After a blissful summer of ice creams, hot chips and pavlovas, the time has come for our little ones to get back to normality.
But a return to eating well shouldn’t stop at food. The ingredients in the items you use to prepare, store and transport your children’s food matter too.
This issue, we asked our friends at ecostore to recommend some plastic-free alternatives that make it easier for parents to send kids back to school with nothing but goodness in their lunches.
Kid-proof drink bottles
It seems like a no-brainer, but stainless steel drink bottles are a clear winner when it comes to environmental friendliness and practical performance. Not only do they keep plastic away from your kids lips, but they are durable, easy to clean and rust free. TIP: Choose a double-walled construction to keep drinks cold and refreshing all day long.
Plastic-free lunch boxes
There are some great stainless steel lunch boxes available, from bento style (with different compartments… because nobody likes a soggy sandwich), to individual pottles that are perfect for pasta salads or fruit and yoghurt.
Beeswax wraps
Not only do these cloth and wax wraps look colourful and fun, they’re a welcome alternative to cling film. Use them for crumb-free transportation of sandwiches or home baking and then simply wash in warm (not hot) soapy water, rinse and hang out to dry for next time.
Refillable pouches
These handy pouches are the perfect way to package wet foods. Great for all those homemade goodies, like sauces and fruit purées, so you can avoid the preservatives and additives that come with many commercially produced foods.
After school goodness
The plastic-free revolution doesn’t stop at the school bell. Prepare your kids’ homecoming snacks the healthy way using silicone muffin trays, baking sheets and ice block moulds.
Don’t forget the body care
Choosing ‘clean’ hair and skin care products is another way to make sure your kids aren’t absorbing unnecessary toxins in their day-to-day life. Look for natural ingredients and avoid chemical ingredients like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) or SLE (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), along with parabens and phthalates.
For a wide range of kid/environment-friendly drink bottles, lunchboxes, detanglers, body wash and hair care products, visit ecostore’s shop at 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay.
ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz
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February 2024