The sandwich is a great way to prepare an easy lunch for travel, a picnic, or daily work or school.
Bringing a sandwich every day does have its drawbacks, though. It has the potential to create a lot of waste in the form of ziploc bags, wax paper or plastic wrap for each individual sandwich. However, there are some very crafty and relatively simple solutions. It is quite possible, with a sewing machine and some appropriate fabric, to make your very own reusable sandwich bags.
Kiwi Mag suggests this design using oil cloth — two buttons and a simple elastic hairband keep it shut and your sandwich safe. Alternatively, DIY Mommysuggests using laminated cotton and velcro for these reusable snack bags, which could easily change dimensions to better fit a sandwich. If sewing isn’t your strong suit, there are many washable and reusable sandwich bags or containers available for purchase from a local maker or online site. Try Bee’s Wraps from the Green-Mom.com shop, for example.
Once you’ve replaced the waste, try out something other than the typical PB and J for your packed lunch. There are some crazy creative recipes on this list from Brit + Co, like a Mumbai street food inspired sandwich and a veggie bahn mi. This list by Buzzfeed covers a lot of healthy lunch basics including quite a few vegetarian sandwich options like a tempeh and hummus ‘wich or one inspired by a Green Goddess salad.
Don’t be afraid to try new, fanciful ingredients and steps to spice up a simple sandwich. It can bring a ton of great taste and flavor; and many herbs, spices and other ingredients come with a host of health benefits. Once you have a variety of ingredients in your pantry, they can be used in many different recipes.
