Day 69 – Today is National Pack Your Lunch Day! I ate a packed lunch all through grammar school and high school. When I taught in a high school setting, I packed my lunch, too. I liked the idea of knowing what I was eating and even better, I was not spending extra cash on food that I may or may not like. I also enjoyed the extra time I got to eat my lunch, while others waited in line for their food.

On this National Pack Your Lunch Day, we could talk about the health benefits of packing your own lunch. Or we could talk about the financial aspect of brown bagging it. Instead, I thought talking about the environmental side of packing a lunch would be a good idea.

Here are a few ways you are helping the planet by packing your lunch:

1. By not needing to drive to pick up food or have food delivered, you are cutting out car pollution. Now those bike deliveries are not included in this example.
2. By not ordering out all the time, you are greatly reducing the amount of waste you produce. That take out packaging can really add up.
3. You can also reduce the amount of waste you produce when you use a reusable lunch bag and reusable sandwich bag. I was one of a few students in my high school that used a reusable lunch bag.
4. Packing your own lunch allows you to eat leftovers from home. By eating leftovers you can reduce the amount of food you throw out at home. We have talked about the importance of keeping food out of the landfill.
5. When packing your own lunch you can include a washable napkin, real utensils and a beverage stored in a thermos or reusable bottle. This allows you to have a zero waste lunch!

Now, I’m not discouraging you to patronize your favorite local eatery. All I want to do is suggest that you find a balance. Maybe even consider suggesting some ways your favorite lunch spot could use more sustainable methods in delivering and packaging their food.

Tomorrow, giving away what you don’t need and finding what’s needed for free.