Packing a Waste-Free Lunch + Trudeau Fuel Giveaway

We’re still busy getting ready for school to start, and now we’re working on lunch supplies. As you know, we aim to be as “green” as possible when it comes to the products we use, and I always try to pack my kids a waste-free lunch. It’s easier to do than it sounds, and I’ve assembled a collection of lunch box essentials that will help both you and your children be less wasteful and even save you some money in the process.

Contigo

Reusable drink bottles should really be the default at this point, but I’m frequently amazed by how many people don’t use them. We always have, but finding one that lasts and doesn’t leak has been a challenge. (I can’t tell you how many times the kids have come home with soggy backpacks.) We’re big fans of the Contigo Autospout bottles because they’re easy for me to clean and easy for the kids to operate. They come in a variety of fun colors and designs, some are insulated, and all are BPA-free. My favorite part? We haven’t had a single spill or leak!

RETHINK Water

There are occasions when reusable bottles, unfortunately, do not work. Every time the kids have had a field trip or other event when the school has requested disposable bottles only, I cringed as I imagined landfills overflowing with single-use containers. I could hope they’d end up in a recycle bin, but I know that isn’t always going to happen. I recently discovered a better solution in RETHINK Water. The package is recyclable and it’s also biodegradable, so instead of taking up space in a landfill for thousands of years, it will compress and break down over time. This is one disposable option I don’t feel guilty about using.

Funkins

As adorable as my son looks with jelly smeared all over his face, it’s not really something I want to see when he’s walking out of school at 3 PM. This year, we have a waste-free, reusable napkin that he actually wants to use. Funkins are super soft, double as placemats, and come in lots of colorful patterns. I definitely prefer washing and reusing napkins over throwing them in the trash, and the kids have never had more fun cleaning themselves up.

Bumkins

Ditch those disposable plastic baggies and opt for eco-friendly Bumkins reusable snack bags instead. They’re machine-washable and dishwasher-safe, so maintenance is a breeze. The zip closure keeps all the food and even the crumbs in the bag where they belong. You can get them in both snack and sandwich sizes to accommodate a variety of lunch foods. Bumkins are great for school or on-the-go, and they’re so much cuter than those disposable baggies.

Trudeau Fuel

You probably already know the Trudeau name from their innovative kitchen tools. (I’m a big fan of their Stress Less collection.) This summer, I was introduced to Trudeau Fuel–a line of environmentally-friendly food and beverage storage containers. Not only are the items in this collection reusable and recyclable, but the eco-design logic and materials used to create them earned Trudeau Fuel the prestigious “Sustainable Development” award. The collection features large selection of durable, BPS-free containers designed to be easily portable and keep your food fresh, plus each items comes with a lifetime warranty. Some of our favorites:

• Classic Lunch Bag – More durable and less wasteful than traditional brown bags. A velcro strip keeps your food and drink secure, and the BPA-free material is easy to clean.
• Condiment Set – These little containers are perfect for salad dressings, sauces, dips, and more. Best of all, they won’t leak!
• Food to Go Container – When you need something that can hold more than a sandwich, this is the way to go. It’s easy to take a real meal to school or work with this microwaveable, dishwasher-safe, and very sturdy container. A nice bonus is the equally sturdy the built-in fork and knife set. This container is going to help us save so much plastic!

Dabbawalla

This is another product that’s new to me, and I’m so glad I found it. These bags are roomy, insulated, and about as cute as can be. They’re made from a stain-resistant material that’s 100% free of toxins like BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalates. Dabbawalla bags are made to be used over and over again, and once you are finally finished with it–and this is the best part–it’s completely biodegradable. We love Dabbawalla so much that we’ll be featuring them again soon–and with a giveaway, so stay tuned!

And that is how we’ll be doing lunch for the upcoming school year. My children have never known what it’s like to finish their lunches and leave behind a pile of garbage, and we owe that to all of the amazing brands that are dedicated to providing useful and innovative solutions that have a lighter impact on our environment.  I hope this list helps you have a waste-free school year too!

Thanks to Trudeau, one lucky Game On Mom reader is going to get a head start by winning our giveaway for the Trudeau Fuel Classic Lunch Bag, the Fuel Snack’n Dip, and a Fuel Cutlery Set! (Make sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter!) Open to US residents who are 18 and older.  Ends 9/9/16 at 11:59 PM ET. Good luck!