14 Tips to Avoid Food Waste in Lunches

Children tend to waste a lot of the food that’s in their lunch box, which can be frustrating for parents. Here are a few ideas to keep uneaten foods from being thrown out:

1. Avoid Surprises

To avoid any surprises, explain to your child either the night before or in the morning before school, what their lunch will consist of.

2. Adapt to Their Tastes

Ask your child what foods they would like and not like to have in their lunch box to better understand their taste preferences.

3. Get the Kids Involved

Ask your child to take part in preparing their lunch. It’s a great way to get them interested in the foods they’ll be eating.

4. Reduce Their Portions

If your child has a habit of partially eating their lunch, reduce their portion size. It’s important to adapt it to your child’s appetite.

5. Switch Up the Presentation

Change the appearance of their foods, especially those that regularly reappear in their lunches, such as sandwiches. Make a wrap or use a cookie cutter to shape bread slices. There’s nothing quite like a sandwich in the shape of a bear or a boat to rekindle your little one’s appetite!

6. Dispose of Any Leftovers

Tell your little ones to bring home whatever is left in their lunch box, especially if you compost. You can check what they did and didn’t eat over the course of the day and compost whatever needs to be put in the bin.

7. Keep Lunches Fresh

Keep your child’s lunch cool by including an ice pack in their lunch box. This ensures their meal will stay fresh for 4 to 6 hours. Another option is adding a frozen bottle of water instead.

Snacktime

Homemade snacks are a lunch box’s best ally. They ensure your child maintains their energy levels throughout the day and satiate bellies between meals. By making them yourself, you have better control over the ingredients and portion sizes.

8. Give Them Multiple Tiny Snacks

This way, your child can choose which snack they want to eat depending on their cravings at the moment. Remind them, however, to bring home whatever’s left, especially any snacks that haven’t been opened.

9. Bake Snacks in Advance

And freeze them in single-serve portions that are ready to grab and go. This makes it easier to resist store-bought granola bars and other snacks that are individually wrapped.

10. Chop Fruits into Pieces

A whole apple risks being tossed in the trash after a few bites; it’s better to cut it into quarters so that it’s easier to eat. To avoid browning, dunk the pieces into lemon juice. Pineapple and orange juice will also do the trick.

11. Teach your Child to Prioritize Perishable Foods

Such as hard-boiled eggs and dairy-based products, and have snacks that keep longer (muffins, granola bars, etc.) later in the day.

12. Use Reusable Bags and Containers

This will protect fruit in lunch boxes during their commute to school. A bruised apple, nectarine or banana is far from appetizing.

13. Transform Veggies That Haven’t Been Eaten

Into a soup, a carrot muffin or a cooked dish. Use leftover fruits (even if they’re mushy!) to make applesauce, a smoothie or any other snack they can carry in their lunch box.

14. Download Food Waste Apps

To reduce food waste at the source (and save some money), check out offers on food apps such as FoodHero that feature excess food items available to purchase before they’re thrown out. Simply pick them up at participating IGA stores.