Green Child Magazine Back-to-School 2012 | Page 20

8 Tips
for Packing Waste-Free, Healthy Lunches
By Calley Pate

The average elementary age child creates 67lbs of waste each year
from their lunchboxes alone. If you’re looking for ways to send
your kids back to school a little greener this year, start with their
lunches…

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• Reusable lunch box or bag - The days
of brown bags are over. Invest in a good
quality lunch box or bag that your child can
use over and over again.
• Non-toxic, PVC and BPA free items Read the labels of all products you buy
for your children and make sure they are
non-toxic. Lots of plastic items (like lunch
boxes) contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
and Bisphenol A (BPA). If it's made of
vinyl it's probably toxic.
• Cloth napkins - Don't forget to pack a
cloth napkin. You can buy some already
made or make some from old t-shirts or
scrap fabrics.
• Reusable forks and spoons - Skip the
disposable plastic silverware and go with a
non-toxic, stainless steel or bamboo set.
• Refillable drink bottles - Don't pack juice
boxes or pouches that may be filled with
artificial ingredients. Not only are they not
the healthiest option they create a ton of
waste. Find a non-toxic steel water bottle
and fill with your child's favorite drink

instead.
• Reusable food containers - Ditch the
baggies! Instead use reusable containers
made from steel or fabric. My favorites are
the sandwich bags from Planet Wise.
• Buy in bulk - Instead of buying
individually wrapped servings of fruit,
vegetables, or snacks buy in bulk and wrap
them in small portions. Buying in bulk
with save you money and reduce the need
for artificial preservatives.
• Fresh food - Skip the prepackaged snacks
like crackers and cookies. Fill your child's
lunch with food that will keep them
energized all day. Fresh fruits, vegetables,
cheeses, and nuts will get them the energy
they need to succeed.
Let your kids come with you to the grocery
store and pick out their own foods by letting
them only shop the 'healthy' sections like the
deli, produce, and dairy sections. You may be
surprised to see what your kids pick out.