I’ve been thinking about doing some meal prepping lately to help me eat a bit healthier. I have a bad habit of waiting until I’m absolutely starving to try and find food, and by then I really only want whatever I can eat quickly, without doing a lot of prep work. That means I usually grab something without the type of nutrition I really need on the daily. Day after day, it adds up to a less-than-stellar diet overall.
Plastic everything
I always see piles of those plastic meal-prep containers with plastic lids. In theory, they’re fine. They’re generally microwave and dishwasher safe which makes them convenient. The problem is I’ve also become more aware and annoyed with EVERYTHING in our lives being plastic. Cars, packaging, decor, bottles, bags… It’s just absolutely EVERYWHERE. I’ve also seen a few things about plastic chemicals leaching into your food when you store food in plastic containers.
Not great.
There is an even bigger concern when you heat food up in plastic containers.
Also not great.
I’m not saying I’m an expert on any of this, and I could certainly use more education on the topic of plastics overall and how they impact our health and environments. I’m just generally over everything being plastic. So I’m trying to transition some stuff away from plastic when I can, and in this case, that means meal-prep containers.
Luckily finding non-plastic meal containers isn’t too difficult. There are options. They tend to be a little more expensive, but I feel like it’s worth it personally. The one issue I have had is finding containers with ZERO plastic if you count silicon as a plastic.
Is silicon plastic?
From what I understand silicon is technically plastic, but it’s considered more of a rubber, so… not quite the same as your standard-issue plastic stuff. It seems to be considered safer and more environmentally friendly than plastic, but it isn’t biodegradable.
I was hoping to find some food containers that were truly plastic (meaning also silicon) free and found that almost every type of “eco-friendly” food storage container used a silicone seal. You win a little, you lose a little. Still, I figure a glass and wood food container with a silicon seal is miles better than a container made entirely of plastic.
Try these plastic-free and eco-friendly food containers for a more sustainable home.
So you too are interested in going “plastic-free” hm? Maybe you have a goal of replacing all the plastic in your life with sustainable materials or maybe you’re just trying to be more conscious of the materials you spend money on. Maybe you’re just sick of the way plastic affects our environment, and you want to do your part by stopping its use in your home.
It wasn’t that long ago that not everything was made of plastic, from cars to lunch boxes. For this post, we’re focusing more on the lunch boxes. AKA Finding sustainable food storage solutions that are eco-friendly and non-toxic.
Below are seven types of food storage containers made from natural materials. These reusable alternatives will keep food fresh and lessen the amount of packaging waste that ends up in landfills each year. They aren’t all perfect, but they’re a step in the right direction.
Money talks, right? So we might as well tell companies that producing eco-friendly products will make them money.
1. Glass Ingredient Jars with Measuring Lids
These jars have a cool design with some real functionality built-in. These are made of glass with a measuring lid that makes it easy to pour just the amount you need for a recipe, without having to measure out each portion in advance. They’re great for keeping things like grains, flour, sugar, oats and fresher and easily accessible. They come in a variety of sizes so you can find one that fits perfectly on your countertop or shelves. Because they’re made of glass, they won’t leak chemicals into their contents over time like plastic does. Although the measuring cup lids are plastic (boo) but still a pretty good alternative to plastic ingredient jars.
2. Glass Jars with Non-Plastic Lids
If you’re looking for something to store dry and wet foods in, check out some glass jars with a variety of non-plastic lids. These jars are generally dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe. Look for jars that come with metal, glass, or bamboo lids as opposed to plastic. Bamboo is often hailed as a very eco-friendly material due in part to how quickly it grows, so it’s a decent alternative material to look for when you’re trying to shop sustainably.
These types of jars and food storage options not only provide an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic containers, but they’re also incredibly durable and tough enough to last for years.
3. Glass food containers with bamboo lids
Just like the jars, you can get more standard meal storage containers that are made of glass with non-plastic lids, such as bamboo. This is more in line with what I think of for meal-prep containers.
4. Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays
If you like ice in your drinks, consider switching out your plastic ice cube trays for stainless steel. These are a great alternative to plastic because they’re more durable, environmentally friendly, easy to clean, and reusable. They’re also dishwasher safe!
5. Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes
At one point it was normal to carry lunch in a tin box or even a paper bag. Then somewhere along the line we switched to plastic boxes and containers for everything.
Instead of sticking with that trend, check out a more sustainable option like a stainless steel lunch box! Durable, long-lasting, and safe from toxins, these reusable containers have everything you need to start packing a healthier lunch:
- Keeps food cold or hot: You can pack heated or cold lunches in stainless steel containers without worrying about chemicals leaching into your food, and some styles are also leakproof and insulated for extra protection against spills.
- Easy to clean: No more scraping away at the inside of plastic containers! Most stainless steel varieties can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher without creating any waste or making a mess.
- Durable: While plastic boxes are prone to cracking and breaking when dropped, solid stainless steel is much sturdier—which makes it easier than ever before to take your meal on the go! Plus, there are many different sizes available depending on how much food you want to pack.
- Some have compartments and built-in cutlery: If those aren’t enough perks already, some types even come with built-in compartments that can keep different parts of your meal separate (like rice from veggies). Many include utensils as well so you don’t have to use disposable plastic forks at work or school!
6. Beeswax Wraps
One of the easiest ways to get started with avoiding single-use plastic is to replace your food storage containers with beeswax wraps. These eco-friendly beeswax wraps are reusable, washable and compostable. Beeswax wraps are made from cotton cloth infused with a mixture of beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin (which gives it elasticity). They’re soft and pliable at room temperature but cool like a hard plastic wrap when you put them in your fridge. Really an interesting option for a more eco-friendly kitchen.
7. Reusable Bowl Cover
Another plastic alternative for storing leftovers are cloth bowl covers. They’re reusable and just like it sounds, this is a cover that goes on a bowl and is used again and again instead of being tossed every time. These fabric wonders are typically made from cotton and are machine washable, so they’re an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap—and bonus: they won’t melt if stored in a hot car for hours on end when you accidentally forget about them!
Check out this post on planning a fun summer picnic. Use some of your non-plastic dishes and serving accessories to make the picnic feel a little more upscale and stop stuff from blowing away like lighter plastic dishes might.
