What's in Your Lunch Box? The Link Between Nutrition and Learning

When I am speaking to parents about nutrition for their children, I always ask if their food choices pass two basic tests. The first test I call the “grandmother test”. This means would their grandmother recognize the food they are serving? Is it something simple and wholesome that would have been around when she was a child? If yes, this is likely a good food choice. The second test I call the “chemistry test”. If you purchase pre-packaged snack or lunch foods where the ingredients list requires that you need a PhD in chemistry to understand what is inside, it is again not a good food choice. All of these chemicals are not food and have no nutritional value whatsoever. While the packaged food industry has certainly tried to make packing lunches easier, it doesn’t mean the box of snacks from Costco is the best for our kids!

Here are my top food ideas to consider placing in your child’s lunch box.

RECESS – has to be “grab and go”, right? It’s just too exciting to get out there.
 
Whole fruit:  take advantage of the gorgeous new crop of Okanagan apples, plums or nectarines available at your local fruit stand – no prep required!
Home-Baked goods: make a batch of oatmeal cookies or their favourite muffins, and toss in 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds while you are making them!  They will never taste the difference and you’ve just added fibre and omega-3 brain food. Toss extras in the freezer – they will easily defrost by recess time.  Send them in a reusable snack bag – just be sure to check their pockets at the end of the day!

LUNCH – take advantage of the creative lunch containers available – they promote a waste-free lunch and will save you lots in the long run! Pop in a cool pack when sending yogurt or eggs.

·      The “Classic” Sandwich: with whole grain bread and organic chicken or turkey – the key here is a source of protein which fuels the body and the brain. Whole grains contain B vitamins and minerals while the white gluey breads have little nutritional value and convert to sugar in the body very quickly, causing a spike and then crash in blood sugar.  Organic chicken is a great source of protein and free of chemicals from regular poultry products. For a twist, swap out the bread for a whole grain tortilla wrap.

      Hummus with veggies, whole grain crackers and turkey “roll-ups” – About the 3^rd week back to school, kids get really tired of sandwiches. Try this – the kids love the variety and dipping anything – so this option is packed with protein and a little more interesting.

·      Leftovers – don’t discount that pasta or soup from last night’s dinner. Invest in a great thermos and send them to school with something warm for their tummy (especially in the cool days ahead).

·      Omega 3 eggs – taken hard boiled to school, these pack a protein punch and have the benefit of also having the omega 3 source at a rate over 5 times higher than a regular egg. Eggs have taken a bad rap in the media for cholesterol, but they needn’t be cautioned for children unless there is an allergy on board. A wonderful brain food. Peel them in advance for the little ones!

·      Yogurt – one of the best sources of protein and calcium in addition to that good bacteria known as “probiotic” which aids in healthy digestive and immune systems. Look for Greek yogurt (even higher in protein) and if sending yogurt “tubes”, choose those with no artificial sweeteners or colours.

Also try involving your kids by asking them what they like.  They may just surprise you with some creative, healthy options they have seen at school that you haven’t thought of.

Guest Post: Dr. Cameron McIntyre ND, Naturopathic Doctor 

5 Reasons You Should Pack a Waste-Free Lunch

Back to school means back to a routine, back to being extra busy and back to packing lunches. Aside from the daily content question of what to pack, have you given much thought to how you're packing your lunches? A waste-free lunch by definition is one that contains no throwaway packaging or food leftovers. In terms of lunch gear products, re-usability is the number one factor when packing a waste-free lunch. A second factor, critical for your child's health, is non-toxicity and a final factor to consider is durability. If you're going to invest in reusable lunch gear, it makes sense to ensure it's made to last. It also makes sense to encourage your child's input on colours and patterns to encourage them to pack up their re-usables for taking home.

With just a little planning, packing waste-free lunches is easy – and important. Here are five reasons why you should pack a waste-free lunch for school.

1. It's good for the environment. The average student’s lunch generates a total of 30 kg of waste per school year, or an average of 8500 kg (18,700 lbs) of waste per school per year, according to the Recycling Council of Ontario. Waste-free lunches reduce the amount of garbage going into our landfills, including plastic bags that actually never go away. Pack only what you think your child will eat and keep it cold with a freezable lunch bag or eco-friendly ice pack to ensure minimal food waste at the end of the day.
2. It's good for your child's health. Packing lunch into re-usables means your child will most likely end up with a healthier lunch as you'll be avoiding prepackaged and heavily processed foods loaded with sugars and additives. You'll also be able to control the materials your child's food comes into contact with, ie. choosing non-leaching glass or stainless steel food containers over plastics that may contain endocrine disrupting chemicals which affect hormone levels.
3. It's environmental stewardship by example. If your kids see you making the effort to reduce the amount of waste you're packing for them on a daily basis, they'll begin to understand the importance of reducing our footprint on the earth. Then there's the knock-on effect of their friends seeing how little waste they're generating, and so on, and so on.
4. It can save you money. It is estimated that packing a disposable lunch complete with plastic baggies, plastic spoon, juice bag costs $4.02 per day compared to a waste-free lunch packed with reusables at $2.65 per day. That's $20.10 per week versus $13.25 per week and a saving of $1.37 a day or $6.85 a week. Clearly, the cost of a throwaway lunch adds up – and quickly. Waste-free lunches mean buying larger package sizes, even bulk and can actually become money savers for families.
5. It can help you prepare for the inevitable. If your child's school hasn't already introduced a 'waste-free lunch challenge' or 'litterless lunch day', it likely will – and soon. More and more schools are introducing the concept of environmental responsibility to students and lunch waste is an ideal way to demonstrate it.

Tips for packing a waste-free lunch

• Avoid boxes of individually prepackaged snacks and instead buy regular size boxes of cookies, crackers, tubs of yoghurt and simply transfer small amounts into reusable snack containers and pouches. 
• Flexible and reusable fabric snack pouches (with either a zipper or velcro closure) are ideal for recess as they can be rolled up and stored in a pocket when empty.
• In the rush to get out to the playground, juice tetra packs and drinking boxes you think will make it into the recycling box, often don't. Non-leaching, double wall insulated and highly durable BPA-free stainless steel water bottles that can stand up to the occasional knock or fall off a desk are a smart option.
• Don't forget reusable cutlery with your packed lunches – and on hot lunch days too. Otherwise your child will more than likely be provided with a one-use disposable plastic fork or spoon.

Super Easy Cool Berry Snack for Summer

Finally we're enjoying some sunny summer daze in Vancouver and naturally with the sun, comes the warmth – something us west coasters aren't entirely used to! Pretty much by accident, we stumbled across a healthy cool treat to beat the heat and keep the kids happy. It's simple and maybe you've discovered it, but we thought we'd share it: throw some fruit in the freezer. We were worried about our meager crop of fresh homegrown raspberries going off, so put them (along with a few strawberries) in the freezer, in the stainless steel Lunchbots container we picked them in a few days ago. (Stainless steel is great for freezer storage.) This weekend we came across the container and as it was hot, passed them around to the kids. Have you ever popped a frozen raspberry in your mouth? Yum, to say the least. The outer bit melts right away for a zingy raspberry taste while the centre stays frozen for a cool treat. The kids loved them. Try it yourself with raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, or pretty much any fruit you can lay your hands on and at this time of year, there's plenty to choose from. Enjoy!

Freeze berries for an easy icy treat to help you keep cool in the summer heat.

Kids love these tasty all natural frozen treats.

Great Green New Year's Resolution Giveaway

The New Year is here and with it a great opportunity for a fresh start. Time to take stock, evaluate and decide how to live a greener, healthier life in 2012 - and it doesn't have to be complicated. How about resolving to use both sides of every piece of paper? Walking if your destination is less than four blocks away? Starting a home garden this spring? All very do-able, with just a bit of effort. Tell us about your green New Year's resolution and you could win a Brightbin lunch box cube - to help make your lunches waste free in 2012. We love these two-layer BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free lunch containers with plenty of different compartments. For more about the lunch cube, click here.


THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED *** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER, JONNIE H.

WIN IT!
Tell us what your green resolution is for 2012 and you could win a BPA-free Brightbin lunch cube container in our random draw.

Leave your answer in a comment below or email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Green Resolution Giveaway' in the subject line. **Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.**

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered to win the Green Resolution Giveaway at www.lavishandlime.com"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
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One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Extended: deadline for entries is midnight PST Friday, January 13th. The winner will be notifiedMondayday, January 16th. Open to Canadian residents only.

Stainless Steel Stackers are Sick

Some people say their food doesn't taste the same in stainless steel. We say, if you're looking for durability without toxicity, stainless steel is a great option for food storage on the go or in the fridge. American company Kids Konserve have introduced two new colourways for their leak proof stainless steel nesting trio containers and we couldn't be happier. Now in addition to the Moss three-pack with BPA-free lids in neutral orange and green, you can choose more feminine-coloured Sky lids of pastel pink, yellow and blue or a more boy-themed Ocean pack featuring red, blue-grey and green lids. These new colours are great for kids keen on 'cool' -- or as we've been told by our eight year-old, 'sick' -- colours with shall we say, discerning taste. Made of high quality 304 grade stainless steel, the containers themselves are fantastic not only because they fit inside one another for easy storage but because the lids, while easy enough to get off and on, are leak proof. For more details, click here.

Even Halle Has a Bird Bag

We love our Brown Bird Lunch Cooler Bag from Canadian company So Young Mother. Apparently, so do many of you - we have a hard time keeping it in stock. Now we find out it's a favourite of the Hollywood set too. Oscar winning actress Halle Berry was spotted carrying this same Birds Cooler Bag with her daughter Nahla in tow. It's no wonder. Not only is this bag free of nasties like PVC, lead and phthalates, but it's insulated, easy to clean and made with natural linen. The carry handle is adjustable so you can strap it to a stroller or another bag and it comes with detachable shoulder straps so you can always sling it over one or both shoulders and carry it on your back. The bird graphics are gorgeous and the zipper opens on three sides for easy packing plus there's an ID card inside and an exterior mesh pocket on back. Above all else, our absolute favourite thing about this cooler lunch bag is its upright style that allows for stacking containers or standing bottles upright. It's a great option for back to school or work lunches. For more details, click here.

Cool Canvas Bags for Kids

Kids don't necessarily care what a lunch bag is made of -- it's what's on the outside that counts. That's why we're so excited about our new line of insulated cotton canvas lunch bags for kids. The fantastic graphics are colourful and kid-friendly yet being made of cotton, these reusable lunch bags are free of PVC (the poison plastic) and tested lead safe. Parents can like them too, knowing they're safe for kids to use daily. The insulated bags keep food cool until lunch time. Other features include a cushioned handle, outside pocket, interior mesh pocket, ID tag and a sturdy three-sided zip for full opening and easy packing. The exterior of these funky lunch totes is treated with a non-toxic waterproof and stain resistant coating, the inside is easy to wipe clean on a daily basis. The good news is they're also machine washable on delicate with a line dry for a more thorough clean. Take your pick from butterflies, owl, peace skulls, monsters and robots. For more details, click here.

Friday Freebie: Stainless Steel Snack Container Giveaway

Looking for a non-leaching, non-toxic, durable alternative to plastic for storing snacks on the go? Stainless steel snack containers are a great reusable, eco-friendly option - and for kids, colourful designs are best.

Let's face it, stainless steel anything is an investment. There are no concerns about toxins leaching into your food and yes, they'll probably outlast us all but they're also more costly than disposable plastic options. Don't get us wrong, without a doubt the investment is worth it in savings in the long run, but to help ensure your stainless steel containers last for the long run - without getting lost at school - we suggest choosing fun, colourful designs that make kids want to hold on to them.

Our Blue Panda Stainless Steel Snack Containers Set and our pretty Pink Fairy Tea Party Snack Set both include two containers of different sizes: one 8oz. and one 16oz. container. They're perfect for all kinds of snacks and the screw on lid combined with the silicone seal (you get an extra one of these with each container) means these snack containers are leak proof and airtight. They're so airtight, the manufacturer recommends them for storing loose leaf tea and spices too!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS SOOZLE! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.

WIN IT!
We have one pink fairy stainless steel 8oz. snack container to give away. Tell us in a comment below what you would pack in it and it could be yours! Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

Extra entry:
Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment on our wall about this giveaway.

This is our Friday Freebie, but we're happy to take entries through the weekend. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Sunday, May 29th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on our blog and on Facebook Monday, May 30th. Good luck!

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.

A Safer Option: Stainless Steel Dishes & Cups

Looking for a kids cups and dishes that don't leach nasty chemicals but can handle being chucked across the room, from a high chair, over your head? We've found it with our stainless steel cup and dish set.

Post by Louise

It seems everyone has those plastic kids' dishes from Ikea. You know, the ones that are either in the shape of a flower or a rectangle and come in a rainbow of colours. Problem is, if you put them in the dishwasher or if they're scratched, chances are they could be leaking potentially harmful chemicals into your children's food and drink. The alternative?

Finally, we've found one in stainless steel. It's uber durable, dishwasher-safe and non-leaching. Our Kids Stainless Steel Dish Set from Lunchbots, makers of quality food containers, features a mug, bowl and plate. It's sleek-looking and sturdy and will last, well, forever.

If you're looking just for cups, check out our single Stainless Steel Cup. It's exactly the same size as the Ikea cups and stands up to kids just as well - only it's safer because it doesn't have the potential to leak chemicals into its contents.

Have qualms about putting metal in or near the mouth? Trust us, kids don't. They love these shiny products.

Stainless steel cups and dish sets are available at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

The Top Ten Reasons to use Glass Food Storage Jars

Getting back to glass has its benefits - especially for food storage. With growing awareness about toxins and toxic materials, more and more of us are looking for healthier, more environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic food containers, etc. for food storage, reheating and serving.

Here are ten top reasons you should store your food in a glass container.

1. There is no leaching of toxic chemicals into the food kept in glass storage containers. Glass is BPA-free, PVC-free and Phthalates-free.

2. Glass is earth-friendly - it's 100% recyclable.

3. There is no staining with glass storage jars as there can be with plastic.

4. Glass is transparent so you can keep an eye on the status of the leftovers in your fridge.

5. Glass is easy to clean - just pop your used glass container in the dishwasher.

6. You can put your glass storage containers in the freezer, in the oven and in the microwave (just be wary of any plastic lids).

7. Glass looks good and can go direct from fridge to table. There's no problem with serving food in glass containers thereby in many cases, eliminating the need for separate serving dishes.

8. Glass food storage containers are now available with colourful and secure BPA-free lids.

9. There is no after taste with glass as there can be for some people with sensitivities to stainless steel containers.

10. Treated with care, glass is durable and can last a long, long time.

For a contemporary multi-coloured set of glass food storage containers with lids, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any questions or thoughts about glass containers or storing food in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Today's Parent Picks from Lavish & Lime

Open up this month's issue of Canada's #1 parenting magazine Today's Parent and guess what you'll find on page 28? Four Lavish & Lime products recommended as top fun and eco-friendly ways to bring food to school. We couldn't be more thrilled!

Today's Parent is a great resource - both online and offline - for families of all ages and at all stages. Here are the four products they recommend you use for bringing lunch to school - as they appear in the 'your family Downtime' column.

1. Reduce, Reuse Rewrap! Forget cling wrap; send a sandwich that leaves a smaller footprint. Reusable sandwich wrap, $10, lavishandlime.com.

2. Double Duty This sleek lunch pail is conveniently divided into separate, no-leak compartments. Goodbyn lunch box. $29.50, lavishandlime.com.

3. Green Eats Warmer than metal, earth-friendlier than plastic, this is cutlery kids can feel good about. Bamboo utensil set, $13, lavishandlime.com.

4. Back to Glass Classic glass bottle with an edgy silicone wrap for durability. Glass water bottle, $26, lavishandlime.com.

For these and more waste-free lunch gear ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about packing eco-friendly lunches, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Reduce School Angst with Lunch Box Love Notes

We kicked off the 'school' portion of our Live Back to School Facebook Forum last month with a question for our teacher about the best way to handle separation anxiety - for us and for the kids.

What ensued was a bit of a discussion among our Facebook fans that included the following suggestions.

"For mommy a nice Irish coffee. For the kids I tucked little love notes in fun places like pencil case, lunch bag, pockets on backpackjs and coats." Julia G.

"Reassuring my girls I love them every minute." Karen C.

"We used the book The Kissing Hand and talked with our son about how he would feel more comfortable - like having a picture of mom and dad in his pencil case and getting a special treat in his lunch." Dara B.S.

"Little notes in the lunch box for the first few days of all-day school in Grade 1 definitely worked for us!" L & L

"Here they start all day schooling in Kindergarten so love notes area must! It's hard for such little ones. My kids also have a long commute." Julia G.

Download
The common sense theme from Moms in the know seems to be little acts of reassurance, love reminders, if you like, to help reduce school separation angst. So we found some great lunch box notes from alphamom.com for you to download and print - on recycled paper of course! Or if your wee one worships Dora like ours does, print these adorable Dora lunch box notes. Alternatively, simply make your own paper hearts with a message, etc. We're pretty certain whatever you do, it will help make your day and theirs that much better.

If you're looking for ways to pack a safe non-toxic and waste-free lunch, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime for the latest in eco lunch gear. If you have any thoughts about reducing school angst or ideas about what to pack in a lunch box, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

The Goodbyn Lunch Box: a morning time saver

Weekday mornings are hectic for most, but for those of us with school age kids, some days they can be absolutely manic. Enter the Goodbyn. An all-in-one lunch box with an alter ego: time saver.

Kudos to those of you who are organized enough to make your lunches the night before. For the rest of us, get a Goodbyn lunch box. Reminiscent of an airline meal tray, the Goodbyn has six different compartments to keep food separate and one lid to seal them all up. That's the secret - one container, one lid.

No longer will you spend precious morning minutes hunting and low for appropriate-sized containers - and their lids - to fit the various parts of little Billy's lunch. Or even better, having a container in hand and trying to figure out what you have in the fridge that will fit into it.

Today's lunch in a Goodbyn. See the funky stickers on the lid? The Goodbyn comes

with nearly 300 stickers for your child to personalize his or her own lunch box.

Simply open up the Goodbyn, put it on the counter and start filling the various compartments with whatever little Susan loves to eat. Grab that box of crackers, cereal, cookies and throw a handful in whichever compartment you like. Put a sandwich in the big one or a wrap in the long one. A banana and granola bar in the top one and raisins in the smallest one. Put grapes in one side compartment and carrot sticks in the other. It feels like you're emptying your cupboards and fridge into this one lunch box. It's so easy - and quick! Plus you'll realize there's no need to buy all those pre-packaged snacks with all their disposable wrapping.

We highly recommend the Goodbyn lunch box. Not only is it BPA, lead, phthalate-free, made responsibly in the USA out of dishwasher-safe, recyclable material and helps cut down on waste, but it's been pivotal in ensuring we avoid getting that late slip on far more than one occasion.

Goodbyn Lunch Box Sale: Save 20% on Goodbyns this Victoria Day weekend at online eco boutique Lavish & Lime. Choose from four bright colours: pink, blue, orange and green. Offer ends midnight, May 24th - limited time only! If you have Goodbyn story, please leave a comment below and tell us about it. We'd love to hear from you!

5 Ways to Green Your World

Earth Day is all about the impact our actions have on the environment but why not make healthy, safe choices that mean we treat the earth and ourselves well every day? Here are some easy ways to green your world.

1. Natural skincare products
Look for natural ingredients in your family's skincare products. When buying shampoo, bubble bath, cleansers, hand sanitizers, hand soap and sunscreen, avoid parabens, synthetic colours and fragrances, sulfates, sodium laureth, and alcohol. There are lots of chemical-free alternatives proven to be equally as effective as their traditional counterparts plus they're hypo-allergenic and biodegradable too, so they don't upset the natural balance of the ecosystem. The all-natural Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Body Wash from Taslie is tearless and an economical option for little ones (refills available). Cleanwell hand sanitizer and Cleanwell foaming hand soap are free of triclosan, benzalkonium chloride and alcohol making them completely kid-safe, even if accidentally ingested. They've also been lab proven to kill 99.99% of germs on contact with a patented blend of essentials oils that harness the natural antiseptic power of thyme. For sunscreen, one of the best natural options for both adults and kids is Soleo Organics.

2. Greening everyday items
Reduce the amount of waste you generate by investing in quality eco-friendly alternatives to everyday items. Reduce your use of plastic wrap and foil for food preparation and storage by choosing a reusable, non-toxic alternative like eco food covers. Made of 100% food-safe silicone, these BPA-free food covers stretch to fit almost any size bowl or container and are oven-, microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe. For lunch on the go, try a handy sandwich wrap you can use again and again. When shopping, Envirosax designer shopping bags are the most useable reusable shopping bags around. They fold down to the size of a piece of sushi so you can pop a couple in your bag or glove compartment and never go without. Trade in plastic produce bags for the irresistibly quirky organic cotton reusable produce & bulk bags decked out with original illustrations of toothy tomatoes, sleepy carrots, smiling toast and more.

3. Say goodbye to poison plastic
You know that new shower curtain smell? That smell is polyvinyl chloride, otherwise known as PVC or vinyl and is referred to as the poison plastic. PVC contains harmful chemicals, including phthalates, lead and cadmium which can be toxic to a child's health. Phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time (off-gassing) causing potential danger to children. Some of these chemicals can cause developmental damage as well as damage to the liver and central nervous, respiratory, and reproductive systems. PVC has even been linked to autism. A recent Swedish study published in Scientific American found that infants or toddlers who lived in a bedroom with vinyl or PVC flooring were twice as likely to have autism five years later than those with wood or linoleum floors. In addition to shower curtains and flooring, PVC is found in everything from mini-blinds to lunch bags. As an alternative to PVC shower curtains, this PVC-free EVA shower curtain features funky green frogs, and for lunch bags, you can't beat the insulated neoprene cow lunch bag.

4. BPA, no way
Bisphenol-A (BPA) has got a lot of bad press of late and rightly so - stay away from it. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic, which is the material most plastic water bottles, baby bottles and food containers are made from. Recent research has shown the chemical, which mimics the hormone estrogen and is a known developmental, neural and reproductive toxicant, can leach from bottles or containers into the contents. Animal studies have linked low levels of BPA to hyperactivity, learning disabilities, early onset of puberty, increased diabetes risk, age-related neurodegenerative diseases, and certain cancers, including breast cancer. So play it safe and turn to alternatives like non-leaching stainless steel. The nesting trio of non-leaching stainless food storage containers is a great alternative to standard plastic containers. Instead of plastic dishes for kids, try the chic-looking stainless steel divided food tray. Watch out for more and more BPA-free plastics coming on the market, like the all-in-one Goodbyn lunch box or the fruit guard, ideal for protecting soft pears and peaches and the brainchild of three Vancouver emergency room doctors.

5. What's your product made of?
Choose products made of eco-friendly and sustainable materials and lower any possible negative impact on the environment. These adorable hand puppets are made of recycled wool sweaters. Bamboo is considered nature’s most sustainable and naturally regenerative resource. It's grown without fertilizers, pesticides or insecticides and is biodegradable. Plus it's hypoallergenic and softer than the softest cotton on the market - perfect for baby. Both the bamboo fitted crib sheet and bamboo cable knit swaddle blanket come in bright rainbow colours so there's no need to sacrifice style for sustainability.

Visit lavishandlime.com to start greening your world today! Lavish & Lime ships all across Canada and beyond. These are just some of the many baby steps we call can take to live life a little greener. If you have any ideas about greening your world, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Litterless Lunch in the Snow

This weekend we decided to forego the gorgeous cherry blossoms around town and head onwards and upwards for a bit of fun in the snow (and some allergy relief) instead.

We left this...
For a couple hours of this...
A 30 minute drive that was well worth the trip. The kids loved it - a bit of tobagganing, a snowball fight and a picnic in the snow. It was a litterless lunch we packed, naturally. Nothing quite beats a steaming cup of homemade hot chocolate up on a mountain. Yet again, we were amazed at how well our Thinksport bottles kept their contents hot - and our eco basket worked a charm as the perfect picnic hold all.

Two seasons, one day. How lucky we are to live in Vancouver.

Visit online eco boutique Lavish & Lime for more waste-free lunch ideas in our On the Go category. Any thoughts or ideas about a recent memorable lunch experience you've had? We'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

New Envirosax Minisax Lunch Bags are a Steal

Envirosax has just released a new bright and cheery range of stunning reusable shopping bags for Spring 2010 and top of these, they've come up some funky little lunch bags that are literally a steal.

At just $5.50 each, the new Minisax Reusable Lunch Bag is sized to fit your lunch, plus a drink in the inner pocket. Cleverly designed, the whole bag ends up folding into the pocket for a flat, easy-to-store or transport 4" x 4.5" rectangle when not in use.

The best part is these fully washable bags are made of recycled plastic bottles. Envirosax has come up with a new RPET fabric, made of 55% polyester and 45% Repreve®. Repreve® is made with 100% recycled fiber—and manufactured like no other recycled yarn in the world. The process is so unique, the Discovery Channel featured it on an episode of How It's Made. The inclusion of polyester in the fabric is important for ensuring its durability and strength. The fabric is made of a stronger weave than regular Envirosax shopping bags and feels heavier to the touch.

But back to the Minisax design, which is quite frankly, stunning no matter which of the three bags you choose. There's funky flowers, fine print leaves or stripes - all on a black background with a different pattern on back. The flowers feature a contrast green/white polka dot design on back, the leaves a solid aqua and the stripes, a black back panel. The contrast trim detail is not to be missed either. All three are stylish and fun - perfect for older kids and taking to work.

For more information about the Minisax lunch bags, visit Lavish & Lime where you'll find a great selection of Envirosax reusable shopping bags and new shoulder Slingsax bags too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about reusable lunch bags in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Entrepreneur Focus: the scoop on The Lunch Punch sandwich cutters

We're really excited about the newest addition to our Lunch Essentials range - Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters. And we're even more excited that we were able to have a few words with the Aussie mompreneur behind these fantastic sandwich cutters that make eating so much fun, the brilliant Kiersten Jowett.

1. How did you come up with the idea for The Lunch Punch?
Cutting crusts off my kids sandwiches, I wished I had a tool that would help and would make the sandwich into fun, interactive and engaging shapes at the same time. So I thought, well, I guess I could try to do it.

2. What was the journey like taking Lunch Punch from concept to market?
The journey has been fun. I had no experience in this (before children I was the manager for our state's deaf interpreting service) so I started from scratch. I designed the puzzle shapes using cereal boxes which I cut up and taped together. Then I took it to a manufacturer I found in the yellow pages. That's how it started. I didn't end up using the manufacturer I started talking with but he has been very helpful and supportive throughout this journey.

3. What environmental considerations have you taken in creating the Lunch Punch sandwich cutter sets?
It was very important that both the product and the packaging be 100% recyclable. So I wouldn't even start before I was sure I could achieve that. Also, being a conscientious mother of three, safety is a big issue for me. So I spend a lot of time researching the safest materials and ensure our products meet the highest world standards for safety. The Lunch Punch is also independently tested by a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission accredited company to certify its safety.

4. What's life like for you as creator of this innovative product?
My day is about small, simple things like getting my eldest sons to school and playing cars and trains with my youngest one. I suppose I am an inventor, designer and entrepreneur but if people ask what I do I tell people I'm a stay at home mom. Because even The Lunch Punch is really just a part of me being a mom. The Lunch Punch is just a tool I made to try to help kids (like mine) enjoy a healthy lunch and to make it more fun for parents (actually, me) to make sandwiches.

5. There's the match n' munch puzzle sandwich cutters set and the animal critter set. Which is your favourite punch?
I go through phases of different favourites; at the moment I like Flash, the dog.
I should also mention that some children like crusts and their parents have told me they still use the Lunch Punch for those kids, they just keep the crust on and serve their shape in the crust "frame"!

For more information about Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters and a full range of litterless lunch gear, visit Vancouver-based eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about the Lunch Punch or making eating fun in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!