How to Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
Even though we have a good part of summer left, it's not too early to consider how you'll pack school lunches for the upcoming school year and 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 (leak-proof, 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
REUSABLE FOOD CONTAINERS
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).
Choose your configuration, # of sections. Shop All Bento Boxes >
Leak-proof 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.
Shop All Leakproof Containers >
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.
Shop All Insulated Containers >
Reusable Snack + Sandwich Bags
Say good-bye to one-time use zip top bags. We recommend having 3-4 sandwich bags and 3-4 snack bags per child so you'll always have a clean one on hand.
Shop All Snack and Sandwich Bags >
Reusable Water Bottles
Americans throw away 35 billion plastic water bottles every year. Reusable bottles are not only healthy for the planet, they're healthier for you. First and foremost choose a bottle that's free from toxins like BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates and other chemicals often found in conventional water bottles.
Shop All Kids' Water Bottles >
Reusable Utensils
Did you know that every year we throw away enough plastic forks, knives and spoons to circle the equator 300 times? Choose a reusable utensil set because it matters—it's better for you (no leaching chemicals) AND it's better for the planet.
How is your waste-free lunchbox shaping up? What are you hoping to add this year?
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