Sustainable Parenting

Convenience is a mother’s best friend.  However convenience can come at a price.  Not only are many individualized snacks more expensive, but they are also more wasteful.  Juice boxs, snack wrappers and other packaging ends up in the landfill which takes more than 50 years to biodegrade (if that).

The real name of the game is preparedness.  I know that it can be difficult to prepare for snack time or “on the go” snacks, but if you get in the habbit of making your snack list at the beginning of the week (just like your meal menu) life can be much easier.

Having containers to place items into instead of using disposable baggies is the best way to keep it organized by child and not be wasteful.   Have each child write their name on their container and then it can be filled with either fruit,  graham crackers,  etc.

Here is an example of our weekly snack menu  (all of our snacks are purchased at our local organic market or at out local farmer’s market)

Sliced Apples

Grapes (Green and Red Seedless)

Cinamon Graham Sticks

Cheddar Bunnies (we love Annies crackers)

Frozen Peas ( a fun treat)

Orange Slices

Peanut Butter or Cashew Butter and Bannana Sandwhiches (cut into quarters)

Homemade Granola and Energy Bars

Since I normally have a “crew” to feed and they are normally in the car for long periods of time while we are picking up other children, I try to have everything ready and in a cooler when I pick up the kids from school.  Each child also has their own filtered water bottle with their name on it We are big believers in the filtered water bottles, so that whereever we go the kids can get tap water and then it is filtered through their own bottle.  This saves time and money for thirsty kids who don’t need any more sugary juices.

To find the filterd bottles you can go to www.5pillars.com/clgeiger