Lunchboxes can be time-consuming and a hassle, especially when we’re busy. Pre-made packaged foods (especially snacks!) can be tempting as they require little to no preparation and are heavily marketed as ‘lunchbox friendly’.
There are four key components to packing a sustainable lunchbox.
1. Include more whole foods
2. Add more plants
3. Pack seasonal and local fruits and vegetables
4. Minimise food packaging
Seasonal Local Fruits and Vegetables
Choosing and enjoying locally grown produce when it’s in season feels and tastes good. It also has far-reaching benefits for your community and the local economy. Fruits and vegetables naturally grow at different times of the year. While they may be available year-round, trying to grow winter produce in summer requires extra resources, like extra water.
Choosing locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables can:
- Save you money, as produce is cheaper when in season and hasn't travelled far
- Add variety to the nutrients your family consumes
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through lower food miles and less cold storage use
- Support local farmers
- Connect you to the land you're on
- If you're unsure what’s in season, check out our free Seasonal Eating Guide, ask your local supermarket or greengrocer, or look for what’s cheaper per kilo.
Choose Bigger Packets
Avoiding all food packaging in a lunchbox can be challenging for busy parents. While reducing plastic food packaging by shopping at bulk food stores or using paper bags is ideal, many people are time-poor.
If you mainly shop at supermarkets or do online deliveries, consider swapping individually packaged foods for larger tubs or packets. Store food in airtight containers to extend shelf-life and reduce food waste. Some examples include switching from individual bags of popcorn to a larger bag, and serve your child's portion in a steel lunchbox compartment. Or exchange individual yoghurt pouches for a larger tub and portion servings into smaller containers. As simple swap like this can:
- Save you money, as individual packets are often more expensive per kilo
- Reduce exposure to plastic chemicals, such as BPA or phthalates, found in soft plastics
- Minimise plastic ending up in landfills, releasing greenhouse gases
- Likely reduce food waste as you can tailor serving sizes for your child
- Be more convenient for little hands, eliminating the need to open multiple packets
Offer plant-based proteins
You don’t need to become a vegetarian to eat sustainably, but including plant-based proteins in lunchboxes exposes your kids to a wide variety of nourishing and sustainable foods. Plus, lunchboxes don’t have to contain meat, poultry, or seafood to be nutrient-packed!
Plant-based proteins are often rich in dietary fibre, helping kids stay fuller for longer.
As a mum of vegetarian kids, here are some go-to plant protein lunchbox foods:
- Chia seeds mixed through natural yoghurt
- A mini tub of hummus with seeded crackers and vegetable sticks
- Roasted fava beans and chickpeas
- Nut-free seeded bliss balls
- Edamame beans with a splash of reduced-salt soy sauce
Extra tips that may help you with packing sustaniable lunchboxes
- Make use of leftovers. For example, a zucchini slice makes an easy dinner, and leftovers can be added to lunchboxes. Packing spaghetti or rice dishes in thermoses can be a great option as the weather cools down.
- Set aside some time to cook in bulk, then freeze foods later. For example, these lunchbox berry muffins freeze and thaw well.
- Get kids involved – they can prep and pack some parts of their lunchbox. Increasing their involvement and autonomy while also saving you time.
- Try not to worry about what other parents are sending in lunchboxes. It’s ok to keep things simple – if your kid likes dried apricots or corn thins, throw them in!
- Brainstorm sustainable options and tape a list inside your pantry door. This serves as a handy reminder of quick, convenient, and minimally processed lunchbox foods.
Remember, when you’re wondering what to do and what you can manage in terms of sustainable choices, be gentle on yourself and remember - It’s not about some people changing everything, but everyone changing something.