Every time I pass by a vending machine or restaurant, I often think what a waste of money and resources. I really hate wasting money and I hate relying on others for services I can provide for myself. A hot meal or a snack might be good, but I’d rather buy food in bulk and cook it myself, for less waste and less money.

Restaurant food is often wasteful, but so is so much of the take-out you get that comes in a styrofoam or paper box. When you shop at the store, you can buy things in large packages, make several meals out of the food. You can compost your food scraps, burn or recycling the much more minimal packaging. You don’t have to live the high-waste life.

It’s not rocket science to pack your own lunch in a reusable plastic container like I have done for over an decade for work. A home-packed lunch with a microwave at work is often good, and there are many things you can put in lunch box. I generally prefer a hot lunch nowadays that I make from things previously prepared at home, but for many years I packed sandwiches. Likewise, if you pack food for a road trips, you can skip the vending machines for healthier options that involve less waste.