During our school's waste audit, lunch waste was a large percentage of what was thrown out daily. All of those individually wrapped chips, cookies, pre-packaged cracker and cheese combos, and juice boxes add up, as do the plastic and paper sacks they are packed in. In fact, it has been estimated that the average school-aged child packing a lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. Fortunately, parents and children can easily reduce their lunch waste using several techniques that will not only curb excess packaging, but encourage their kids to eat less processed foods as well, and probably save time and money.

First, forget about disposable lunch bags, cutlery, and napkins. Reusable bags are inexpensive–simple cloth bags can be found for a few dollars at grocery stores, or at local discount stores. Most people already have silverware, and if you don't want to chance losing your good silver in Susie's school's trash, you can pick up a cheap second set from a secondhand store.

Second, get rid of other disposable containers. Instead of plastic baggies, try reusable containers. Plastic containers with locking lids have become so cheap that even if a child occasionally throws one away, it's no big deal, and a variety of sizes and shapes allows for almost anything to be safely packed (the sandwich-shaped containers awesomely protect, virtually eliminating soggy, smashed sandwiches. Bonus!) Thermoses, which are often included with children's lunch bags, eliminate waste from juice boxes or pouches and soda cans. For the more stylish student, check out LaptopLunches and their Japanese-inspired bento boxes.

Third, buy lunch food that is minimally packaged. Fresh fruit needs no packaging; just wash and go. Although it's tempting to buy individually packaged chips, yogurt, or applesauce, one large container has less packaging and is much cheaper per serving. This is a perfect opportunity to teach kids how to pack their own lunches. Even small children can help, and taking part in the lunchmaking process gives kids ownership of their lunch, and they'll be more likely to eat it all.

These lunch techniques don't have to be just for kids–many adults take their lunch to school (including us teachers!) You can do the same thing. For ideas on easily packable, minimally packaged and processed foods, and more information on organizing school-wide waste-free lunches, check out Waste Free Lunches.