Bringing your lunch to work or school is environmentally friendly; you're saving money by not buying your lunch, and you're avoiding energy usage and waste created by the restaurant or deli where you'd pick up that mid-day meal. Here are some ways to maximize the greenness of your good deed.

Don't really brown bag it. Reduce waste by bringing your lunch in a reusable, washable tote instead of a disposable brown bag.

Pack only what you'll eat. When you're packing your reusable lunch tote, include only what you can eat to avoid wasting food. If you're packing lunch for your child, give them foods you know they like in portions right for them.

Use nondisposable cutlery. Don't fret about having a fork and knife in your purse or briefcase on the way home from work; Just clean it off before stashing the cutlery in your bag. Plastic cutlery is not recyclable, and ends up sitting in a landfill. If you insist on the stuff that can be thrown away, look for forks, knives and spoons made from biodegradable material, such as corn.

Don't add a drink box and napkin to the garbage can. Use a washable cloth napkin, and a reusable, non-toxic beverage container, such as the stainless steel thermos from Klean Kanteen. You can find organic linen and cotton napkins for sale online.

Buy lunch treats in bulk sizes so you can pack your own portions in reusable containers. Individually wrapped snacks- pudding cups, chip bags, drink boxes-result in more waste with all their packaging. You pay more for all the excess material too.

Choose organic. Organic food items are made without harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and organic versions of most of your favorite snacks are now accessible. By selecting organic items to stash in your lunch, you can reduce the amount of chemicals you and your children ingest.

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