Ok y’all. I feel like we need to have some real talk about what’s happening in the Merchant household. I try so, SO hard to be a conscious mama and make the “environmentally-friendly” choice for my family all the time. But the truth is, I fail…a lot. I know those applesauce pouches are an environmental black hole, but they’re also a food I can convince a toddler to eat without fighting me! So it’s goodbye marine life, and hello endless piles of tiny caps and food pouches in our house.
Clearly, doing the environmentally responsible thing can be very challenging. When life gets hectic and the budget gets tight, it’s easy to save the topic of “our family’s carbon footprint” for another day. So this year for back to school, I’m determined to skip past punishing myself and instead pick just one way I can be environmentally conscious as a mother: packing zero-waste, non-toxic lunches for my kid.
All of the lunch swaps below are endlessly reusable and ALWAYS non-toxic. Not to mention, these changes are easy, affordable and totally worth it! Who’s with me?!
SWAP THIS…
Ziploc Sandwich Bag
FOR THAT…
Stasher Sandwich Bags
SWAP THIS…
Single serving yogurt
FOR THAT…
EcoVessel Silicone Snacker
SWAP THIS…
Glad Press’n Seal
FOR THAT…
Bee’s Wrap
SWAP THIS…
Plastic Water Bottle
FOR THAT…
EcoVessel Water Bottle
**While writing this post, I came across the AAP’s latest recommendations on plastic-safety for kids. The long and short of it is to make sure you are NEVER putting plastic sippy cups, bottles, or servingware in the dishwasher or microwave. Hand wash EVERYTHING or switch to glass and/or stainless when possible. Even products labelled as phthalate and BPA free have been shown to leach toxic chemicals into our food. To find out more, you can read the following statement from the AAP or a short and sweet version here.**
AAP Statement – Food Additives and Child Health
What Every Parent Must Know About the AAP’S New Plastic- Safety Guidelines for Kids
Don’t panic, just get educated. Here’s to an environmentally conscious, non-toxic school year!
