I always do reusable containers for lunch so feel good about that. I try to limit use of plastic sandwich bags or snack size bags that only get used once. Apple is a snack I pack if eating on the go, or cheddar popcorn, pb&j sandwich, banana, any fruit really:…… we do do granola bars or similar bars s couple times a week but short of making my own ( not happening) I can’t help that.

Reducing is great by buying in bulk and portioning into smaller containers. Moms Organic Market sells a lot of things in bulk, snacks included, and you can bring your own containers. That's when you're ready for that next step. Then you transition to making your own from scratch. If you want to Buying in bulk with reusable containers is a really amazing start.

Popcorn is a fun one too. We do popcorn in a jar or in the bento box.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

But the big mozz is still in plastic

…… correct, it is.


Short of eliminating all use of plastic, which is a very high and lofty goal but unattainable in most cases, reducing plastic use is what most of us can aim for.

Most fruit does not need a bag - see oranges, bananas, pears, apples, etc. Change your snacks away from processed foods.

And you can put everything else into reusable containers.

I don't see how this is hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

But the big mozz is still in plastic

Right, but it's not single use.

It is single use. But the individual servings with more collective plastic are now not single use.

I think for most people the waste that happens from manufacturing/shipping replacements for lost/damaged reusable containers offsets the benefits. Like cotton tote bags. I’m not opposed to doing it, but if you are I wouldn’t sweat the details. I don’t think this stuff makes a difference either way. Certainly it pales in comparison to things like deciding to have children (or more children). It’s just a thing you do to feel better. It’s not a critical component of any sort of meaningful plan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

But the big mozz is still in plastic

Right, but it's not single use.

This. Reduce first and work on eliminating later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

But the big mozz is still in plastic

Right, but it's not single use.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

But the big mozz is still in plastic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

+1 Buy one big bag of potato chips and send them in smaller serving sized containers. Or send apples or dried apricots or carrot sticks or whatever your kids like instead.

Anonymous wrote:I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

+1

Op- you’re overthinking what it means to reduce single use plastics. Your string cheese will always have plastics but maybe instead of string cheese give them a slice mozzarella from a block.

I buy crackers and goldfish, pretzels in large packages but put them into a reusable container for school instead of single serving package or a plastic bag.

Erm what? Some examples of snacks: apple with pb, toast with toppings, scrambled eggs, yogurt (glass jar or homemade) with fruit/granola, cut up carrots and celery with hummus. Maybe try to shift what you think of as snacks?

Really want to try to reduce our use of single use plastics. So far so good, but hitting the wall against all against store bought snacks. We have 3 kids who take lunch so snacks are pretty important to our family. Should i slice and fry a potato instead of buying bags of chips? Make my own string cheese?
How do you all do it?