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Katie Hainbach goes shopping for environmentally-friendly ways to pack up your lunch.
Buying lunch to go on the high street can be pricey and usually results in plastic waste, which is a huge threat to our planet. Making your own lunch to take to the office can save you money, time and help reduce unnecessary waste. Try to avoid single-use items such as cling film, flimsy plastic sandwich bags and tin foil, which once thrown away pollute our environment. There are many great reusable lunch storage products available to buy in the UK with options to suit a variety of budgets.
Lunchboxes
Gone are the days of the plain plastic lunchboxes we used to take to school. Nowadays you can buy lunchboxes in a variety of styles and materials. Why not reduce your plastic consumption by investing in a box made of steel or bamboo?
I love the LEON Rectangular Bamboo Lunchbox, which you can buy for £16.00 at John Lewis.
Reusable sandwich wraps
Many of us enjoy a trusty sandwich for lunch; however, wrapping them in cling film is incredibly wasteful. There are plenty of reusable sandwich bags and wraps on the market – just make sure they are not made from beeswax.
If you’d like to support a small UK business, check out re-wrap-it.co.uk for beautiful sandwich wrappers, which are manufactured by inmates at Kilmarnock prison, a skill which helps with their rehabilitation. They come in a range of designs and RRP at £6.99.
Jars
Be savings savvy and reuse an empty jar from your kitchen to take salads and snacks to work in. Pickle jars are great for salads and jam jars good for snacks.
If you’d like something more purpose-built, try the Kilner Food on the Go Jar, which features a two-part storage device to keep your dressing separate from the main part of your meal. This can be found at The Range for £6.99.
Reusable Snack Pockets
Many of us have grown up using single-use plastic bags for snacks, but there are some brilliant reusable snack bags available, which will save the planet and your pocket. I adore the Butterfly Snack Pocket from ecosnackwrap.co.uk — perfect for nuts and fruit.
These handy pockets RRP at £6.25 and are 100% cotton/canvas with a biodegradable coating that decomposes without harming the environment. They can be washed, reused and last for years.
Thermos
Soups and stews are great lunch options, though not everyone has access to facilities to heat up their meals at work. Combat this by investing in a good quality thermos to keep your winter comfort food piping hot.
Check out the Thermos King Food Flask, which is practical, lightweight and comes with a built-in spoon. It’s the ideal size for soup and easy to clean. Find it at John Lewis for £25.00.
Small cool bag
Commuting to work, especially in the summer months, can lead to soggy sandwiches and wilted salads. Keep your food fresh by using a mini cool bag to transport your lunch from home to the office.
The Lunch Cool Bag from Marks & Spencer has its own handles, can be wiped clean and is a bargain at only £5.
Katie Hainbach is a passionate advocate for plant-based sports nutrition. Katie has completed two marathons, three half marathons and numerous 10k races and believes her vegan diet has improved her running. katierunssite.wordpress.com
