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Best Plastic Free Lunch Box Gear for Kids

Best plastic free lunch box gear for kids, including containers, snack size boxes, and water bottles. Read on to prepare your kids for back-to-school with a healthy lunchbox, even before the food gets packed. (links below are affiliate links in Amazon for you to see the various sizes available.)

plastic free lunch box for kids containers in stainless steel and glass

 

What are some first steps we can take to create a plastic free lunch box for kids?

  • Switch to glass and stainless steel whenever possible.
  • Purchase produce not wrapped in plastic, or remove once you purchase from the store.
  • Transfer food to glass storage containers as you meal prep.
  • Avoid putting any plastic you have in the dishwasher.

Why do we want a plastic free lunch box for kids?

In case you missed it, the Academy of Pediatrics released a new study showing the danger of plastics and the effects on children. They released a statement expressing concern about the scientific evidence that chemicals from plastics interfere with the body’s natural hormones and long-term development. The chemicals that are cause for concern in the latest statement include phthalates, which are needed to make plastic flexible. It also includes bisphenol (BPA) which is still used to line metal cans, and also perfluoroalkyl (PFCs) found in grease proof paper and packaging.

Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to hormone disruptors. This can increase their risk of obesity, diabetes, and fertility issues. Make the switch to glass and stainless steel, for your kitchen and for creating a plastic free lunch box for kids.

Best Plastic Free Lunch Box

Let’s start with the actual bag, or tote, for your kid’s lunch. There are so many options, but not all are created equal. Look for ones that are PVC, BPA & Phthalate-free, and CPSIA compliant. One of our favorites has been the Wildkin brand. (they also make really sturdy backpacks too!)

Plastic Free Lunch Box for Kids

PlanetBox

  • Plastic free lunch box bento style in stainless steel
  • Rover is great for most school aged kids.
  • Launch is great for older kids (and adults)
  • Comes with coordinating containers for “wet” food like yogurt, applesauce, and oatmeal.
plastic free lunch box for kids planetbox ideas

So many amazing lunch ideas for the Planetbox.

 

LunchBots

  • variety of simple, stainless steel containers
  • great for busy parents…keeps packing simple and you can toss them in the dishwasher at the end of the day.
  • I have multiple on hand so some are ready to prep, while others are getting washed overnight

plastic free lunch box lunchbots healthy lunch

 

Plastic free lunch box snack containers, great food storage containers for home and school

  • Kids Konserve– variety of sizes and easy to open silicone lids. I’ve used them for years, and finally ordered a second set last year. Love them.
  • Kid Basix Safe Snacker– sandwich size option, but also fits a salad for my 9-year-old. Added this to our lineup last year and it’s a great multi-use option. Also good for car trips.
    • opt for generic colors so the containers don’t “belong” to any particular child. It will make your packing lunch life easier.
  • Wean Green– we have had our first set of Wean Green containers since our youngest went to daycare at 9 months. We packed baby food in them, and now they hold her salad dressings! They now offer a variety of sizes and they are super durable. Dishwasher friendly and the square sizes pack really well in the lunch box. As you go up in size, they are also great for meal prep!

plastic free lunch box wean green kids

Plastic Free Lunch Box Bags and Accessories

  • Beeswax wraps- skip the bag and use a beeswax wrap. This is great for young kids as it’s easy to open, and doesn’t add extra weight to their backpack like glass does.
  • Lunchskins are our favorite fabric sandwich bags. Itzy Ritzy zippered fabric bags are my favorite for smaller snack size options. They have a ton of cute patterns too!
  • Bamboo utensils to pack for oatmeal, salads, or yogurt parfaits for lunch. Stainless steel kid utensils are great for the dishwasher, but adds more weight to the lunch bag.
  • Stainless steel thermos options are another great way to add more variety to your kid’s lunch. We like the Lunchbots Thermo Soup Jar. It works for when we send in oatmeal or a yogurt parfait. (Or a fried egg that stays hot and can be used for an egg sandwich!)

Plastic Free Water Bottle for Lunch Box

This has been a struggle for way longer than I would like to admit. Between straws that are hard to clean, leaky snap covers, and paint that chips off, we have seen it all. I can give you a few suggestions of what everyone has been happiest with lately.

  • Contigo Thermalock bottle– we bought this last September and it’s still in great shape for the school year ahead! No straw, easy to clean. I do think it’s better for older kids as it may be challenging to open it.
  • Eco Vessel Kids Scout bottle– this has also latest over a year for us. It does have a food-grade silicone straw, but it detaches easily and the spout cleans well too. My younger kids have this one and love it.
  • As our kids get older I see them asking for bigger water bottles. Certainly for sports they need more water. The Hydro Flask brand is a favorite in our house as they have a variety of lids, depending on what you need. The sport top is the easiest for the kids to “lock” so we don’t end up with wet backpacks!

Whew! That’s a lot of info about how to switch to a plastic free lunch box! Happy back to school everyone!

Resources

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How We Teach Gratitude to Our Children

Create Color In Kids Thank You Note Cards

My Grammy once told me how much she appreciated receiving my thank you notes after the holidays and every birthday. When I was young, all I remember was how long it took to write out those cards. Sending a note is such a simple gesture, but it turns out it can be quite meaningful.

Our kids have been blessed with very generous grandparents and extended family. Now it’s our job as parents to work with them to instill the value of gratitude. Explaining the concept of  gratitude via thank you notes is helpful to take that first step. Having cute thank you notes to help the cause is even better.

Kids can write a note on their own paper, create their own card, or try these custom thank-you notes we used this year. Although I’m embarrassed to admit, we are still catching up on holiday/birthday thank you notes. Our kids get a double dose of presents over a month and we are trying to finish up those thank you notes this week. Part of the delay is the challenge of getting a seven year old to spend quality time writing out the notes. I don’t want thank you notes to feel like a chore, but more like an opportunity to discuss the gratitude we feel in our lives. To the children, it may be for presents, but it’s a good time to talk about other blessings. A warm home, healthy food, favorite friends and strong bodies. The less we focus on the “stuff” we are thankful for, maybe the kids will be more protective of the other blessings in their lives.

Color-in-kids-thank-you-notes

 

Try this with your kids. Next time they need to thank someone for a gift, use this as a chance to get them involved. Talk about gratitude and what it means. Then turn the tables and talk about how we can be more generous. Can we donate some toys to a family in need? Drop off a meal to someone who is ill? Call those grandparents more often because we know it makes their day. (Even grown ups need a reminder here sometimes, me included.)

Need some adorable Thank You notes for your kids? Tiny Prints wants to spread the message of gratitude and I’m happy to help. One winner will get 30 Color-In Thank You Notes ($56 value.) Pop over to my Instagram and enter into the contest there. Thank you to Tiny Prints for sharing this product with me and with you too! Contest is open until 3/9.

Thank-you-note-coloring-kids

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Calling All Red Sox Kids!

Who is ready to think spring?! We are big Red Sox fans in our house and have lived through the highs and lows of this great team. It’s time to get excited about the new season and I’m excited to share with you some of the family friendly initiatives the Red Sox organization is putting in place at Fenway for the 2015 season.

Red Sox Moms media

I’m part of a new team, the Red Sox Moms. We will be sharing with you the special events happening at the ballpark and around the city of Boston during the baseball season. If you have ever taken young kids to a ball game, you know you need more than just the game to hold their attention! This year there will lots of exciting new experiences for families to enjoy, starting from the minute they enter the park.

Gate K: The New Kids Entrance!

Enter Fenway Park through Gate K (by Gate B at Ipswich) and be welcomed with live entertainment, balloon artists, kids activities and more. Kids can get a Passports Reward book at the beginning of the season and collect stamps and prizes throughout the season. As a parent, I’m really happy to know the staff in this area is specially trained to work with kids and keep things fun!

Wally’s Clubhouse

The new Wally’s Clubhouse will be open for nearly every game from the 3rd inning on. Just as your kids start to get a little restless, you now have a safe place to bring them to stretch their less and let out a little energy. Think of toddler-friendly climbing zones, story tellers, animals shows and more. Wally will be there of course since he is often the main attraction for the little ones. Did you know you Wally has his own Facebook page now? Plus, concessions ($5 kids meal and beer for the parents) and large televisions so parents still get to enjoy the game experience. Oh, and don’t forget the air conditioning!

Little fan ready for the game. (source)

Little fan ready for the game. (source)

Need Diapers?

Did you know that you can grab diapers in any size from ALL customer service outlets in the park? No need to trek all the way to the First Aid station when you are in a pinch. They also carry sunscreen and wipes too!

Affordable Tickets

The best news about the Red Sox campaign to renew a love of baseball in kids is their commitment to offering 25,000 free tickets to the newest members of Red Sox nation. Sign up your kids (ages 14 and under) and they each get a free ticket. Make it a family event and head in together to experience America’s favorite pastime.

Sign-up-for-Red-Sox-Nation

Plus–there will be $9 high school and college tickets available for every game. These will be for kids ages 15 and up. I love this idea, as a Boston College grad I would have loved to catch a game for that price when I was in school!

In addition to these new initiatives, there will also be special days for kids with Peanut Allergies, Autism and the Red Sox continues its partnership with the Jimmy Fund. When I recently met with the behind-the-scenes team at Fenway Park, I was impressed with the Red Sox Foundation. This is the charitable arm of the organization and they are rebuilding 10 Little League parks throughout Boston, plus sponsoring both baseball and softball teams. They are committed to enriching the community and I’m excited to learn more about how they are giving back to the people of Greater Boston.

Don’t miss out! Join in the fun this summer and claim your kid’s free tickets to a Red Sox game. If you have any suggestions or ideas on how to make Fenway even better for families, let me know and I’ll pass along the info. See you at the game!

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Merry Everything

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday. Enjoy the time with your family and the little moments that make this holiday so special.

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IMG_7201.JPG

Thank you to the talented Nikki Amara Myers for the holiday photos!

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THANKSGIVING MENU AND TIPS FOR MAKING IT ALL COME TOGETHER

Happy Thanksgiving week to all my American readers! It is one of my favorite holidays, being food-centric and all. Thanksgiving is such a special time to plan for a lovely meal and sit and relax with family. We are hosting for the second time and it’s so fun to map out all the pieces of the puzzle for the week ahead. Today I’ll share my menu for Thanksgiving Day, a couple recipe favorites, plus some tips to make it all come together.

GET YOURSELF A TURKEY

Either a full size bird, or a smaller turkey breast, now is the time to pick it up. We get ours from Owen’s Poultry Farm in Needham. It’s fresh and just delicious! Last year I read a tip to cook a turkey breast in the slow cooker overnight so you have extra white breast meat for dinner and leftovers. It also give you some broth to work with to make gravy ahead of time. Win win.

PLAN YOUR MENU

Trust me when I say write it all down. Then write down what others are bringing. If you have guests, it’s always appropriate to ask them to contribute in some way. It’s a huge undertaking to make a Thanksgiving feast so get some extra hands. Or at least they can bring the wine. The second step is to gather all the recipes and make the master shopping list. I’m having the big grocery load delivered today and then I just have a couple of specific things to grab on Tuesday.

PULL OUT THE PLATTERS

If you have space, gather your serving pieces on Monday. This includes the platters, casserole dishes, serving utensils and make even the fine china you got at your wedding can make an appearance. If there are any holes, get the needed items on Tuesday. My turkey baster broke this past year so I’m grabbing one of those this week.

Fun Give Thanks printables

PLAN THE TABLE

Some people go all out for the Thanksgiving tablescape. In our house, space is at a premium so we need to have breakfast and serve the kids a light lunch at the same table before guests arrive. This year I’m going to layer the table with butcherblock paper and decorate it with some printable menus and name cards from TomKat studio. The kids table will also get a paper cover and they will get some fun activity placemats to keep them occupied too. You can find tons of other ideas on Pinterest–> I’ve been collected recipes and ideas in this Ultimate Thanksgiving Day Board to get you started.

IF YOU CAN DO IT IN ADVANCE, DO IT

It might make Tuesday and Wednesday a bit of a crazy time, but in the end you will be happy to have a bunch of items already crossed off the list. I’ll be making pie dough on Tuesday, Cranberry Sauce on Wednesday, Stuffing Wednesday night, set up bread maker Wed night, and get out all the turkey pans and ingredients needed for Thursday morning. Also, since our kitchen is a little tight, I bring in an extra banquet table to give me a little more working room. It gets repurposed as an appetizer table with fresh linens once guests arrive.

ENJOY THE DAY

Sometimes this can be a hard one when you are in the thick of cooking and organizing. Remember it’s okay if dinner is a little delayed and there are hiccups along the road. Hospitality is not about making it all perfect, but to bring everyone together in a welcoming space. Listen, love and laugh throughout the day and everything will get done. If not, make sure your desserts are awesome and there is plenty of wine to go around.

Thanksgiving Menu

You can see a snapshot of this menu over on Instagram too. Here is a link to the Corn Pudding recipe, a Roach family tradition. The cranberry sauce is via Martha Stewart’s classic cookbook. The turkey will be cooked via this super simple method from Simple Bites. 

What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner? Have a wonderful holiday!

 

Monday Meal Plan at Random Recycling.jpg

For more inspiration, see my past menus here, or the Pinterest board here, or OrgJunkie for a link-up of meal plans.

Kiwi Crate Holiday

photo credit: CarbonNYC [in SF!] via photopin cc

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Efficiency May Not be the Answer I was Looking For

Notes from a Blue Bike. The path to living intentionally

As some of you know, I recently took a family vacation for a week to Disney world and to visit family. Throughout the week I read the new book  Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World written by my favorite blogger Tsh Oxenreider. It has felt like everyone is talking about living a more intentional, or mindful, life as 2014 begins. It’s even on the cover of Time magazine this month. I too have been feeling a tug to slow down and allow for more space in my life to savor all the wonderful people in it. Reading this book on vacation was a wonderful first step.

The book is divided up into the following categories:

  • Awakening
  • Food
  • Work
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Entertainment
  • Revival

It was the first book in a while that kept me up late at night reading. Maybe it was the relaxed vacation mode, but I just devoured what Tsh had to say about slowing down our pace in life. Her story unfolds in Turkey as we learn about how different our American culture is in terms of how we value our time, food sources and resources. In America, we value EFFICIENCY. Just scroll though Pinterest to see how many posts are proclaiming “How to be More Productive.” I generally rate a day based on how many things I cross off my to-do list. Reading this book, and thinking about our slow days at the beach, are making me rethink how I view my idea of “productive.”

Ordinary activities for contemplation

As a parent, there is a natural amount of chaos  and to-do’s that exists in our lives. However, we can control more of how we manage the chaos than we give ourselves credit for. Take birthday parties for instance. Over vacation we celebrated two of the kid’s birthdays. After giving the kids the gift of Disney, we realized that they didn’t need to have additional parties. Although it’s not the norm, after reading the book I felt better about my decision to swim upstream and do what’s right for our family. In our case, it’s keeping things simple.

So if you are inclined to slow down the path of your life and enjoy the one life you have, hop on the blue bike and settle in for some wonderful words. Put down the phone/email/Pinterest/Facebook/Twitter/etc. and just read. You may find you don’t want all those distractions in your life.

Here’s the video that I saw months ago before the book came out. It’s delightful and it may inspire you to make a change.

Notes From a Blue Bike is written by Tsh Oxenreider, founder and main voice of The Art of Simple. It doesn’t always feel like it, but we DO have the freedom to creatively change the everyday little things in our lives so that our path better aligns with our values and passions. Grab your copy here. I was provided an advance copy to review but all opinions shared here are my own. All Amazon links are affiliate links. Find more at #notesfromabluebike

Blue Bike Blog Tour

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Christmas Craft A Day Update

Just wanted to share a few photos from the Christmas Craft a Day project. If you are following along on Instagram (I’m there as RandomRecycling), you can see the latest photos and find them under the hashtag #xmascraftaday. On the Random Recycling Facebook page, you may or may not see the updates. The Facebook metrics have changed so the daily updates don’t reach as many people as I would like. Stop by the page to comment on a post and you will hopefully see the updates again.

thumbprint christmas lights #xmascraftaday

christmas play dough craft #xmascraftaday

Candy Cane Reindeer #xmascraftaday

King Crown #xmascraftaday

Reindeer crowns #xmascraftaday

Sugar Cookie Baking #xmascraftaday

Thumbprint Christmas Tree #xmascraftaday

Pipecleaner Candy Cane #xmascraftaday

If you need directions for any of the projects above, let me know in the comments and I’ll reply with the details. Share the craft ideas for later and pin them to your Christmas or holiday boards. You can find all my Pinterest boards here.

Happy crafting!

P.S. Today is the LAST day for standard shipping via Amazon. Now might be a good time to order a few stocking stuffers and avoid the lines at the stores! If you shop via my Amazon link, it helps supports this site, at no cost to you. Thanks!

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Why Disney Planes movie will be a family favorite.

For family movie night, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias, we snuggled under blankets to watch Disney Planes DVD. I am pretty picky about what movies and shows I let my kids watch. They are only four and two and very impressionable. I only heard positive things about the movie when it was in the theaters, so I jumped on the opportunity to watch the Planes movie with my kids.

Disney Planes Family Movie #shop

If your kids are big fans of the Cars movies, they probably will love the Planes movie too. The characters are very similar and my kids kept asking, “Where is Lightning McQueen?” After they got over the missing character, they settled in to watch a story of courage and determination. My four year old asked a lot of questions during the movie, which is new for us. Questions about winning a race, questions about mean characters, and questions about planes being shot down. (The last part was part of a flashback…planes were safe but just a heads up.) It made me realize how important it is to choose movies that portray values we believe in.

Family movie night homemade popcorn #shop

Family movie night with homemade popcorn

The movie reminded me of both The Little Engine That Could and Disney’s Brave movie. Like Dusty the Plane, the characters believe in themselves and choose to pursue a dream. They overcome odds and continue to be courageous in the face of adversity. As my children grow, I love sharing stories like these with them. Sometimes it’s easier to use a movie, or book, to help explain a challenge they are facing in their own world.

As the holidays approach, I would happily endorse the Disney Planes movie for your next family night. Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD on November 19th!  Movies are a great non-toy gift to suggest to grandparents and family members.

Get ready for family movie night by offering the kids some Planes craft projects in the afternoon. My kids colored this color-by-number worksheet. You can find lots of other ideas on the Disney Planes Pinterest Board that are age-appropriate.

Disney planes color by number

Do you have a family movie night in your house? What are some of your traditions?

 

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A book to get you out of the lunch packing rut

Lunch ideas besides sandwiches

At the beginning of September, packing lunches for the kids was just one more thing to do at the end of the day (or first thing in the morning.) Now a few weeks into the month, staying motivated to pack healthy lunches with variety can be a bit draining. There are two new books on the market that I think will help you with packing lunches, whether you are cooking from scratch, or not. It’s real lunches here, not the super fancy bento box creations that are all over Pinterest and Instagram. Today I’m sharing my thoughts one of those books.

The Healthy Lunch Box eBook by KitchenStewardship 

I know I was guilty of always sending a sandwich into school towards the later half of the school year. Raspberry and cream cheese was the staple, since school is nut-free. This ebook has changed how I think about the kid’s lunches, so there’s hope my kids will get something different even when lunch packing time is nutty. The Healthy Lunch Box is an ebook which you can read as a PDF, or on your iBooks app, Kindle or Nook. The first half is all about strategy…I learned that there is a right, and a wrong, way to pack the ice in the lunchbox to keep the food safe. It also made me think about packing the next day’s lunch throughout the day, not just at the end of the day when you are tired.

Kitchen Stewardship Healthy Lunch Box

The first half of the ebook is filled with tips and tricks with new ways to think about packing lunch.

This collection of both tips and recipes is geared towards moms who are cooking with real food. Think fresh fruits, homemade yogurt, mayo, dips, etc. Many things are totally doable, or you can purchase part of the recipe and make it your own. The ideas are helpful when it comes to moving “beyond the bread.” There are a number of recipes that I liked for dinner, which would then translate into a healthy lunch for the kids the next day. Plus there are ideas for lunch that I tend to forget about, like sending in guacamole and pita bread. A healthy, fun option for the kids, yet now a sandwich. (Click here to see the entire table of contents.)

What are some fun new ideas I’ve gotten out of this book?

  • Fruit and protein skewers
  • Guacamole, shredded chicken, salsa and GMO-free tortilla chips
  • Lettuce wraps with a mix of proteins
  • Yogurt and granola
  • Nitrate free pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and pita bread slices

Click here to order your copy of The Healthy Lunchbox  If you are a real food newbie, this book is also helpful in educating you on what to be mindful of as you grocery shop. Katie’s site, Kitchen Stewardship, is one of the first blogs I started reading four years ago and it really changed how I cook today. We make our own yogurt now, regularly make our own chicken stock and because of her articles, I know why bone broth is so healthy for my family. Her Healthy Lunch Box book fits into our cooking lifestyle and it has given me a lot of good ideas to continue to test out in the coming months.

The Healthy Lunch Box eBook by KitchenStewardship

I received a copy of the Healthy Lunch Box to review and I’m so glad I did and happy to share it with you. There are some affiliate links in the post, but really I’m just sharing this because I know a lot of moms struggle with what to pack for lunch and I think this is one helpful resource.

photo credit: kayepants via photopin cc

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Time to get mom organized for back to school (Giveaway)

Tiny Prints Back to School

When we think about back-to-school it’s usually about getting the kids ready. But really it’s mom’s time to get ready for back to school. Here’s some quick tips for getting Mom ready for afterschool sports, birthday parties, meal planning and more.

School Zone at Home

  • Pick a spot for backpacks. Have the kids leave them there when they get home and return them there after completing homework so they are ready for the morning.
  • Put together a craft supply basket with scissors, pencils, markers, etc. to be used in a homework zone. Now is the time to stock up with back to school sales.

Meal planning

  • Pick a Sunday afternoon to put together a few freezer meals for when life gets busy and you don’t have time to make dinner.
  • A new notebook and meal planning printables are a great way to stay organized. Make notes of what dinners are favorites and incorporate them into your week’s meal plan.
  • Pinterest is my go-to for meal planning. You can find my meal plan posts here and dinner recipes here. If you need some lunch box inspiration, head over to my Lunch Love board.

Play dates

  • Schedule one or two in advance so you can plan for some free time to check things off your list.
  • Mom contact cards make connecting easy on the playground or in passing at pickup time.

After school activities

  • Pack a bag in advance with sports gear, clean and ready to go. (Pack second small bag for siblings if they will be hanging out waiting)
  • Keep some snacks ready to go and prepackaged so getting out the door is a little easier.

Birthday Parties

  • Buy a few gifts at a time for a certain age group so you are always ready
  • Gift tags are handy to have on hand and personalize a store wrapped gift.

Tiny Prints Labels

 

To help get Moms (and Dads) ready for Back to School season, Tiny Prints is offering a great package of products to get you started! The giveaway is up to a $97 value!

  • 5 sets of 24 gift tag stickers
  • 1 – 5×8 lined notebook
  • 100 – mommy/play date/contact cards

Giveaway is open until August 22nd to US and Canada residents only. (Canada must pay for shipping~ sorry!) Please enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get another chance to win by entering Tiny Prints Back to School contest for another $200 in prizes! Contest is open until August 28th.

I will also be receiving my own customized Tiny Prints back to school package…I can’t wait to pick out some new labels for the kids and I will get new mommy cards with all THREE kids names on them! All opinions shared here are my own. 

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