Green Your Lunch

Last week’s winner is BETH!  Congratulations and good luck to this week’s winner!

This week’s green challenge is greening your family’s lunch!  If you work outside of the home or your kids are school-aged then I challenge you to make your lunch a little greener.  And, no, I’m not talking about green eggs and ham or adding green food coloring to your lunch this week.  I’m talking about having less waste in your lunch bag.

Here are some ideas for making you lunch a little “greener:”

• Pack a refillable/reusable {preferably glass} bottle instead of a store bought (one time use) water bottle, can or plastic bottle drinks.  I use a glass water bottle from Love Bottle that I get compliments on everyday!  It never wears out!
• Use stainless steel thermos and containers for packing food.  There are several brands that carry them – some of my favorites are planetbox and kids konserve.
• Don’t have stainless steel containers or you need to re-heat something?  Glass works best and is safest for you.  I use Pyrex glass bowls and plates with lids.  They come in all sorts of individual meal and soup sizes and they are cheap.  I got mine at Walmart!
• You’ve just GOT to have a sandwich “bag.”  Use reusable bags – like the ones from lunchskins & snacktaxi (or make some of your own!).  If you just have to pack it in something disposable try these wax paper bags – they are cheap and earth-friendly!  They are a much better choice than plastic.
• Buy regular/large packs of snacks and chips and pack individual serving sizes of your own instead of buying individual sized prepackaged bags.  You’ll save money and packaging!
• Skip the brown bag!  Get yourself a reusable {and might I add cute – you’re going to use it a lot right, might as well get something you like!) lunchbag.  Cute reusable lunch bags, coolers, and totes abound everywhere!  Depending on who is taking the lunch your sure to find one that fits their personality!  I have one from Built that I love – but I’ve seen a zillion that I’d love to have.  There are some really cute ones by Skip Hop for kiddos!
• You’re packing a green lunch – don’t forget the “other stuff!”  I’m talking about switching your paper napkin for a cloth one, and packing REAL (not disposable) silverware.  If you’re worried about the kiddos tossing it, get some cheap stuff just for them.

And, while you’re greening your lunch routine, don’t forget, to take a pledge for a greener earth through Scott Natural’s 4-Week Scott Naturals Test Drive Program running between April 4 and September 30th at ScottBrand.com.

And, as a bonus, while your taking the pledge, you can enter for a chance to win a Ford Fusion hybrid sedan!  And, did I mention coupons? You get a coupon  for the Scott products when you make the pledge too!

One Lucky Wholesome Mommy Reader Will Win a HUGE Prize Pack From Scott Naturals Just For Taking the Pledge!

All you have to do is visit Scott Naturals using this link – you’ll get to take the pledge, print coupons, and enter to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid AND just for clicking the link, $1 will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation!  Help them reach their goal of $25,000 unique clicks!

Then, come back here and leave me a comment letting me know that you took the pledge!  That will be your entry into this give away!

For an extra entry: Leave a separate comment telling me one {or more} of your favorite lunch items that you take with you on the go!

*Prize includes everything pictured in the photo above: Scott naturals 12 pack of toilet tissue, 6 pack of paper towels, 1 pack of napkins, and wet wipes.

This give away ends May 1st at 11:59 EST.  But, no worries, I’ll be hosting ONE more give away with ONE more chance to win this awesome prize pack!! Stay tuned in the coming weeks!  The winner will be announced here after being chosen via random.org.

I was compensated by Scott Naturals and The Motherhood for my efforts reviewing, writing this post, and hosting the give away.  As always, this post contains my honest opinions and those opinions are 100% my own.