Inventory your supplies before buying more. Take a careful inventory of the school supplies you already have that can be used again. Do you have extra packs of pencils, or barely used notebooks? Do you really need a new ruler? Is last year’s backpack still fully functional? Is that lunch box still in great shape? Avoid last-minute impulse purchases by making a list of what you really need before you go to the store – and stick to it!
Pack school lunches. By packing a whole food lunch for your child in a reusable lunch box with a reusable bottle of water or milk, you will help reduce the amount of paper bags and food packaging your child tosses away – and they will be so much healthier for it too. Aim for products made with eco-friendly (non-plastic) materials and added insulation for keeping food chilled in hot weather and warm in the cold. Opt for durable, washable napkins (some fun designs are now available!) and real silverware. Get your kids involved in choosing healthy lunch ingredients, so they’ll be less likely to pitch stuff they don’t want to eat.
Comments