Image: istockphoto.com/Lev Olkha
In
- Cloth napkins
- Stainless-steel cutlery
- Tupperware
- Lunch bags
- Water bottles
Out
- Paper napkins
- Plastic cutlery
- Individual-portion packaging
- Brown bags
- Juice boxes
FACT: on average, a school-age child with a disposable lunch generates approximately 30 kilos (67 lbs.) of waste per school year. That means that if your child has 25 kids in his/her class, they are producing 737 kilos (1,625 lbs.) of waste each year. Doesn’t a car weigh less than that? Imagine what the whole school produces.
Lunch bags are a must. They don’t rip and you can use them day after day. Litterless lunches require a bit more space, so look for a lunch bag that can hold three or four food-storage containers and a water/juice bottle. We’ve found a great insulated, lead-free lunch bag (many lunch bags contain lead to keep food cool or warm, but the lead can leach into the food) from Fleurville.
$45 at Dick and Jane Inc. and other stores
www.fleurville.com
For the “different food groups will not touch before entering my mouth” children, we recommend a Bento Lunch Box from Lunchboxes.com, which guarantees that all its insulated lunch bags are lead free.
USD$19.50 and up
Online at www.lunchboxes.com
We like the fact that Tetra Paks and glass bottles are recyclable, but we like something that’s reusable even more. Swiss company Sigg has a line of cool-looking water bottles that are durable (think water bottle meets fire extinguisher), light and, because they’re lined with aluminum, don’t leech any extra flavours or toxins into your drink. There’s a style for everyone, from kids to hip yoga mamas.
$25-50 at Curbside Cycle and many other bike and yoga stores
www.sigg.com
Rubbermaid’s collapsible containers take up minimal storage in your drawers/cupboards. When you want to use them, just pop them open, fill them and put on the lid. To prevent spills from semi-liquid food like yogurt, Snapware containers work well. As the name suggests, the lids snap in place so they can’t accidentally slip off.
Collapsible containers, $4.97 and up at Wal-Mart; Snapware, $3.99 and up at Canadian Tire
www.rubbermaid.com
For soup or warm pasta, forget about the old-fashioned thermos. A new, stainless-steel model is light, chemical-free and kids can eat right out of the container.
$24.99 (240ml) at Canadian Tire
www.thermos.com
For more information on litterless lunches, go to www.tdsb.on.ca and click on “eco schools” or go to www.wastefreelunches.org. These sites have good information, and they even provide tips on how to set up a litterless-lunch program at your child’s school.
Green Living Network
