As I have a very busy workday, I make lunch at home and bring it in in a tupperware or lunch box. I actually got a nice new metal lunchbox with three compartments which motivates me to make a healthy lunch.
Leftovers
My packed lunch staple is a sandwich, however, I have often used lunch as a good way of getting rid of leftovers from last night's dinner. First off all, it reduces food waste and secondly it means every now and then you won't have to prepare it especially. A nice treat if you ask me.
When I do make myself lunch to take in the next day, it usually comprises of a sandwich and a side or dessert.
sandwiches
As packed lunches were my first plastic free project, I have come up with quite a few options to keep variety up. First of all I make my own bread using a bread machine at home so there is minimal plastic involved (see recipe below). Alternatively, you can make it by hand or buy at the bakery bringing your own reusable bag (or pillow case).
Here are some plastic free sandwich filling options I have found work for me.
- home made hummus (all ingredients are plastic free - see below for recipe)
- jarred roasted peppers
- tuna (or other fish) from a tin
- mayonnaise from a jar
- cheese in wax (Snowdonia do a great range)
- chutney from a jar
- any other spreads from glass jars
- salad leaf / tomato slices purchased lose
- soft cheese from a foil packet
- cured meats if bought in a block and sliced on the spot
- olives/pickles from a glass jar
- peanut butter from a glass jar
- jam from a glass jar
I am sure there are many more options. Please share your ideas in the comments.
sides/dessert
To fill up my lunch box, I often include some sort of snack in the top compartment.
Veggie sticks and home made hummus is a very popular choice. I get all the vegetables from our vegetable box plastic free and make hummus with plastic free ingredients.
If I am in the mood for something sweet, I often cut up some fruit from our fruit bowl and fill up the little container with plain white yoghurt. I may also add a teaspoon of clear honey from a glass jar.
Recipes
Here are the recipes that I use for anything that I have mentioned above.
bread
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp quick bake yeast (carton tub with silicone lid)
- 500 gr strong bread flour (white, brown or mixed - comes in a paper bag)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (from a carton box)
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar (from a paper bag)
- 30 gr oliver oil (from a glass bottle)
- 350/370 ml water (use more water from brown flour)
- seed mix (optional - from zero waste store)
method:
Place ingredients in bread machine in the above order and select the appropriate programme. If you don't own a bread machine, mix the ingredients into a dough and knead until firm. Leave to prove for 2-3 hours until doubled in size and bake for 50 min in the oven at 190°C.
Hummus
ingredients:
- 2 cans of chickpeas
- 150 ml chickpea water (from the can)
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp tahini (from a glass jar)
- olive oil (from a glass bottle)
- salt and seasonings
- water
method:
Peel and crush the garlic and juice the lemon. Leave the garlic to soak in the lemon juice for 10-15 min.
Drain out the chickpeas and pour in the food processor, add the tahini, olive oil, chickpea water, garlic and half of the lemon juice.
Whizz at maximum speed until the mixture seems smooth. Add a tsp of salt and other seasonings as preferred (I like to add smoked paprika or smoked garlic flakes).
Adjust for texture: if too lumpy, add water; if too liquid, add tahini. Adjust for taste: if too bitter, add lemon juice; if too sour, add tahini, olive oil or water.
Pour into jars and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
This is a lot quicker than I expected when I started making it and makes an amount that usually lasts me two weeks if I'm the only one using it.
Hi,
Can I please ask where do you buy your ‘quick bake yeast’ from? All yeasts I have found are in either plastic sachets or metal containers with plastic lids.
Thanks
I’m a member of Journey to Zero Waste
Hi Nikki,
At the moment I haven’t yet found an alternative to metal pot with plastic lid (although the metal pot is recyclable, the lid is not). I will post an update if I find a solution.