How are you getting the kids to school?
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| Kids Start Food Fight Over Re-Usable Lunch Trays | | |
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| Green Sandwich Wrappers
When it comes to school, you're probably focused on what your kids will be learning. But your kids are focused on what they'll be eating. Lunch is the favorite "subject" for many students whether they're kindergarteners or seniors,
That being said, it doesn't matter how delicious or nutritious the food is if it's wrapped in materials that contain nasty chemicals, a problem that's become all too frequent over the years.
Sandwich Wrappers: No wonder that safe and reusable wraps for sandwiches, cookies, and vegetable sticks are all the rage these days, and not just for kids. They save money, they don't contain worrisome components, and they skip the throw-away plastic and paper wrap. Here are some of my faves:
 Wrap-n-Mat: This washable wrapper (pictured left) is big enough to fold out to a napkin or placemat. It is lined with a food-grade plastic that makes it easy to clean.
Lunchskins: These coated cotton bags are the right size for sandwiches or fruit. Toss them in the dishwasher to keep them clean.
I've written a lot about lunch boxes made from BisPhenol-A (BPA), lead, and other chemicals that, over time, have been linked to reproductive problems and learning disabilities. I'll repeat what I've said before: Make sure to choose items that say on the label that they're BPA- and lead-free. Here's a good list of safe-for-kids boxes and bags. If you've found a healthy brand not on this list, please share the link in the comments section here.
How to Get the Kids to Bring Everything Home for the Next Day?
Many parents complain that their kids throw everything away at lunch, whether the bag or bottle is reusable or not. Here's how you can change this habit:
Tape a card to the inside of the bag or box reminding your child to bring home her bag. Every time she does, let her draw a smiley face on the card. After five smiley faces (or five days' worth of returns), give the child a reward - a quarter (5 cents for every smiley face); the chance to stay up a half-hour past bed time; you get the idea. Works like a charm.
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Bubblegum Smencils
 No, "smencils" is not a typo. But before I tell you what they are, I just want to remind you that both Staples and Office Depot carry a good selection of school (and office) supplies made from recycled materials. Target and Wal-Mart do, too, but they often run out, so if that's where you shop, don't wait until school starts to buy what the kids need. Rule of thumb: the more recycled content the product contains, the better.
* Paper products: In my humble opinion, it's a no-brainer to buy school paper, calendars, agendas, and folders made from recycled, post-consumer paper fibers that haven't been bleached with chlorine. If they're more expensive, encourage your student to economize by using both sides of a sheet of paper, rather than one, or to submit drafts and final copies to teachers electronically so you don't need to use paper at all.
* Pencils, pens, non-toxic markers: Look for pencils made from recycled wood or even recycled dollar bills. Or choose mechanical pencils - keep the same pencil holder, and refill the lead as needed. Pens may be made from recycled plastic
* Smencils: Smencils are pencils made from recycled newspapers that smell like bubble gum and gingerbread, available at Stubby Pencil Studio, along with non-toxic paints and clays. Just make sure your kids don't eat them.
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About those training bras...
 A study in the medical journal Pediatrics this week reported that little girls as young as 7 years old are reaching puberty and developing breasts. Why? Overexposure to environmental toxins that mimic hormones and throw their reproductive systems out of whack. Here's a link to the study, plus suggestions on how you can protect yourself and your kids from undesirable chemicals. As you can imagine, it starts with your purse, and shifting your spending to the safest products and services available.
That's it for now,
Diane MacEachern
Big Green Purse
email: diane@biggreenpurse.com
web: http://www.biggreenpurse.com twitter @dianemaceachern facebook - dianemaceachern1 |
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