These days, many schools require (or at least request) students pack a litter-free lunch, minimizing the amount of trash that must be picked up and transported to either recycling centres or the local landfill. When hundreds of kids a day bring lunch and snacks wrapped in plastic or foil, and plenty of wrappered and packaged foods, it can add up to a big pile of garbage. Here are some ways to cut back on the waste in your kids daily school meal.
Invest in a good-quality, reusable Bento box.This stainless steel version
(available at Pottery Barn Kids) will last the whole school year - pack anything in its compartments, and toss it in the dishwasher at the end of the day.
Pack a reusable water bottle.Water makes the best hydrator, and it's free! Kids can refill their own water bottles at school, keeping them hydrated throughout the day with no need to add to the recycling bin.
Turn a fishing tackle or craft box into a bento.Any hard plastic carrying case - there are many small, inexpensive ones available that are designed to carry fishing tackle, sewing notions and art supplies - are great to pack finger-sized foods in. Try cherry tomatoes, grapes, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs, mini pitas - use your imagination and come up with a DIY lunchable!
Reuse produce cartons.Tuck cardboard or plastic baskets - the ones your fresh berries or cherry tomatoes come in - into a sturdy lunch container to transport to school and double as a serving dish. Kids can bring them home to use again, or recycle.
Bring back the classic Thermos.Soup, spaghetti, even hot dogs can be packed in an old-school Thermos, keeping it warm until noon.
Pack reusable cutlery.Pick up some inexpensive stainless steel cutlery at the dollar store, thrift shop or garage sale to use exclusively in lunches - they can stay in the lunchbox and go in the dishwasher at night, and it's no big deal if they get lost.
Invest in a sturdy lunchbox.A good lunch box will protect all that's in it, allowing you to pack whole fruit and protect any Thermoses, bottles or containers inside.
You can find this lunchbox here!
Use an insulated bag.Available at most department stores, insulated vinyl bags zip up, protecting food and catching leaks. There's less need to wrap each individual item - if things get messy, throw it in the dishwasher or give it a wash in soapy water in the sink.Photo credit: istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages
Get creative with household containers.Thermoses, jars, resealable plastic containers, and small hard plastic kits designed for sewing notions or beads make for perfectly portable lunches - tuck muffins, cookies, and other fragile items in the sturdy compartments and you're good to go. And everything can be tossed into the dishwasher at the end of the day!
Top photo credit: istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages
How To Pack a Peanut Butter-Free School Lunch Fox News Magazine As many schools adopt a nut-free school lunch policy, sending your kids off with a PB&J sandwich is no longer an option. Instead, parents face the daunting task of ... How to Pack a School Lunch in 5 Minutes meghmiller If you are willing to plan a head and do a bit of prep work before the week begins, you can pack a school lunch in a flash with this simple strategy. Pack Healthy School Lunches for Your Child - Family Fitness Kids feel better and learn better when they fuel up with a nutritious meal, so healthy school lunches really matter. These guidelines will help you pack one your ... How to Pack Unique Back-to-School Lunches eHow.com You can not only save money by packing your children's lunches, but you can also ensure that they are not subsisting on junk food from the school's vending machine ... Healthy Gluten-Free School Lunch Ideas - How to Pack a Healthy ... There are lots of ways to pack a healthy gluten-free school lunch. Start by including your gluten-free child in the weekly menu planning process- this will increase ... How to Pack a Healthy Lunch for School eHow.com If you're worried whether your child is getting enough nutrients while eating in the school cafeteria, you can limit his consumption of unhealthy snacks. Pack him a ... How to Pack a School Lunch - uli2000 on HubPages School is just starting or just about to start for most school aged kids. The prices of school lunches can be outrageous, especially if you have more than one child ... Pack a Waste-Free School Lunch - Green Your Kid's School Lunch Video Video: Pack a Waste-Free School Lunch with Danielle Lessovitz. Packing a healthy and delicious school lunch for your child is always a good idea, but ... Pack a Lunch With Punch! PETA.org - People for the Ethical ... Back-to-School Veggie Style: Healthy Lunches That Kids Will Love! Moms and dads, you know the drill: It's back-to-school time, and that means packing healthy lunches ... How to Pack a School Lunch - Kids Recipes - Recipes for Kids ... Learning how to pack a school lunch is easy when you follow these tips and healthy school lunch ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment