How JoAnna García Swisher Turned Leftovers Into A Life Hack With Ziploc
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on July 21, 2025 at 9:15 AM EDT
Actress, mom, and organization enthusiast JoAnna García Swisher is teaming up with Ziploc to tackle one of North America’s biggest lunchbox problems: food waste.
According to a new survey conducted by the Ziploc brand, and sent to The Blast, 3 in 4 parents of K-8 students (75%) say their child(ren) brings home uneaten food from packed school lunches, with over half (59%) saying this happens at least once a week.
JoAnna García Swisher, a mom of two, says Ziploc products are key to staying organized and reducing waste during the back-to-school season.
JoAnna García Swisher Shares Her Secret To Easy Lunches And Less Food Waste
“Well, I always say it's really fun to partner up with a company that is very much a part of your everyday life,” García Swisher told The Blast. “When Ziploc asked me to talk about how we use Ziploc in our life to make our lives not just easier, more organized, but also to reduce food waste, which is something that we really talk about a lot in our house, I was like, yes, 100%, and I have a million tips on how we're doing it.”
“Ziploc really helps keep our food fresh and organized, so it makes our daily lives just so much easier, especially packing lunches.”
The “Sweet Magnolias” star shared that one of her go-to strategies is creating a snack bin in the fridge. “We have all of our fresh fruits and veggies prepped and cleaned and ready to go. So it makes making lunches in the morning so, so easy because I don't have to decide what they want that day. It’s all pre-packaged: cheese and crackers, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries.”
She added, “And I know those fresh fruits and veggies we bought on a Sunday aren’t going to go to waste.”
Swisher Uses Ziploc To Freeze Meals, Make Smoothies, And Keep Her Family On Track
Beyond lunches, García Swisher puts Ziploc freezer bags to work with leftover fruits and vegetables.
“We do a lot of smoothie bags. My girls are very into smoothies right now, which is amazing. I'm in my protein era, so I’ll just take one of my little Ziploc bags filled with delicious fruits and veggies, add my protein powder, and I’ll be off and ready.”
“As a working mom, I usually double up recipes quite a bit, especially this summer because I am working so much. I’ll freeze whole meals in a Ziploc freezer bag and throw it in the freezer. I’ve taught my husband the art of me, so he is very grateful for that,” she joked. “It’s sort of like a restaurant if you know when to reach.”
JoAnna García Swisher’s Daughters Are Taking Lunch Prep, And Cucumber Trades, Into Their Own Hands
García Swisher says Ziploc helps her daughters feel empowered and independent, too. “They feel really proud of themselves. They can go pack their lunch with meats and I know that it’s all done well, but it gives them a sense of accomplishment.”
Her girls are even savvy with school lunch trades. “My youngest daughter, one of her best friends loves cucumbers and I guess doesn’t get them in her lunch bag very often. I started finding chocolate wrappers in my daughter’s lunchbox and I was like, hmm. Then I saw the transaction. She’s hawking her cucumbers!”
As Parents Search For Budget Hacks, Ziploc And JoAnna García Swisher Deliver Smart Food-Saving Tips
With 86% of parents concerned about food prices and nearly half (49%) actively looking for money-saving tips, Ziploc aims to offer practical ways to help preserve freshness and reduce food waste. Families can visit Ziploc's official website to learn lunch-packing tips and discover new back-to-school resources.
Whether it’s creating snack stations, prepping leftovers like chicken and yellow rice, or helping her girls build confidence through lunch-packing routines, García Swisher shows that food preservation doesn’t have to be complicated.
“Ziploc really helps our family stay organized and reduce waste in ways that are simple and sustainable," she said. "It’s not complicated, and that’s what I love about it.”
Tackling Food Waste, One Lunch At A Time
While school lunches are packed with love across North America, far too much of that food ends up in the trash.
According Ziploc's survey, 75% of K–8 parents say their children regularly bring home uneaten food, with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, salty snacks, and even whole fruit often left untouched. Spoilage, sogginess, and rushed lunch periods all play a role.
Plus, as 86% of parents express concern about food prices and more families cook at home and rely on leftovers, food preservation tools are more important than ever. With Ziploc and JoAnna García Swisher's tips, families can reduce waste, save money, and turn everyday lunch routines into lasting habits.
