Packing your lunch for work or school, rather than eating out, is a great way to be frugal. You save money and eat healthier when you bring food from home. But after you have finished eating, there is usually a pile of trash to be thrown away.
The typical lunch packed for a child consists of the following:
Sandwich in a plastic bag
Pre-packaged cookies and crackers
Juice Box
Plastic spoon or fork
Fruit or veggies in plastic bags
Yogurt or applesauce in a disposable container
All of this can be eliminated and replaced with reusable containers. Yes, it will take more time prepare the lunch and wash the containers. But aren’t a couple of extra minutes a small price to pay to reduce the amount of trash in your local landfill by thousands of pounds? It all adds up, you know. And you'll save money on those bags, too.
Replace the items in your child’s lunch (and your own) with the following supplies, and you will happily be on your way to frugality.
Stainless steel utensils. Gather these at your local flea market or thrift store so you don’t have to worry if a fork is accidently thrown away.
Stainless steel canteen. Put water or juice in a canteen rather than buying bottled water or juice boxes. Juice is way more affordable when purchased in large containers, and you can water it down a little to cut down on your child's sugar intake. Stainless steel lasts longer and is better for you (and the earth) than plastic.
Reusable lunch box. Go the extra step to find a cloth or canvas sack that can be used for other purposes when it is no longer a lunch container.
Reusable containers in several sizes. All containers are not created equal. Be sure to choose containers made with non-toxic, dishwasher-safe materials. Buy the large containers of applesauce and yogurt so you can scoop a portion into a container, rather than giving your child a small plastic cup that is more expensive and has to be thrown in the trash when empty. Plain yogurt is healthy and can be more delicious when you add your own fruit and honey.
Local businesses Asmallgreenfootprint.com and have stainless steel and Bento Box lunch supplies.
What is a Bento Box, you ask? Well, it is a Japanese style of lunch-packing that consists of healthy, often home-cooked foods all nestled into as small a space as possible. The foods are prepared with both size and transferability in mind. They are an excellent way for creative moms to express themselves while providing nourishment for their little ones. Check out these cool Bento Box lunches for ideas on how to create your own masterpiece in a box.
Good luck building your frugal lunch!
