Cross this one off the worry list…because I have you covered with these top tips to pack an eco friendly, disposable school lunch.
School Lunches? We got that in the bag!
Mamas everywhere…the decisions flying at us this year in regards to our kiddos can make us lose the last bit of sanity we have left.
- School?
- No school?
- Hybrid school?
- Homeschool?
- Masks?
- Teacher supplies?
- School supplies?
- Is it picture day?
- What about sports?
- Bus schedules?
Oh and we still have lunches to figure out!
In many areas, disposable lunches are being highly recommended this year. I love Mother Earth, but the thought of lunchboxes going in and out of the house (hitting the floor, lunch table, and all the places in between) just sounds like trouble.
I know a disposable lunch may seem impossible, but bear with me…I have solutions for you that will make your kids smile and keep the germs from hitchhiking a ride straight home to you!
{If you have followed me for even half a second, you know that I would rather chew on a cactus than sell my soul to make money off of you on a product I don’t even like. And I know you are an intelligent woman (because you’re reading my blog) but the FTC doesn‘t trust your intelligence. So here I am letting you know that when I suggest a product and provide a link that it may be an affiliate link…and I may receive a small commission at zero additional cost to you.}
Packing a lunch that leaves the house + never comes back sounds pretty amazing right now, doesn’t it? We want our packaging to be sustainable and Earth friendly so here are my favorites to start the school year:
- Classic Brown Bag – These are available everywhere for cheap and many are made from recycled paper. Grab a few packs of stickers and let the kids decorate several bags that they love.
- Sealable Paper Sandwich Bags – These can even be used for more than just sandwiches! Affordable, food-safe, grease resistant sandwich bags that are not treated with wax. Many wax papers are treated with petroleum based wax…a big YUCK for our kiddos lunch 😝
- Utensils – Of course you know you can pick up some disposable plasticware at your local store. But remember that many schools provide pre-packaged utensils that your child can grab if needed. Or these bamboo food picks are a fun and easy eco-friendly way to eat cut fruit and veggies!
But I need an ice pack?! Not being able to stick a fresh ice pack in with lunch will be a struggle for many. But I have some hacks on how to create disposable + edible ice packs!
- Lightly freeze a small disposable water bottle (hard freezing plastics concerns me a bit)
- Freeze a yogurt tube or fruit pouch
- Freeze sandwiches like PB&J
All of these will thaw by lunchtime and be consumable by your kiddo as part of their meal!
Take advantage of (some) pre-packed foods!
- Single serving bags of carrots with mini hummus cups
- Mini bags of apples with single serving packs of peanut butter
- Individual snack size bags of popcorn/chips/puffs without all the bad fats
- Granola or snack bars
- Boxes of raisins
- Fruit cups or fruit pouches (unsweetened)
We just HAVE to send a School Lunch box!
If you just can’t say goodbye to the lunchbox, that’s ok too! But I suggest that you invest in a metal lunchbox that can be thoroughly sanitized each day. There are many available, but THIS ONE is simple, affordable, and can be customized with decals so your little one won’t miss their superheroes or unicorns too much!
The best way to sanitize when the lunchbox comes home…
We transitioned to natural cleaners years ago in our household and one of our favorites for EVERYTHING is Thieves Household Cleaner. It’s made with essential oils that have natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Plus it’s non-toxic so it can be used on any food surface without worries.
I hope these tips help you create some lunches that make life easier!
Next week we are going to cover the 3 main areas to focus on to build a healthy kid lunch – what to pack that will keep their immune systems at peak performance and their brains functioning like a little Einstein!
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