Mindful Momma

Simple Inspired Natural Living


Practically Green Anniversary Bash! Day 2 – Green Your Lunch

Welcome back to the party!  Are you ready to talk lunch?  Today’s bags, containers, bottles etc..) is a good first step.  Limiting individually packaged foods like lunchable-type meals, applesauce cups and bagged snacks is another.

Ditching processed, packaged food means a healthier lunch too.  Just try to carve out 5 extra minutes in the morning (or the night before) to pack a real, homemade lunch – I’m sure you’ll find it worth your while!!  Here are a few ideas from my book to get you started (as well a link to one of my popular healthy lunch posts):

Lively lunches croped

Laptop lunch Soon, one lucky Mindful Momma reader will find lunch-packing time a little more fun….that’s because someone is going to win a Bento Laptop Lunch Kit, courtesy of Alicia from Laptop Lunch Kits are like the Cadillac of lunch sets.  Everything you need for a waste-free lunch is all packaged up in a handy-dandy carrying case.  Well maybe not everything – I noticed that the set does not include napkins.  So I’ll remedy that by offering a set of 4 handmade cloth napkins to supplement the prize.  I made these napkins as examples for my book, Napkins

Leave a comment on this post sharing a practically green tip for packing a green & healthy lunch and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!  Extra entries for subscribing to Mindful Momma (either by RSS feed or email) or following me on Twitter.  (please leave a separate comment for each thing you do – 3 entries max per person).  And while you’re thinking about it, be sure to visit adults and kids.  They offer free shipping on orders over $49 or a flat rate of $5.95 per order.   The giveaway will be open through midnight, Central time on Monday, November 1st.  (US mailing addresses only)

Come back tomorrow to talk about how to Green Your Shopping!  And don’t forget to enter the Green Your Baby contest as well!

(Disclosure:  there are affiliate links for Amazon and The Soft Landing in this post)

This contest is now closed.  The winner was Lisa G who said “We avoid prepackaged foods and instead always pack homemade items so we don’t use lots of extra plastic.”  Enjoy your new Laptop Lunch Kit and napkins, Lisa!

 

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About Mindful Momma

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Molly Darsow says

    I follow you on Twitter! @Molly_CIP

    My tip is to use glass containers with lids, or stainless steel. Never microwave in plastic! Glass is great for heating in the microwave and there is no need for paper plates. Remember to pack silverware : )

  2. DramaMama says

    I already subscribe through google’s feed reader. My tip is to use a cloth napkin to wrap things like a sandwich. When building the sandwich I use the napkin as well, to keep the counter crumb free. When my kids are done eating their sandwiches, they shake the napkin out in the trash. Also, we all have different colored stainless steel canteens. If I buy store bought bread or buns (it happens more than I’d like to admit, but it does happen) then I use one of those bags for my husband’s lunch. He usually has so many different things all loose that a bag like that is helpful. Looking forward to more anniversary posts =) Congrats!

  4. Rene says

    My green tip for packing healthy lunches is to buy the large containers of yogurt instead of the squeeze tubes or individual containers, then you can make up your own flavor by blending it with fresh fruit, put it in a reusable container and in the lunch kit. Sprinkle some mini chocolate chips, granola or fun sprinkles on top for a yummy treat too.

  5. Maria says

    Hi Micaela! I buy in bulk things like pretzels and crackers, and re-pack them for lunches in re-usable containers.

  6. Colleen Fox says

    Love these lunch boxes!
    We use the reusable snack and sandwich bags that double as a placemat (Wrap n’ Mat). The kids love the fun colors and I love how easy they are to clean!

  7. Kelly says

    I would love a laptop lunch kit! I use sassy boxes and they are the perfect size for my toddler and preschooler! They also come with three containers for yogurt or applesauce. For my husbands lunch I use a bunch of tupperwares, nothing fancy :(. Always remember to pack utensils so they don’t have to use plastic ware!

  9. Katie says

    We have a laptop lunch kit which is working well for us. My one thought is that there isn’t room for a water bottle in the carrying case, I bought a slightly bigger lunch bag so my kindergartener could have everything in one place when he goes to the cafeteria. My tip is to use leftovers! Today I sent in some leftover homemade soup in a thermos.

  10. Andie says

    This morning I helped my husband pack his lunch. He stuck his sandwich in a re-useable bag, while I packed homemade yogurt and granola into glass jars, and added one of the thrifted spoons we use for lunches.

  11. Julie says

    Use and reuse plastic bags. Eat a veggie lunch every day. Keep silverware plates etc at the office and buy in bulk munchies for the desk drawer!

  12. Leia says

    Make use of your freezer to make items ahead of time. There’s nothing like being able to grab a main dish without prep on days you’re in a hurry!

  13. Dana Hall says

    I have a 6 year old son with classic autism so we are all about going green!! One of his biggest issues is eating. He has such sensory issues that he cannot even look at liquid food with out gagging and sometimes even vomits! I have started working with an autism feeding speicalist and were are now doing feeding therapy with him daily. We are trying to “green” his diet by removing junk food and trying to have him eat as much organic as possible. I have to pack his food where ever we go. I also send food with him to his feeding therapy sessions. We would be ever so greatful to have a laptop lunchbox for him!!

  16. Katie says

    I pack hot stuff in my thermos, no wasting containers and I save on energy by not needing to reheat!

  21. Tandy says

    We do hot llunches as often as possible b/c they are usually more nutritious. A couple ways to be green w/ a hot lunch: DON’T use the microvawe,heat it up on the stove (leaving your nutrients intact!). And DO use a thermos for 2 reasons: no harmful chemicals in a good thermos to leach into your food, and saves energy as far as no need to reheat. Including reusable utensils (free of BPA & other chemicals) and our Kleen Kanteens finishes off the lunch 🙂

  23. Shanna says

    We’re only semi-good about greening the lunches. Reusable water bottles (Klean Kanteen) + cloth napkins (mika & bu – half of which I won from you!). Unfortunately we still use plastic bags for some things, and only semi-reusable containers (Gladware etc.) for others…really trying to get better here!

  26. Cindi says

    Everything used in our packed lunches is reusable!
    From the silverware, napkins, food containers, etc.
    Your giveaway is fabulous! This mommy would love to
    pack her lunch in your lovely items.
    Many thanks, Cindi

  27. Cindi says

    I am an email subscriber to Mindful Momma…
    Again, many thanks to you and Happy Anniversary!
    Cindi

  31. Elizabeth says

    I have a two-tier tiffin from Life Without Plastic that I use, although I tend not to bring the whole setup to work because it’s so big. I keep utensils in a drawer at work — some metal, some plastic, but all washed at home and brought back for re-use. I could use more cloth napkins, though; I only have one that I take to work.

  32. Katie says

    Make everything from scratch, it really doesn’t take much time to cut up fresh fruits and veggies.

  33. Jenna says

    I subscribe via email.
    A lunch tip for my toddler is to seve cut fruit she can feed herself sent in reusable tupperware.

  34. Jenna says

    We also use reusable utensils – the take and toss ones are great for school lunches – if they accidentally get lost, it’s ok. We save the stainless steel ones for home.

  35. Jenna says

    Leftovers! I pack leftover pasta/veggies/pizza/whatever in a stainless steel bowl w/ lid – a great find at a local Japanese mart.

  41. jacque says

    We use cloth napkins which we love and in our lunches we like to eat celery sticks with peanutbutter. Great giveaway!Your blog is very informative! Thanks!

  44. Amanda Glick says

    We save all the packaging that we can to utilize in lunches – for example when we finish a bag of bread we reuse that as a snack wrapper in a lunch…..

  45. Christy says

    I’ve been working hard at trying to bring my lunch to work more often, rather than eating out all the time – less takeout waste and less wasteful spending 🙂 I bring leftovers in my glass pyrex-stlye storage dish – then I can heat it up in that dish without dirtying another plate! And since leftovers are never well-received at home, I’m reducing our food waste by bringing them to work and gobbling up the hommade food here 🙂

  48. wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says

    Use reusable REAL silverware and a glass straw! And pack food from your own garden. It’s so gratifying!

  49. Sara S-V says

    We eat leftovers for lunch, stored in glass. I use a Sigg or similar container, instead of plastic water bottles, so there is no waste. We don’t own a microwave either, so everything is reheated either in the toaster oven or stovetop. Tastes better and preserves all the nutrients.

  53. Lane' Richards says

    I also follow you via Twitter (@LivingGreenOR)… and I swear I’m not stalking you, LOL 🙂

  54. Julie L says

    We use resuable sandwich/snack bags that I have won-my husband and daughter pack their lunches in lunch boxes-
    thanks for the giveaway

  57. Michele says

    We reuse or lunch bags, snack bags, and lunch boxes; and the kids even bring home their banana peels, apple cores, and other disposable garbage for the compost heap and our chickens.

  58. Lisa G. says

    We avoid prepackaged foods and instead always pack homemade items so we don’t use lots of extra plastic.
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

  61. tina reynolds says

    use reuse bottles and bags include fruits and veggies, and the rest of the food groups stay away from junk food like twinkies and chips

  64. Alyssa Lee says

    The best tip I have is to use what you have lying around like leftovers. Cut up leftover carrots or veggies and mix with a nice dressing combined with nuts or leftover trail mix. Bonus points for having these items bought in bulk and stored in glass containers, rather than pre-packaged plastic! Or you can let your kids help out by taking a day each week to put some trail mix or whatever dried foods in bags already (made of organic cotton or hemp, of course!) and put them all in a basket so they can just grab them and go! Making your own bag is also a plus, unless you’ve already got one PVC-free! I really enjoy packing my lunch, even though I leave a little bit later in the mornings now. A giveaway like this could really help me, my wallet, and the Earth! 😀

  65. Alyssa Lee says

    I now subscribe via email! I tried to once before but it didn’t work. I hope it does now. Thanks, Mindful Momma!

  66. Alyse says

    For a great new innovative way to pack a waste-free lunch, check out http://www.brightbin.com and The New Generation Lunch Box! Easy, convenient, no lids, no special insulated bags needed, kid-sized portions, non-toxic!

  67. Shelley Davis says

    I found some great freezer jam containers that are BPA free. They are a plastic with easy screw on lids. I send frozen fruits, yogurt etc in these. I bought some extra spoons and forks that I send in the kids lunch. We try to find a use for anything that comes into the house that can’t be put in the recycling bin.

    I follow on Facebook.