Pack Your Kid's Lunch the Green Way!

Reader Contribution by Faith Moser
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Faith Moser is the creator of eco ike {organic baby t’s + cookbooks full of yummy, healthy and quick recipes for kids and grown-ups}! If you want your kids to grow, live, eat & play green, visit ecoike.com.

It is estimated that each American child produces 67 pounds of lunch packaging waste each school year. That’s a big ‘F’ in my report card! This year, when school starts, make sure that your kids are lunch box smart!

There is no longer a need for plastic sandwich bags, paper bags and juice boxes. There are tons of green lunch box options out there and a lot of them are super cute too! Here’s my eco lunch box lowdown:

1. Forgo the brown paper bag and invest in a durable lunch box or bento-style lunch container.   

2. Go reuseable! Reusable sandwich bags and containers are super sturdy and easy to use, clean and store. If you have to pack a plastic bag, try to reuse it or recycle it!

3. Store beverages in stainless steel water bottles! Have your kids sip out of a reusable bottle rather than a juice box or plastic water bottle.

4. If your child needs cutlery or a napkin, pack the real thing. Encourage your child to bring home all leftovers to prevent accidentally disposing of the napkin and utensils (they may even be able to compost any leftovers).

5. If possible, steer clear of purchasing prepackaged foods for your child’s lunch. They are typically wrapped in excessive packaging and are more expensive than buying in bulk.

Image Courtesy of Lunchskins

  • Published on Aug 7, 2011
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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