Keywords: lunch bags, no-spill lunch bags
While packing lunch from home is a great way to save money, it presents a way for bacteria to grow while the food sits and waits to be eaten. It is unlikely that the lunch item is going to be placed inside a fridge. Unfortunately, the warmer conditions inside a lunch box or bag are perfect for bacterial growth. This can lead to issues like food poisoning and other gastrointestinal issues.
To ensure you enjoy a tasty and safe lunch, here are some tips you can follow for packed lunch safety:
- Use cold packs
Unless you have access to a fridge, keeping your food cold until eating time can be quite a challenge. Fortunately, there are many ingenious solutions to this problem. For example, you can purchase cold gel packs you can freeze and place inside your lunch bag. This will keep the food as cold as possible and prevent bacterial growth.
If you do not have access to frozen packs, you can consider putting a frozen bottle of water or even a frozen juice box inside. It will cool the air inside the box down, and by the time you are ready to eat, it should have melted into a nice, cold drink.
- Don't reuse the bags
You may be using the same bag over and over again to pack your food. If you are using plastic containers with an insulated bag to carry them all, this might be the case. You can easily wash these items to get rid of any leftover food and stop bacteria from growing. However, if you are using paper bags, this may not be a good idea.
Paper bags, foil, plastic wrap, and similar items can easily carry bacteria from one place to another. They are not meant to be reused either, so once you use them, throw them out. It might feel like a waste, but you will regret not doing so if you find yourself with a case of diarrhea due to a contaminated bag. Also, if you believe that a food item is contaminated, do the best thing and throw it out to be safe.
- Pick non-perishables
While many types of food are quite perishable, there are non-perishables you can eat too. One of the most famous non-perishable foods you may hear about are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They do well without refrigeration and last for a whole day without going bad at all. Of course, there are a few other long storage options such as fruits, chips, pickles, and other items you can include in your lunch.
Regardless of what you choose, non-perishables or those with long shelf lives are a great choice if you want to be sure that your food is safe to eat without refrigeration. Just be sure to include healthy items like fruits, as your body still needs them to maintain good health. In other words, do not rely on a PB-and-J to provide all the nutrition you need.
Conclusion
Follow these tips, and you can enjoy your lunch knowing that you have kept food poisoning and other gastrointestinal issues away. If you plan to purchase lunch bags for yourself, do not opt for paper bags or anything else that is not environmentally-friendly. Instead, go green and purchase bags that are kind to you, your wallet, and the planet! There are plenty of environmentally-friendly bags out there to pick from—some being adjustable, others machine washable, and all moisture-resistant. Take the time to choose your lunch bags carefully, as they play a vital role in your food's condition and, more importantly, your health.
At RU Supply Co., we offer ethically-made stylish lunch bags for adults designed to be cute yet professional. If you are looking for durable, sustainable, no-spill lunch bags in Canada, check out what we have to offer.