Green Living Tips: A Guide for a More Eco-Friendly Picnic Lunch

A fun way to get back in touch with nature is to have a picnic. Since you're out enjoying nature, you may as well help it while you're there by making sure your picnic is an eco-friendly one.

One of the easiest ways to go green with your picnic lunch is to avoid plastic cups and paper dinnerware. Anything disposable, especially that which isn't easily biodegradable, is a bad idea. Recycled paper dinnerware wouldn't be too bad, but it's still going to wind up in a landfill taking up space. The best idea is to take some inexpensive china, preferably some thrift store finds that you pick up for cheap. (A great way to reuse and make things even more green!)

If you don't want to take glasses with you to drink from, select some reusable plastic instead of disposable. Sigg brand bottles are a popular choice but anything that doesn't contain BPA, a possibly unsafe chemical found in some plastics, is fine. Another fun choice, especially if you have kids, is to take a thermos or canteen for everyone. If you choose to take soda with you, take cans rather than bottles as aluminum is more easily and usefully recycled. If you take a 2 liter bottle, try to find a unique way to reuse it once you're home. You can take regular silverware or look around for some biodegradable plastic utensils that are made from corn.

As for the lunch itself, try to buy local food. You can buy organic food at your local farmers' market for a really green meal. Local food, whether organic or not, is a better choice environmentally due to the reduction of fuel needed to transport the products. The food is often fresher and therefore more vitamin packed, and it helps sustain community jobs. Even better, if you grow a garden, look up some finger food recipes and make yourself some treats from your own home-grown goodies. It's best to take foods that won't easily ruin, for instance deli sliced ham instead of chicken salad, especially if you're going to be traveling any length of time to your picnic destination. Try to pack light foods, too, such as finger sandwiches, fruit, and salad greens. If you eat too heavy of a meal you won't feel like repacking the basket after you're done.

Speaking of the basket, you have a huge range of options. You can scout local antique or thrift stores for a wonderful picnic basket to reuse. If you want something new, or can't find something suitable at the thrift store, you can always choose a basket or box made from green materials such as recycled plastic or bamboo. If nothing needs to be kept chilled you can even use one of those huge reusable bags that most stores now carry. Or you can make your own basket from crocheted plastic bags if you want. Figure out what best suits your needs and decide from there.

Once you've gotten your basket (or bag) and china picked out, grab some great local food, place it in the basket with some cloth napkins and your silverware of choice, and enjoy some fun time outdoors.