After crunching the numbers and finding between $130 – $200 worth of savings just by eating at home last month I am now even more inspired to diligently pack my lunch each week. Although I was initially motivated by monetary reasons alone, I now realize that our homemade lunches also help us live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Since we pack our lunches or eat at home, I no longer need to leave the office to pick up lunch, not only do I use less gas each week but I also spend less money on transportation costs. It’s a win-win for our wallets and the environment.
But since I started packing my lunch I’ve been bothered by the amount of trash I accumulate with sandwich baggies and saran wrap. A few weeks ago I picked up a copy of Gorgeously Green and I must admit that I’ve become a bit paranoid about our impact on the environment. I started carrying my sandwich in a Tupperware container to avoid the extra plastic wrap, but the box is bulky and takes up quite a bit of room in my tiny little lunch bag.
After trying a number of different sized containers I ultimately resorted back to using sandwich bags. (I know I could buy a larger lunch bag to correct the problem, but I really like my current one.) Last week the universe must have known I was searching for an alternative, because while I was reading Body + Soul magazine I came across a blurb about the Wrap-N-Mat. I haven’t tried the Wrap-N-Mat out yet, but it appears to be a simple cloth material on one side and a phthalate free plastic on the other. According to the website you place your sandwich in the middle of the Wrap-N-Mat and then wrap the material around it, sealing it shut with a small tab of Velcro. The sandwich stays neatly wrapped and doesn’t take up any more space than tinfoil or saran wrap.
The wraps cost between $5.99 and $7.99, which seems a bit pricey, but a few boxes of sandwich baggies over the months could easily amount to that.
Fit Wallet says
That’s a great idea! I try to save and reuse sandwich baggies for dry stuff like pretzels, crackers, etc. But it does add up, and I feel so wasteful throwing away so much plastic. This could be a potential solution, though probably not for something like baby carrots. Hmmm, I’ll have to give it some thought…
The Shopping Sherpa says
Do you use sandwich bags or sandwich sized zip lock bags? I use the later and take them home, rinse them out and leave them to dry (upside down on a paper towel holder I no longer use since I banned paper towels) before tucking them away to reuse. Again. And again. And again. Until they finally fall apart ages later…
One Frugal Girl says
I’m not a big fan of reusing baggies. I’ll reuse baggies that have pretzels, chips, or crackers in them, but I don’t like reusing them when I carry deli meat or chicken and I’m not such a big fan of carrying fruits or vegetables either. I’m always worried about forgetting which baggie contained what and cross-contaminating them.
spikedcandy says
Thanks so much for this post. I was looking for an alternative too, and this looks great :).