In our family, we’ve slowly crossed sandwich and snack ziploc bags off of our shopping list and replaced them with re-usable, and easily washable Happy Sacks.  My daughter’s lunch rarely has anything disposable in it.  Her cutlery is Bambu.  All our leftovers are kept in glass or melamine.  Why should the holidays be any different?

Apparently, it takes 1,000 years for a disposable plastic bag to decompose. You can’t reheat anything in the bags and they potentially leach chemicals into the food.

You can find inexpensive glass containers to store your food at the local hardware store, department stores, and any kitchen store.  The pros are that you can reheat food in the containers in which they are stored.  You can wash it in the dishwasher.  You can contribute other fabulous things to the earth instead of more trash.  The cons are that glass can break, but I have to admit that we have one low corner cabinet that is a real stretch for me to reach in and I have dropped our Pyrex glass containers many times and never even chipped let alone broken one.

We also have some great melamine (yes…bad in baby formula and food) not bad for storing food as long as you follow the guidelines on the containers.  If you want even greener choices there are some great choices mentioned in the GreenerPenny blog.  The Ideal Bite, which sends out daily emails about the sassier side of green living, offers a great list of storage and “to go” containers: Kinetic Glasslock Container Set, Anchor Hocking Storage Dishes, To-Go Ware Food Carrier, Ball Canning Jars, and the Wrap-N-Mat.

You probably don’t want to rush out tomorrow and purchase these things if you don’t already  have them, but you could ask your guests to bring their Pyrex or re-usable containers if you’re planning to send them home with some delicious leftovers.  Then add whatever you’d like for future food storage and cooking to your holiday gift wish list.  I know I’ve decided it’s time to replace my coated pans with something a little more green.

Bon appetit. ttyl your BFF (Boston Family Foodie)

For more info: French Bull, French Bull @ Plum Party,Reusablebags.com, Greenward, Bialetti Green Pan, Green pan, Martha Stewart Green Pan Collection,  Green pans on Daily Danny, Outfitting the Green KItchen