Zero-Waste Lunch Ideas — Cashmere & Plaid (2024)

Zero-Waste Lunch Ideas — Cashmere & Plaid (1)

If you've been reading for a while you'll know I'm trying to live a more conscious, sustainable life. This has meant a few things for me, one being trying to produce less waste.

Being in school full time means I don't spend much time in or near a kitchen (not that I did before...). While I don't always succeed I have been trying to pack a lunch or at least a bunch ofsnacks to get me through the day. With the exception of my granola bar - don't even try to take away my FibreOne bars - my lunches are pretty much entirely waste-free, and this is how I do it.

One of the first things I made when I got my sewing machine earlier in the summer was this bento bag. I used this tutorialto make it and I absolutely love it. That being said, it's slightly on the small side so if you're going to make your own I recommend cutting your fabric a few inches larger than the pattern says to ensure you have enough space to pack your lunches.

The mug cozy is also something I made and have used a ton. I created the pattern by modifying a pattern for a crocheted bowl and it's just the right size to fit a mason jar into. The thing I really love about it is that unlike other mug cozies I've seen, this one fits entirely around it so you never have to worry about the jar falling out.

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On top of the mason-jar-turned-to-go-mug I use my Cuppow lid. I love this thing. The one I use is designed to fit on any standard mason jar but they also make lids for wide mouth mason jars too. People make fun of me for drinking out of a sippy cup when they see me using it but hey, it works brilliantly and lets me conveniently drink out of my jar whenever I want to.

Inside my packed bento bag you'll find cotton pouches filled with snacks and a sandwich as well as small mason jars holding fruit, veggies, apple sauce, yogurt, or other foods that need a bit of extra protection/seal-age. On good days I also remember my spoon/fork...

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Inspired by a post I saw a post on Reading My Tea Leaves about reusable pouches and plastic baggy alternatives these cute little cotton pouches were also recently made using my sewing machine. I followed this pattern but just used scrap fabric I had around to make the pouches all different sizes.

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Now before you laugh at the snacks I'm about to suggest let me just say that I have a sensitive digestive system that makes experimenting with adventurous and flavourful foods not very fun. So with that in mind, here are a few of my favourite [simple] snacks to pack for a day at school:

  • Cheerios & Craisins- so plain, so tasty, and you can share with any toddler you encounter throughout the day (but only if you know the toddler please)
  • Trail Mix- this can be made as simple or as fancy as you like. I personally love the Kirkland trail mix from Costco but it's also fun to make your own custom mix with different things you pick out in the bulk section of the grocery store.
  • Fruit Salad- to reduce spillage and leaks, this is definitely a snackyou'll want to pack in a mason jar
  • Crackers - rice crackers, saltine crackers, wheat thins, those other crackers that you break in half to make the perfect cheese and cracker sandwich... any cracker will do!
  • Veggie Based Salad- a greek salad can go into a mason jar super easily or you can pack your salad elements separately and combine them all together when you're ready to chow down.
  • Pasta- pack leftover pasta dinners in glass containers, pop them in the microwave when you're ready to eat and boom! there's lunch.
  • Baked Goods- I could probably live off of blueberry muffins,orange-cranberry scones, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies.
  • Sandwiches- I'm a PB&J kinda girl, have been since kindergarten, but you probably have your own grown up sandwich flavour that you'd prefer to pack...

Zero-Waste Lunch Ideas — Cashmere & Plaid (8)

Zero-Waste Lunch Ideas — Cashmere & Plaid (9)

I'm far from perfect when it comes to doing this every day and I'd say the thing I struggle with the most is remembering my mason jar to go mug.. But I'm trying. Do you have any tips for packing a zero-waste or low-waste school lunch?

Going Green, Simplifying, Thoughtful Living

Emily Johnson

zero waste, waste free, no waste, zero waste lunch, back to school, school lunch

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Zero-Waste Lunch Ideas — Cashmere & Plaid (2024)

FAQs

What are examples of waste-free lunch? ›

Zero-waste options include:
  • Sandwiches. ...
  • Wraps. ...
  • Bagels with homemade yogurt cheese. ...
  • Crackers and hummus. ...
  • Pasta with pesto. ...
  • Pasta salad with chopped vegetables. ...
  • Green salad with chopped vegetables. ...
  • Celery with peanut butter.
Aug 17, 2014

What can you put in a zero waste lunch box? ›

bulk e.g. seasonal fruit and veg, food in larger packs or tubs (such as low-fat yoghurt, cheese and crackers) and place into small reusable containers. packaging – such as an apple, a banana, a small carrot or a boiled egg. can be washed.

How to make a zero waste lunch? ›

To pack a waste-free lunch, you must include reusable food and beverage containers, durable flatware and cloth napkins and stow it all in a reusable lunch box like PackIt's freezable lunch bag.

How to pack a waste-free lunch? ›

It included:
  1. One airtight stainless steel lunch container. It is great. ...
  2. A Set of reusable bamboo utensils in a cute carrying case. ...
  3. One reusable napkin. ...
  4. A couple Organic cotton bags for snacks or sandwiches. ...
  5. Mason jar, glass, or water bottle.

What is a trashless lunch? ›

The definition of a litterless lunch is simple. No waste, no garbage, no trash, no rubbish, no litter is left behind at school by students or staff. Nothing goes to the landfill after lunches are eaten at school. Packaging and recyclables go home in lunch bags or boxes.

What are eco friendly lunches? ›

ECO Recipes
  • No-Sandwich Entrees. Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad. Asian Chicken Veggie Salad. Goat Cheese Sundried Tomato Penne.
  • Sandwiches and Wraps. Hummus and Goat Cheese Wrap. Mediterranean Veggie Wrap.
  • Make Ahead Snacks. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. Spiced Blueberry Muffins.

What can you put in a lunch box instead of a sandwich? ›

Swap them out for one of these savoury lunch box ideas – not only are they super filling, but they're delicious, too.
  • 1Pie maker zucchini and haloumi fritters. ...
  • 2Easy tuna bento balls. ...
  • 3Healthy zucchini, pumpkin and feta slice. ...
  • 4Pie maker mini fetta, pea and mint frittatas. ...
  • 5Mini carbonara quiches.

What is a zero-waste menu? ›

A zero-waste menu is a menu that aims to minimize or eliminate food waste in the kitchen and on the plate. This means using every part of the ingredients, from root to stem, nose to tail, and peel to core.

What is zero-waste recipes? ›

Zero-waste cooking means literally have no waste left behind while cooking a meal. This includes parts of the ingredients you're using and packaging from the ingredients.

How do you eat meat with zero-waste? ›

Mason Jars(or any glass jar) are the perfect Zero Waste containers. Remember, generally speaking, meat is packaged with a lot of disposable materials, so reusable containers are a must in any Zero Waste strategy.

What lunch items can be recycled? ›

Whether it's yogurt containers, frozen food trays, cardboard boxes or soda cans, most of what is commonly packed in a lunch can be recycled.

What food should parents not pack in the lunchbox? ›

Meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, soft cheese, and cut fruits and vegetables are most likely to be attacked by food- borne bacteria. When packing these foods in your child's lunch, be sure to pack them safely.

What is a zero waste lunch box? ›

Having a zero-waste lunchbox means no waste left after consuming your lunch. If you do have waste, it is 100% compostable or recyclable. The main idea of zero waste is to ensure leftover plastics won't reach landfill or contribute to plastic pollution.

What is the waste free lunch day? ›

The Waste-Free Lunch Day event encourages students and teachers to pack a lunch that contains zero waste and supports the use of reusable containers and utensils, fresh fruit and veggies.

What is an example of waste food? ›

Examples include unsold food from retail stores; plate waste, uneaten prepared food, or kitchen trimmings from restaurants, cafeterias, and households; or by-products from food and beverage processing facilities.

What is a zero-waste meal? ›

Zero-waste cooking means you have no waste left behind while cooking a meal. This includes parts of the ingredients you're using and packaging from the ingredients. When practicing zero-waste cooking, you will use every single part of vegetables, fruits, meat, and whatever else may be required for your dish.

What's in a free lunch? ›

In economics, free lunch implies that there is no cost to an individual for a particular good or service; however, that cost is borne by another individual. In investing, a free lunch refers to a profit without risk, which is not truly possible as all investments have risks, regardless of how small that risk may be.

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