Ditch the packaging when you pack a lunch box
What is nude food, and how do you go about packing kids off to school with a delicious lunch box that supports a healthy planet? Here are some top tips to unpack the term ‘nude food’, along with some tasty lunch-box ideas to get you started.
Reduce
In an effort to reduce plastics, nude food is about opting for fresh food instead of packaged. When it comes to lunch boxes, this means finding creative ways to package fresh food without using single-use plastic snack packs or plastic wrap.
Reuse
A nude lunch box is a sectioned lunch box (bento-box style) with snacks in compartments. Top tip: reusable silicone cupcake cases make great dividers. Avoid single-use plastics such as bags, wrap, plastic straws or bottles. A great substitute for plastic wrap is beeswax wraps.
Shop nude lunch boxes
Recycle
Recycling containers of all sizes will support your nude approach to lunch boxes. Don’t forget to label them all with names so they return to you!
How to make a nude food lunch box
You could also batch and pack homemade muesli bars, or slices to pad out the snacks section.
For slightly messier items, such as meatballs, place in reusable containers with reusable cutlery.
Mix 'n' match snacks
Nude food snacks don't have to be tricky! Here are a few simple ideas that are super tasty, wholesome and easy to throw in the lunch box.
- Fruit, such as apples, bananas, grapes, peaches, nectarines, apricots or plums.
- Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
- Cubes or slices of cheese.
- Cucumber, carrot or capsicum sticks.
- Boiled eggs.
- Whole medium or cherry tomatoes.