How do you wrap your sandwiches for packed lunch?

[coby]

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in 'food' but since I want an ethical answer here goes....

DD's have packed lunch at nursery and I'm fed up with putting their sandwiches in foil every day (expense + environmental issues). Does anyone know of an alternative packing method?

Nursery are excellent and always return the foil for us to recycle but I'd rather just avoid it in the first place. The lunch boxes are refridgerated so need something that won't make the sandwiches soggy while they are cold stored.

Does the nursery not do hot food?

I use a tupperware type box for dd's, not wrapped in anything, just sandwich in airtight tub keeps it fresh

in a tupperware box about the size of the sandwiches? Then I find they don't need wrapping at all.

same as BVVB.

How about a smaller tupperware-type box.

Small, sandwiched sized tupperware tub. One of those 'lock and store' or clippit types with the 'flaps' which hold the lid down. They are airtight, so sandwiches stay fresh! I make the dc sandwiches the night before and store them in the fridge and they have not yet turned soggy.

blimey, that was quick

Nursery does do hot food but they are only there for the morning and we have main meal at night (which is supposed to be hot but never is by the time they've picked at it for hours )

Been looking for a sandwich sized tupperware tub without much luck so far. Wondered if it might sweat a bit in the 'fridge?

hippiepottedchristmastree.... sorry x post. So yours don't go soggy then? Will look out for something the right size (they are still discovering the wonders of plastic down this way so such things are in short supply)

I do use foil, but they can recycle it at school

We tend to use foil as at DDs school they have recycling bins, one of which is for foil.

In fact every now and again they have a day where they have a competition for fun to see which class produces the least non-recyclable waste from packed lunches.

We use these - handy if there are a few different things for lunch.

Habbibu - they look good. Do you find that you can fit everything in? DDs have yoghurts and apples / satsumas every day. I see they give measurements for the box, just don't feel like measuring up my satsuma supply right now

I can fit stuff in fine - full size sandwich, fruit. Satsumas fine - apples no, unless they're very small. Little yoghurts probably ok. I tend to squash pears/peaches (not huge ones) in - they come out slightly flattened!

Important to remember to open box the right way up...

Nope, they are fine. No reason for them to sweat unless you make the sandwiches with bread still warm or put warm fillings in.

I have to take a packed lunch to work sometimes - a medium-sized Addis box holds a sandwich, a Frube and a piece of fruit very neatly.

Thanks for all your suggestions - off tupperware shopping now

Foil???? Wow.
Aluminium is a very environmentally damaging substance to use in anything disposable.
I always have little plastic bags left over from packaging that I can use for sarnies or biscuits or whatever: like the bags that cheese strings come in, or that I bought the fair trade bananas in, or that I bought raisins in, etc. ~Sometimes need a little piece of masking tape to seal the bag up... Cheap, simple, free, clean enough, recycled...

I use ice-cream tubs.

I should point out I did recycle the foil .

I don't buy much in plastic wrapping as I grow most of my own fruit and veg and get my extras from the market in a little brown paper bag . When I do buy from the supermarket I like to make a pain of myself and not put anything loose such as onions in a bag. I always apologise to the person on the checkout who has to chase them around the conveyor belt but they all seem to be in agreement with me which is nice.

You can put sarnies in the brown bag you used for veg, too!! DC haven't complained, anyway.

I use a little tuperware box, just the right size for a sandwich, and it doesn't ever sweat, even if DS doesn't finish it when it comes home it still looks fresh.

...I don't generally get new plastic bags from supermarket, either -- I'm literally always bringing in ones from home, from food stuff that is really tricky to get without packaging.

• pasta bags
• rice
• cereal bags (shake out extra bits, first) everything, really.

If I ran out of those there's still

• magazine wrappers
• wrappers they put newspapers in etc., but I can recycle those and I don't really need to dip into that supply, usually.

I'm obsessed about reusing any kind of plastic bag, aren't I? Need a [Yes I am a sad person smiley ]

I'm a bit of a veteran of packed lunches... and I can definately say that the best containers for sandwiches have come from the Chinese takeaway we had. The little boxes are fantastic and a good excuse for a takeaway .

Hi - I make 'REUSABLE SANDWICH WRAPS' that can be used time and time again. Plastic inside and cotton outside so you just wipe down the inside and reuse it - it all folds up with a velcro strap to keep it closed.
If the outside gets grubby it can be washed in the sink like a cloth or go in the washing machine. If you are worried about germs on the plastic side then give it a squirt with detox or similar. Check out 'www.re-wrap-it.co.uk' and get yourself a 'WRAPPER!!'
cheers

Shona, you are not supposed to advertise on here without paying a fee, but I do love those!