Blog: Every Bite Counts

Unpacking a lunch box at the end of the day can feel like opening a mystery box — you never know what you’ll find. No matter how thoughtfully it’s packed, some food is bound to come back home. It’s not you — it’s the chaos of school lunch hour!

Instead of frustration, treat it as a learning opportunity to discover what’s working and what needs tweaking. Ask your kids to help unpack their lunch box. It’s a chance to hear about their day and chat about what got eaten and what didn’t. No shame, no blame — just a simple way to spot patterns, raise awareness about food waste, and figure out how to pack lunches differently.  

As for what to do with what comes home, here are some suggestions.

Fruits and Veggies

• Wash and refrigerate uneaten apple slices, carrot sticks, cucumbers or grapes to freshen them up for tasty after school snacks. 
• Toss soft fruits into smoothies or fruit salad. Or place them in airtight containers and freeze to use in muffins, loaves or fruit crisps. 
• Revive limp veggies in an ice water bath or use them in egg dishes, soups, stir-fries, or pasta.
• Trim and add partially eaten veggies to a freezer bag for making soup stock. 

Cheese, Yogurt & Dairy

• • Hard cheeses can often be rewrapped for the next day or used as part of dinner.

• Yogurt, milk or milk alternatives (like oat, almond or soy) that are still cool can be used in baked goods. If they’ve been left out too long or feel warm, it’s best to toss them. 

What’s “too long”? The maximum time perishable foods like meat, dairy or cooked foods can be left at room temperature, or “the danger zone”, is 2 hours. Using ice packs or a thermos helps keep food out of the “zone” longer, but if food comes home feeling warm or you have any doubt, toss it out. 

Sandwiches & Wraps

• If they’re still cool, cut into smaller pieces and serve them as a snack.
• Deconstruct sandwiches and use bread for croutons, bread pudding or an egg strata and turn fillings into mini quesadillas or salad toppers.

Snacks & Packaged Items

• Reseal and reuse for another lunch day.
• Crushed crackers or pretzels? Toss on top of casseroles, soups or salads for a little crunch.
• Cookies, muffins or baked goods may come home partially eaten or slightly smashed but still edible. Trim them and re-wrap for snacks or lunch the next day. Of if they’re dry and crumbly, use them as a topping for yogurt, fruit or ice cream. 

Reducing lunch box waste isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being aware, leaning into what’s working, and finding what works best for your family. Some weeks are wins, some are… compost-heavy. By paying attention to what’s coming back and making small shifts, you’ll save money, reduce food waste, and maybe even pack a lunch that comes home empty!

Read more tips for Back to School Lunches.