional and durable for everyday use. At MightyNest all our lunch boxes  are PVC-, Phthalate-, BPA-free, and Lead-safe.

Updated Classic

 

 

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2. Food Containers

Pick up a few reusable food containers for storing sandwich, fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese cubes, you name it. We only carry containers that are made from safe, non-toxic materials.

Bento Boxes

The divided bento lunch container is incredibly versatile. Easily the main component of a waste-free lunch, you can pack multiple items in one container. Durable and dishwasher-safe, the containers we carry are all made from high quality 18/8 stainless steel (no corrosion or rust).

 Pack One and You're Done

 For the Dippers

Choose your configuration, # of sections. Shop All Bento Boxes >

Leakproof Containers

Say good-bye to individually wrapped snacks, and send applesauce, yogurt, pudding or chopped fruit in reusable leakproof containers. Unlike disposable plastic, our containers won't degrade, scratch or leach chemicals into food. All our containers at MightyNest are free from BPA, PVC, Phthalates and Lead.

 For Dressing, Nut Butters, Hummus

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Insulated Containers

Perfect for sending fruit salad or soup, insulated food containers keep food cold or hot for hours. Made from high quality 304 grade stainless steel, all our thermal containers are constructed with double wall interiors for optimal insulation and are BPA- and PVC-free.  

For the Kiddo

 

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3. Snack and Sandwich Bags

An average size family goes through over 500 baggies just for lunches! We recommend having 3-4 sandwich bags and 3-4 snack bags per child so you'll always have a clean one on hand. All our reusable snack and sandwich bags are BPA, PVC, Phthalate and Lead-free.

Reusable Sandwich Bag

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 4. Accessories

Don't forget about the little things that go in every lunch like utensils, napkins and an ice pack. Reduce waste, save money, and keep those plastic chemicals out of landfills!

Reusable Utensils

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5. Beverage Bottle

Avoid pre-packaged juice boxes and plastic water bottles with a reusable bottle made from glass or stainless steel. Free from BPA and other harmful chemicals, these bottles are durable and dishwasher-safe. 

Best for Little Kids

Keeps it Cold

Visit our Guide for the Best School Water Bottle >

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Do you have any questions about packing a waste-free lunch? Let us know in the comments below!