I’ve written a few times (click here or here or here) about how to reduce waste at lunch time. This week, I write a bit more about what you’ll want to consider if you’re packing your own litterless lunch or lunch for someone else. Folks who have been buying their lunch but want to make a change to reduce your reliance on single-use items, save money, for the sake of your health, or for any other reason, this post is for you. Or maybe you’re just looking to refine your system. Read on for 5 helpful tips to make your own litterless lunch.
Shift workers, students, and others with varied schedules: I only use ‘lunch’ here as shorthand to refer to any meal you eat away from home. You do you, and substitute any meal(s) you need to for ‘lunch’ in what follows.
Choose foods that you like to eat!
If those foods are usually pre-packaged, try to find substitutes at the bulk store, make your own version (if you have the time and other resources). Or just remove the packaging to recycle or compost at home. I’ve found it a lot harder to find recycling options for flexible plastic packaging, for example, when I’m away from home.
An easy swap: choose larger packages of crackers, cheeses, and dried fruits over single-serving packages. Put your desired amount into a reusable container to include in your lunch. Bonus: It will probably also be a bit less expensive to avoid single-serving packaging!
Choose containers that keep your food in the form you prefer.
In other words, no unintentionally deconstructed sandwiches or inadequately contained foods (soup-y and saucy kinds of foods need to wait their turn to exit their containers). You probably already have containers to do all of these things. Repurposed plastic food containers, glass jars with lids, and reusable resealable pouches all work. If you need something else, look for it second-hand or try to be creative in your approach to packing your lunch. Look for sustainable options.
Please, please, please: don’t microwave plastics. If you will be reheating your lunch, put it on a microwave-safe dish or pack it in glass and reheat it in that.
Remember your utensils and napkins!
I usually take utensils from my kitchen drawer and grab one or two of the SDU-sized napkins. These can all be washed and used over and over and over again. If you need some inspiration for how to make this work, click here. I wrote a post all about building strong routines for reusable use. If you need napkins, click here – there are a bunch of great options in the shop, all made from upcycled and/or thrifted fabric sources.
Find a bag to keep everything together.
If you need to keep your food at a particular temperature, use an insulated bag or containers, dish-by-dish. If not, or if you have access to a fridge and/or way to reheat, any reusable washable bag will do. Something Different Upcycled’s JBE and Basic totes both work well, for example. (Like all SDU items, they’re made from thrifted and/or upcycled sources.) Consider using a zippered pouch to keep your utensils in one place and clean until you’re ready to use them.
Do your clean-up every day…
within a reasonable time of getting home. To avoid the ick factor, you’ll want to avoid leaving dirty containers closed for too long. If you have the facilities to do so, you could rinse out your containers right after you’re finished eating. Rinsed or not, when you get home, put containers and utensils in the dishwasher or hand wash them, put napkins in their designated waiting area until laundry day, and check the cleanliness of your bag. If might help to put clean utensils and napkins into your bag at this point too, even before your food, just so you can’t forget them.
Click here to read more about cleaning your cloth napkins and other reusable fabric goods.
Work to build the litterless lunch routines that are most effective for you and be patient with yourself! It can take time to learn a new routine. Routines and practice, combined with some careful thought, are the foundations of a great litterless lunch habit. I’m glad you’re thinking about how to make this work for you!
What did I miss? What questions do you still have? Let me know in the comments (I read them all, you know) or send me a message.