A few years ago, I started working on more sustainable, low-waste kitchen habits. I started with the basics (reusable shopping bags), progressed to choosing products packaged in glass rather than plastic, and eventually started buying in the bulk aisle with my own containers.
And then the pandemic happened. And honestly? Some days I just couldn’t deal. Whether it was depression or virtual school or the sheer overwhelming exhaustion of it all, I let most of those good habits slip.
There were other issues, too. Our state temporarily banned reusable bags in stores in an odd attempt to banish germs. Most grocery stores around here shut down their bulk aisles. I ordered most of my groceries.
Starting Again
But now I’m ready to get back to healthy environmental habits. I’m looking at what kept working throughout the early parts of the pandemic and what’s developed as we return to this new normal. If you’re like me and you want to approach this next year with sustainable goals in mind, I hope you’ll find these low-waste kitchen tips helpful.
Plastic Bag Problems
As my kids went back to in-person school, I noticed something that bothered me. They were putting plastic bags in their lunch boxes. We do occasionally have Ziploc-style bags around for various projects. In my head, they were for emergencies only. But the kids had found them and were using them every day.
I totally get the appeal! Many of the small containers we had previously used for lunches were not big enough for tween-size servings of things. And the plastic bags could be thrown away, without having to bring anything home.
Low-Waste Solutions
So if single-use plastic bags are the enemy, what are the alternatives?
Existing Plastic Containers
We have an assortment of plastic containers bought years ago that the kids have always been able to use for lunches. But recently they’ve fallen out of favor. I think this is mostly because the size and shape aren’t useful anymore (and the tiny, cute sizes might even feel embarrassing for a middle schooler). Several of the lids have gone missing over the years.
Stasher Bags
Stasher bags are reusable silicone bags that are dishwasher-safe (in fact, they are even microwave-safe and oven-safe!). This means they are low maintenance enough to work in our household.
We’ve had one small Stasher bag for years that the kids occasionally would use for lunch. However, it is used so frequently for lunch or kitchen leftovers (open blocks of cheese, sliced veggies, etc.) that it is rarely available. And the downside of Stasher bags is the price. One bag can cost $10 or more, so buying enough for everyone to use all the time is cost-prohibitive.
Other Reusable Plastic Bags
Another option is to find cheaper versions of reusable bags. However, I’ve found that other brands often aren’t as sustainable or hardy. I’m not going to name a specific brand here, but I will say that I received one set of bags that is practically useless. They are made from plastic instead of silicone, which means they need to be hand washed. And if you do put them on the top rack of the dishwasher, the sealing seams on the bags will no longer work (honestly, some didn’t work well even before being put in the dishwasher). We still keep these bags around and close them with clothespins so we aren’t just chucking them in the trash, but lesson learned: the quality just isn’t there.
Lunchskins Paper Bags
I first saw these when my mother-in-law brought them on a trip a few years ago, and then I promptly forgot about them. But I found them again at Target when thinking through our plastic bag dilemma, and they’re my latest attempt at lunchtime sustainability. The paper bags are a good option for when my boys want something that can be thrown away instead of brought back home. And actually, they don’t have to be thrown away–they’re recyclable and compostable! Now the only challenge is convincing the kids to use them. A different print might help — Legos, perhaps?
Moving Forward
Plastic-free, zero-waste, and dishwasher-safe: the Stasher bags definitely are my favorite solution to battle our remaining use of Ziploc bags. I also love the Lunchskins paper bags as a more affordable solution that doesn’t rely on kids remembering not to throw them away (I might cry if someone threw away one of my Stasher bags).
These aren’t perfect zero-waste solutions, but if I wait on perfect, then progress will never happen. Instead, I’m making the best choices I have available in the moment. In the coming weeks and the next year, I wish the same for you.
