Lunch without litter

Packing a lunch is a great way to save money, but if you’re not mindful about how you package the food you’ll end with a bunch of single-use items bound for the landfill. So, instead of using plastic baggies and brown bags, do our overburdened landfills (and trees!) a favor by packing a lunch without litter.

Here are some easy tips:

• Put your food items in a reusable container; there are many light weight BPA-free plastic varieties to choose from, in various shapes and sizes, perfect for sandwiches and snacks.

• Store your drink in a Klean Kanteen or another type of reusable bottle.

• Opt for real flatware, rather than single-use plastic utensils. (Thrift stores are a great source for finding cheap flatware.)

• Use cloth napkins, instead of paper napkins.

• Carry everything you’ll need in a cloth bag (there are plenty of insulated varieties), or a cool metal lunchbox. The latter is a great conversation piece.