Waste Free Lunches

**ajrsmom** · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 01:26 PM

Waste Free Lunches

I didn't know that there was an organization set up for this. I have been trying to use reusable containers for my son's lunch for as long as I can remember. I would love to have one of those lunch kits for each of my kids but they are expensive.

I can't imagine my son's school participating in this, either.

http://www.wastefreelunches.org/

barbszy · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 03:21 PM

Leasmom has written on the frugal thread about some mats she purchased for her daughter's sandwiches. You wrap the sandwich up in this mat, and then spread it out and it makes a placemat at the table. Then just bring it home in the lunchbox to wash and reuse.

I use small containers for items in my kids' lunches, except for Big DS. He eats lunch "on the fly" in school so he puts a brown bag with the food in it, inside his lunchbox with the icy pack. When he has a chance to eat he just grabs the brown bag, eats and tosses the bag.

leasmom · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 06:14 PM

yes, I just bought some more. They're called Wrap-n-mats and they're geared to prevent waste and to save the environment. I also did something else since my daughter is in middle school now and didn't want to take a 'kids' lunchbox, I bought a purse with lots of room for $5 that she uses and looks 'cool'.

Theres also a website somewhere, I can't remember where, that also sold recycled paperbags. Maybe I could find it again.

**ajrsmom** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 06:23 PM

I'm going to look up those mats right now.

leasmom · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 06:31 PM

It's wrap-n-mats.com. They're very nice, I've been ordering from them for over a year now. Check out their specials of the month and they also sell a holiday one that has all the seasons in it.

**Sammi1961** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 04:58 AM

Leasmom, I am going to check out the wrap-n-mats too. What a great idea. I would like to change the amount of disposable trash I put in my dks lunches too. I should be much better about it.

barbszy · #7 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 06:53 AM

Sammi, do your kids carry lunch coolers to school or do they use brown bags?

With my Big DS's school schedule, a lunch cooler isn't practical, and it's hard for him to be able to bring back any containers I send.

leasmom · #8 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 10:43 AM

Theres a website called...
http://www.green-kits.com/coluba.html

They have reusable cotton lunchbags. You could probably even dye them blue or pink or something.

**Sammi1961** · #9 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 11:10 AM

Barbszy, my dss use the cooler style lunch boxes (nylon with a plastic liner) so I can keep their lunches cold with a cold pack. Dh just throws everything in his backpack then puts it in the fridge at work (or at least i hope her refrigerates things - who really knows) If your ds doesn't have time to put things away (I know you said he often has meetings and activities during his lunch time) then I can see why a lunch box with storage containers would not be practical. I just ordered 4 of those wrap n mats to use for dh & ds2 next year as ds1 will be away at college then.

barbszy · #10 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 05:28 PM

Sammi, he ALWAYS has meetings/activities at lunch time. He has never yet this year eaten in the cafeteria! I pack his lunch in a brown bag, inside a lunchbox with an icy pack. Just before lunch he goes to his locker, switches to his afternoon books, and grabs the brown bag full of food. The lunchbox and icy pack stay in the locker. This way his food stays cold and fresh until he is ready to eat it.