After reading this post, don't forget to enter our contest – you could win a new dishwasher. Plus, do you have your own story to tell? Send it to greenchallenge@canadianliving.com (no more than 300 words, please), and you could win one of 30 daily prizes. Today's winner is Irene Leung of Port Dover, Ont.

---

I have been aware of the excess packaging I and others waste on a daily basis every time we eat lunches, whether it be takeout or brown-bagging it. So, I have come up with ideas on how I can reduce the waste of materials and packaging.I try to avoid take-out food as the restaurants use some sort of container or paper and instead, I make my lunches. Making lunches has enabled me to be creative and thoughtful. I have swayed away from using plastic baggies and throwaway bottles, plastics and tetra-paks. The main key is to use an array of reusable containers which you do not throw away but reuse. Then pack them all in a cooler bag or cooler box packed with reusable ice packs. Here are some of my tips: • Pack sandwiches and salads in lightweight reusable plastic containers. Even the salad dressing can be stored in little reusable containers. • Store cold liquids such as juice or water in insulated wrapped bottles. • Keep a set of eating utensils in your desk drawer so that you can wash and reuse. • Invest in a fashionable cooler bag to hold all of your food and drinks, instead of a brown bag. • When having a picnic lunch, bring reusable plates, cups and utensils for serving. Following these tips have made me become very aware of how damaging it was to the environment when I used to throw out all of the disposable containers or plastic utensils every day at lunch. I hope that if others in the world can follow even just some of these tips, we would be able to have back our green Mother Earth again.

---

Thanks to Irene for sending in her story – and don't forget, if you still haven't entered, there's still time to send your own story to greenchallenge@canadianliving.com. Irene wins a TS-1200TG Green Calculator, courtesy of Canon, and a copy of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, courtesy of Random House. Today's code word: lunch Read more: • 5 ways to be eco-friendly at the office • Make your grocery shopping greener • What you can do about rising food prices