For Earth Day, Green Up Your Kid's Lunch

Everyone's abuzz with Earth Day activities. Whether it's turning off a light switch or touting their reusable grocery bags, green is the hip color for the day. Many of us do use reusable grocery bags and cloth napkins regularly - and if you don't, you really should. Cloth napkins feel luxurious and they're really, really easy. Living in the Bay Area and sending Clover to the hippie school has made us a little insulated and we started to feel like everyone was like-minded.

Awhile back I was at Rocket's school during lunchtime and I was stunned by the amount of disposable items, therefore trash, packed in every other kid's lunchbox. Lunch boxes were stuffed full with juice boxes and individually wrapped food. Forget the unhealthy ingredients and the cost, I was stunned by the trash. Each kid dumped a good deal of garbage into an overflowing trash can. I saw few reusable materials and tons of waste.

Reusable stuff is really, really easy and much of it is cute too. I know that getting started can be the hardest part, so I wanted to share what Rocket's lunch bag looks like:

A Star Wars napkin, made by me, that we've largely stopped using because Rocket's theory is why dirty a napkin when you can conveniently wipe your hands on your shirt? The shirt is right there, asking for it, after all.

A Klean Kanteen bottle.

A metal snack canister from Daiso.

Reusable snack and sandwich bags from Snack Taxi.

Lunch bag from Mimi the Sardine.

Mabel's Labels are on everything. They are virtually indestructible. They will outlast the product on which they were stuck.

Everything is either run through the dishwasher or quickly rinsed by hand and ready for use the next day.

I've acknowledged that I suffer from Catholic guilt, and each time I use a plastic baggie, like a Ziplock, I always feel bad, even though the use may be justified and I recycle the bags. But that's my own issue. I hope my kids are learning that while disposable is sometimes necessary, it's not always good.

Disclosure: While I paid for everything pictured, I am a Buzz Mama for Mabel's Labels because I love their product that much. We've used their labels for years and even our oldest ones are holding up beautifully despite daily (ab)use.

Comments

[amy @teachmama]

hey! great post! I smiled when I saw our very same Snack Taxi's on your table! Throw away that Catholic guilt (I carry it, too!), my friend! You're doing better than most it seems! Mother Earth would be proud!

cheers,
amy

[Amy, YodelingMamas]

great products and ideas. thanks for making us all think twice!

[Laptop TV Mom]

Great ideas! Does the thermos clean easily? I pack (healthy) lunches in reusable containers, but you beat me with the cloth napkins! ;-)

[Kathryn]

We love our Mimi lunch bags here too! Although I do need to get some of the reusable sandwich and snack bags ...

[Carmen]

We use almost all the same things. Except our snack bags do not have velcro. Too many crumbs1

[Caitlin Madden]

Thank you so much for the Mabel's Labels mention & for showcasing so many other fabulous products. I would love a tutorial on how you make your own napkins. They would complete my son's liter-less lunches! All the best, Caitlin from Mabel's Labels