What’s for lunch? You hope it’s not plastic, lead, vinyl fumes or anything else that’s leaching toxins into our planet and our people. Yet so often we can’t be sure our lunchboxes are non-toxic and waste-free. As for the delicious, nutritious lunches you pack, they should fill up your tummy – not the garbage can.
Everyday a mountain of trash is thrown away at lunchtime and an estimated 30%-50% of food is tossed into the landfill. This creates environmental problems, health hazards and wasting an approximate $2,000 for every family.
Plus, each day school trash cans nationwide are overflowing with plastic water bottles, plastic packaging, chip baggies, plasticized cardboard juice boxes, paper napkins, plastic yogurt cups, paper bags, plastic utensils, Ziploc baggies and more.
The results of an eco lunchbox waste study show that an average family using throw-aways and pre-packaged foods for lunch spend much more each year than a family that buys food in bulk and packs lunches in reusable lunchware.
“Families are spending hundreds of dollars on throw-away lunchware and food packaging annually and adding to our landfills tremendously in the process,” said ECOlunchbox Founder Sandra Ann Harris. "But it's so easy to switch to reusable lunchware. Why not do it?" 
5 Tips to a Waste Free Lunch:
- Pack sandwiches, and other main dishes, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and treats in a reusable non-plastic container
- Use machine washable cloth napkins
- Ditch the plastic-ware and use stainless-steel forks and spoons. If you are afraid your kids will lose your good stuff, buy some on the cheap to use just for lunches
- Use reusable non-toxic drink containers
- Use reusable, dishwasher safe non-toxic BPA free lunchbox
Avoid these Common Mistakes:
- Reusing throwaways like single-use plastic baggies - Baggies are hard to clean and thoroughly dry, so bacteria can proliferate.
- Relying on plastic packaging and containers - Stainless steel is best
- Choosing lunchware that’s not dishwasher safe & machine wash/tumble dry - It must be easy to keep your lunchware clean so you can keep using it safely for a long time.
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P.S.- Have you heard about The Green PolkaDot Box! Recently launched with over 12,000 members and backed by the Organic Consumer's Association, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online. It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living!! You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. I love it.
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