Snacking on the go is inevitable with kids, especially in the summer. Here are my favorite ways to reduce waste when we pack our lunch to the splash pad, pool, on picnics, or, well, anywhere.
1. Start where you are.
This may seem a little counter-intuitive, especially when it seems everywhere you turn there's someone trying to sell you a new system or kit. I, however, am of the mindset that spending a bunch of money right out the gate is not going to be the thing that makes any lifestyle change stick. In this case, use what you have, see how it works for you, and upgrade to more sustainable products as your old ones wear out or fail.
If there's one thing you take a way from this, let it be to start where you are, with what you have. My family's journey to a lower-waste lifestyle isn't perfect, but we're making progress little by little.
For us, this looks like a hodge-podge of empty yogurt containers as snack storage, random grocery totes as lunch bags, and recycled bandanas as napkins. I have a running Amazon wish list for when we're financially ready to upgrade one or two items at a time, but in the spirit of less waste, period, I'm using what works for us, until it no longer works.
2. Eliminate (or at least lessen) single-use plastic.
The most important thing you can do to snack greener (and you can start right away!) is eliminate, or at the very least lessen, your dependency on water or drink bottles, plastic packaging on individually-wrapped snacks, and snack and sandwich baggies.
Bring reusable water bottles everywhere for yourself and your kids.
Prep pre-portioned food yourself, rather than buying individually wrapped snacks. It may take a little longer, but you'll actually save money while helping lessen your footprint. One of our favorites is pop corn. I buy kernels in bulk and pop it at home, then portion it in advance. It stays good a few days if you seal the bag well.
Use paper snack bags instead of plastic. One of my favorite alternatives to plastic baggies, especially when it comes to dry snacks and sandwiches, are these If You Care paper sandwich bags, which are 100% biodegradable. They're super affordable so it's a swap you can make immediately. I keep them closed with a little piece of colorful washi tape. This is a great option if you're not ready to purchase reusable snack containers.
3. Choose second-hand, first.
When you choose to buy second hand, especially if you shop local thrift stores or Goodwill, you're lessening your footprint from shipping (think the fuel and packaging incurred in ordering something online). You may not find the most perfect, new-tech, green option, but it'll definitely cost less and could be a good temporary (if not long term) solution to a hole in your low-waste kit.
I love this tip from Amanda over at Mama Eats Plants - pack thrifted forks in your lunch box or picnic bag. It's a green alternative to disposable, and if one goes missing, you won't be sad!
This is also a great tip I learned from Amanda - always use cloth napkins to eliminate the paper waste from disposable options. You can thrift pretty vintage patterned napkins almost anywhere or if you're really into DIY, you could sew your own from an old, thrifted tablecloth!
Other second-hand lunch kit items you can look for: Stainless thermoses (I love Stanley brand everything), canvas bags for toting your lunch around,
4. Consider the end of a product's life when you buy new.
When you are ready to upgrade to high-quality, reusable containers, there are a few materials that you should stick to. They are stainless steel, silicone, and organic cotton. These materials are 100% recyclable or biodegradable, they won't leach chemicals into your food, and they are shatter-proof, so they're safe for kids and you can take them to places like the pool or splash pad where glass isn't allowed.
Non-leaky foods can all go into a stainless bento box. My pick is this Ecolunchbox 3-in-1. I love this as opposed to wax coated wrap for sandwiches and wraps because it would prevent them from getting smashed at the bottom of a bag or backpack. They're not cheap but I'd love to eventually get a few sets for our family.
Wet foods that may leak, are safe in a stainless+silicone combo container. I'm currently using some small plastic containers leftover from DIY baby food days for condiments until I can afford to upgrade. But when we're ready, these are my picks for greener leak-proof condiment containers.
I upgraded my kids' plastic reusable water bottles once they broke and chose these Greens Steel sippy cups. They're leak-proof, colorful (which the girls love), and keep iced water cold for quite a while. In their case, I'm okay with a heavy duty plastic lid just because they're not big enough to handle a screw top or anything that could spill if it gets knocked over.
For older kids and adults, a completely stainless screw-top bottle is a great choice. I don't have one yet, but I love this one because there's a 34 oz option (so I know if I fill it up 4 times I've had a gallon), the lid is completely stainless, and it comes with a carabiner to hook it onto my yoga bag.
Plastic straws are another easy thing to swap out. When I'm drinking iced coffee, I prefer to drink it through a straw. Same with cocktails! I bring the RTIC tumbler my in-laws gave me pretty much everywhere, and I keep stainless straws stashed in my car and in my cupboard, so I'm always prepared. These are great and so affordable - $9 for 8 straws!
Just remember, start with what you have and upgrade as you need!
For a complete lunch kit -- as in, I've done the research on the bag and all its contents for a seamless, green kid's (or adult's) lunch box to make sure it all fits together -- check out my Zero Waste Lunch Kit.
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