Tips for Packing Waste-free LunchES

1. Tips for Packing Waste-free LunchES By Amy Hemmert & Tammy Pelstring

2. What do you eat for lunch?

3. Typical Lunch • Main Course: Sandwich • Snack: Chips/Pretzels/popcorn • Dairy: Yogurt • Dessert: Candy/Cookies/Cereal Bars • Vegetable: Carrots/Celery • Drink: juice, fruit-flavored drink, milk, soda, water

4. Typical Lunch Packaging • Disposable drink bottle, box, pouch, can, or carton • Brown bag or large plastic bag • Baggies, foil, plastic wrap • Prepackaged foods • Spoons and forks • Paper napkins • Straws • Peels

5. If I looked in your school trash cans after lunch, what would I see? • Food? • Food Packaging? • Drink Packaging? • Utensils? • Napkins? • Straws? • Other?

6. “Throw away”… Where is AWAY? • Landfill • Incinerator • Recycle Center • Compost • Litter Where does all that lunch waste go?

7. But this is not sustainable. • Costs more • Requires more gas for trucks to drive a longer distance • More trucks equals more pollution • Trucks cause wear and tear on roads • Landfills fill up and we have to find space for new ones farther away from where we live.

8. And we’re throwing away good stuff. • Making stuff requires resources: • Water • Fuel • Minerals • Trees • Other?

9. Do your part. Pack a waste-free lunch. • Durable lunchbox • Reusable food containers • Refillable drink bottle • Stainless fork and spoon • Cloth napkin

10. Take it a step further… • Pack a lunch that you can truly enjoy! • Fresh • Seasonal • Organic • Locally grown • Delicious!

11. Make it fun! • Attractive Colors • Appealing Textures • Pleasing Shapes • Manageable Sizes • Appropriate Portions • Dips, Dressings, and Condiments • Seasonal Specialties • Nutritional Balance

12. Nutritious Sandwiches • Choose your bread carefully. • Favor whole grains • “Bread” variety: bagels, tortillas, lavash, English muffins, bread sticks, crackers, focaccia, pita, rice cakes, rolls • Include vegetables (and fruits). • Pay attention to portion size. • Be mindful of the fillings and spreads you choose.

13. Sandwich Fillings • Shredded carrots • Cheese (lowfat) • Chicken • Chicken salad • Egg salad • Nitrite-free hot dogs • Lettuce • Shrimp • Sliced avocado • Sliced cucumber • Smoked salmon • Sprouts • Tofu • Tuna salad (no more than once a month) • Marinated artichokes • Nitrite-free turkey

14. Sandwich Spreads • Spreads • Hummus (traditional, spicy, herbed) • Nut butters: almond, cashew (peanut, soy) • Cheese (goat cheese, cream cheese, brie) • Pesto • Mashed banana, honey, apple butter, pumpkin butter • Tomato sauce • Avocado • Refried beans

15. Sandwich Alternatives • Salads • Soups • Stews • Curries • Eggs (hard-boiled, deviled, omelet) • Breakfast for Lunch • Interesting Whole Grains (barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, oatmeal, popcorn, wild rice) • Nuts and Nut Butters

16. Think outside the fruit box. • Apples • Apricots • Asian pears • Avocado • Bananas • Blueberries • Cherries • Cranberries • Dates • Figs • Grapefruit • Grapes • Kiwi • Mango • Papaya • Pears • Prunes • Raisins • Melon • Nectarines • Oranges • Peaches • Pineapple • Plums • Raspberries • Strawberries • Tomatoes

17. Pack lots of veggies. • Asparagus • Beets • Bell peppers • Broccoli • Brussels sprouts • Cabbage • Carrots • Cauliflower • Celery • Cucumbers • Eggplant • Green beans • Green salad • Jicama • Kolrabi • Lettuce • Mushrooms • Potatoes • Seaweed • Shelling peas • Snap peas • Soy beans • Spinach • Squash • Sweet potatoes • Yams • zucchini

18. Making it Work • Maximize leftovers. • Make soup, stew, stir-fry, curry, hard-boiled eggs on the weekend to pack throughout the week. • Keep a selection of dried fruits and nuts on hand for “emergencies.” • Pack fresh veggies and dip. • Make simple salads.

19. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Baked Pasta • Artichoke Bruschetta • Tamari-roasted Cashews • Spinach Salad

20. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Organic Field Greens Salad • Dates • Sushi Rolls • Baby Carrots

21. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Yogurt • Organic Grapes • Trail Mix • Baby Carrots

22. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Watermelon • Whole Wheat Banana Bread • Salmon Stuffed Avocado • Sugar Snap Peas

23. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Organic Cherries • Baby Carrots • Ranch Dressing • Whole Wheat Crackers • Mixed Unsalted Nuts

24. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Papaya • Blueberries • Vegetable Pancake • Assorted Cheeses • Chiabatta Bread

25. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Vegetable Gyoza • Soy Sauce • Steamed Rice • Edamame • Hum Bao • Ginger Snaps

26. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Hummus • Whole Wheat Crackers • Blueberries • Sugar Snap Peas • Cherry Tomatoes • Sliced Cucumbers

27. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Organic Grapes • Whole Wheat Crackers • Fresh Green Beans • Lowfat Cheddar Cheese

28. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Blintzes • Somoza • Fresh Strawberries

29. Inspirational Lunch Ideas • Spelt Pretzels • Fresh Figs • Hard-boiled Eggs • Garden Tomatoes

30. Prepackaged Processed Items Americans tend to rely heavily on prepackaged items which are generally high in: • Fat • Sugar • Sodium • Preservatives • Artificial Colorings & Flavorings • Numerous Unpronounceable Ingredients

31. About wastefreelunches.org • For Schools, Teachers, Parents, Environmental Organizations • The Waste-free Lunchbox Pamphlet • Links to Important Web Sites • Success Stories • How To

32. Thanks for inviting us to speak. • Questions and Answers • My contact information: • Amy Hemmert & Tammy Pelstring • info@wastefreelunches.org • 831-457-0301