Eco-Friendly Packed Lunches

When it comes to packing your child’s school lunch, it’s important to make it as healthy, easy, and affordable as possible. When these three components align, it might seem as if you’ve finally found the perfect school lunch strategy! But you can take it a step even further — with these tips, your student’s lunch can benefit the environment and teach her little ways to take care of our planet. Reusable Straws Did you know that more than 500,000,000 plastic straws are used every day in the United States? In an effort to cut down the plastic dumped into our oceans, the Plastic Pollution Coalition is working to eliminate the plastic straw from our culture. You can do your part by investing in reusable straws, whether they’re made of paper, glass, bamboo, or stainless steel, and using them in your child’s packed lunches. Avoid pre-packaged juice boxes that come with plastic straws, and opt for the healthier, eco-friendly option of sending your child with a homemade juice or smoothie.Reusable Water BottlesYou can save money and the environment by investing in a BPA-free, reusable water bottle and water filter. Your child can pick out a water bottle in his favorite color or pattern, and even decorate it with the stickers of his choice. Billions of water bottles end up in the trash each year. In fact, trash covers 40% of the ocean’s surface, and 90% of that is plastic. Not only are plastic bottles wasteful and harmful to the animals and environment, but in order to create them, they use even more water!And while many are under the impression that bottled water is better — did you know that 44% of bottled water is just municipal tap water that’s undergone purification? This is something you can do at home with your sink and a water filter. On top of that, most drinking water in the United States is 100% safe thanks to required municipal water testing that occurs hundreds of times each month. Reusable ContainersIt might seem as if plastic or paper bags are the easiest ways to pack lunch, but these take a toll on the environment and add significantly to our landfills. Even plastic containers can leak harmful chemicals and wear out over time. Instead, try glass or stainless steel containers that can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. DIY Sandwich BagsThe average person uses one pound of plastic bags each year, or 540 bags total. For an easy and eco-friendly way to transport snacks, try one of these cloth sandwich bags or even make your own. You can also make these reusable food wraps! With these items at the ready, you’re sure to make a positive impact on your child and the environment at the same time!Our blog page has helpful hints for parents to encourage their children to excel academically, spiritually, and socially. To learn more about Orlando private schools, contact us at 407-246-4800.