This time of year is always busy for me (as it is for all teachers), preparing for a semester of teaching and getting readjusted to a new schedule, but it’s also a bit exciting at the same time. Back to school time means new pens and pencils, a couple of outfits, and this year a new lunchbox.

When I got rid of plastic food containers last year, I stopped carrying lunch in plastic and started carrying it in glass—mostly canning jars. (Even a salad works well in a wide-mouth pint jar—just put the dressing in first, lettuce on top, and shake it to distribute the dressing when you’re ready to eat). Canning jars have airtight lids, and can be used in the microwave without melting. If find wide-mouth pint and half-pint jars to be the most useful.

Last year I tended to shove my jars of lunch in the top of my school bag and hope for the best, which was not the best plan. This year, I found these lunch bags by Kimberly Payne on Etsy, and one will be arriving before school begins in a few weeks. What I like about the bag (besides the fun fabric choices) is that it is so versatile. Yes, it was designed to carry jars so they remain upright and don’t clank into each other (I find that canning jars are pretty sturdy and have never had one chip in my bag, but protecting them does seem like a good idea), but the jar pockets can easily be moved to accommodate other containers.

To go with my new lunch bag I also found LunchBots at Sun People Dry Goods. LunchBots are specifically made as a sustainable option for carrying food and snacks. They come in many sizes with different types of dividers, and the lids fit really snuggly, so you don’t have to worry about loosing your food to the bottom of your lunch bag. Perfect!

All of the food containers (LunchBots, reusable bags, thermoses, etc) are 10% off at Sun People Dry Goods in Spokane as a back to school promotion. The sale lasts through August.
Let the back to school preparations begin!
 

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