Back to School: Zero Waste Your Kids' Lunch

By Brianna Linn

It's that time of year again when school zone signs flash and teachers and parents get ready for a new school year. As a parent, packing your kid's lunch often includes single-use plastic bags, disposable silverware, wax-coated juice boxes and other hard-to-recycle items that typically end up in the landfill. If you want to reduce that waste this year, here are some easy ways to make your kid's lunch environment friendly.

	Box it up Two words: Bento. Box. These multi-compartment meal boxes originated in Japan and are a great way to store your kiddos' snacks and treats without single-use zip-top bags. As a bonus, there are dividers to keep different foods from touching each another, making it a lunch even the pickiest of eaters would enjoy. Bento boxes are easy to rinse and reuse, and many are even dishwasher safe.
	Switch to reusable snack bags If letting go of your trusty snack bags sounds like too much to bear, consider switching to reusable ones instead of zip-tops. The fun designs and colors mean they were made for your kids and will ease your eco-conscious mind.
	Wrap up your use of single-use wraps "Bee" Earth-friendly and substitute plastic wrap and aluminum foil with beeswax wrap! Wrap up that sandwich or use it to cover the top of a lidless snack container to keep everything in place. Hand wash in cold water with an alcohol-free soap to use it over and over again!
	Try out these simple swaps There are so many simple swaps one can make when preparing a school lunch. Opt for reusable silverware, cloth napkins, straws and water bottles instead of single-use items. And what kid doesn't love owning their very own lunch box?
	Buy in bulk Finally, when buying snacks, try purchasing in bulk and portioning the contents out, instead of purchasing single-serving snacks frequently. Single-serving snacks often come wrapped in single-use bags or wrappers. Buying in bulk can even be more affordable!