Okay okay, so we’ve finally got on the no plastic bag band wagon.. we are trying* our best to use only reusable bags at the grocery store, although I would still consider us in training mode.
Now that we have slim to no plastic bags left in the house, I am having a hard time finding something to carry my lunch in to work.
This morning, I used a big Ziploc bag for A.’s lunch (yikes!) and a Glad mini-garbage bag for mine (double yikes!). Does anyone have any suggestions for where to buy a good reusable lunch bag?
* Trying means that I am doing my best not to forget the bags in the car and if I do forget them I get f*&($(% mad at myself for forgetting them.
I think the bay sells Elle lunch bags. The guys at work have called out a few times “Someone left their purse in the fridge!!!”. “No. It’s my lunch bag,” I reply. “It’s just hot.”
By: apriloverall on August 6, 2009
at 5:07 am
The Bay, among many others, sells Elle lunch bags. Also check out Ma Cuisine (or it might be Mon Cadeau) for others. I bought my extremely utilitarian lunch bag from Zellers. You have picked a right time to look for a lunch bag. Stores will be overrun with them for back to school.
By: Laura on August 6, 2009
at 5:11 am
Or you could do what all the cool high school chicks do and carry your lunch in a small boutique bag. Like the next time you buy a top somewhere and they give you one of those nice little bags with the ropey handles. They make excellent lunch bags — some stores’ are sturdier than others and you always have something different. And, I think you should get A a Spiderman lunch pail or something — that would be fun.
By: XUP on August 6, 2009
at 5:18 am
I never remeber to bring my groceries into the store. My solution is just to bag my groceries in the trunk of my car.
As for lunch, I just use a reuseable grocery bag.
By: MG on August 6, 2009
at 5:37 am
Why don’t you sew yourself a lunch bag? You’re crafty. Bags are easy to sew. I’ve had mine for years.
By: j. on August 6, 2009
at 6:51 am
We’re giving out insulated lunch bags at the Team Diabetes Yogathon this coming Saturday!
http://www.yogaottawa.ca/events_workshops.html
By: C on August 6, 2009
at 9:47 am
The Glebe Emporium has lots of nice lunch bags… That’s where I got mine!
Good for you for switching to reusable grocery bags. It’s such a huge waste to use plastic… And the cloth ones can fit more stuff!
By: Hella Stella on August 6, 2009
at 10:43 am
Except…some research has shown that the plastic ones are actually more environmentally friendly than the cotton bags. Because they are not made in North America – the cotton has to get shipped to China where they make it into bags and then the bags get shipped back here. The plastic bags are made right here in Canada in the province even. And the new thin ones are quite biodegradable. Also, we have no facility for recycling the cloth bags (which therefore have to get shipped out of the country to be recycled), but we do have facilities for recycling plastic bags. I think there may have been some poor planning involved in this switch
By: XUP on August 6, 2009
at 11:25 am
Use those small lulu bags
that’s what I do 
I have some extra if you want! They are perfect because your containers stay upright because of the square shape! Plus if they get too “used” and worn out… Or if it gets dirty you can get a new one for free (when you buy something at lulu) 
let me know if you want a bag cause I gave some extras!
By: D on August 7, 2009
at 3:16 am
Hahaha I use a free bag I got from Dynamite, I’m sure at some point you’ll find a store that hands you a lunch bag too J!
We always forget our bags and box at home when we do groceries and I get made at myself too…With the 5cents a bag thing though it’s usually a better reminder. I’ve often thought of putting them in the car but then I think, what if we go in the truck, then I won’t have them, so I forget them in the house instead. Sometimes when we forget the bags, I just jam everything in my giant purse!
By: Cee on August 8, 2009
at 4:19 am
made* supposed to be mad
By: Cee on August 8, 2009
at 4:19 am
We just bought reusable bento boxes for lunch from Credible Edibles (on Hinton in West Wellington). I LOVE THEM. It helps with portion control, fits neatly into my commuting bag and it means I can a variety of things to get me through my 9 hour +++ day. We bought the Laptop Lunches variety, but there were others.
By: Judy on August 9, 2009
at 4:14 pm
I don’t use a lunch bag, though I like the idea of reusable bento boxes. I do try and wash and re-use Ziplock sandwich bags though for small food items like mixed nuts, messy fruit, etc.
By: hannah78 on August 11, 2009
at 5:02 am