Now that the kids are back in school after the holidays, has the stress to find daily lunch packing ideas returned?  Are your kids tired of the same old sandwich and are you fresh out of ideas?  What's a busy mom to do?  Don't worry, we have plenty of ideas to jazz up your kids' lunches and make your life easier and greener. 

Let 2010 be the year of green, waste-free lunch packing.  While you can always put your child's lunch items into Ziploc baggies, you can also take an easy step to save money and cut down on the trash being hauled to our landfills by simply using the Kids Konserve reusable Food Kozy.  The Food Kozy is an innovative and non-toxic solution that can help you eliminate your plastic baggie, saran wrap, and foil addiction, while giving you the flexibility you need for all your lunchtime creations.

        

Top 20 Food Kozy Lunch Packing Ideas: 

  Open faced brie cheese and granny smith apple slices on slice of sourdough bread

  Tomato and bacon grilled cheese sandwich

  Turkey, provolone rolled up in whole wheat tortilla

  Peanut butter and banana slices on cinnamon raisin bagel

  Deli tower: chunk of salami, chunk of cheese with a side of crackers

  Kid Friendly Burrito

  Tuna in a pita with grape tomatoes

  Canned or shredded chicken, mayo, halved purple grapes on a blueberry bagel

  Cream cheese and jelly cracker sandwiches

  Baked ham and cheese quesadillas

  Waffle sandwich: two frozen waffles defrosted with peanut butter and carob chips

  Pita Pocket Caesar

  Hummus and thin layer of sliced cucumber on lavosh layered in a stack

  Cream cheese and cinnamon bread

  California Veggie Wrap

  Pizza slice

  Chicken fingers (use a Kids Konserve mini container for honey dipping sauce or
         ranch dressing)

  Pita Pizza

  Taquitos (use a Kids Konserve mini container for salsa)

  Bagel sandwich (get creative with different spreads: garden veggie, garlic herb,
         strawberry, smoked salmon)

And, in the kitchen the Food Kozy is great for storing blocks of cheese in your refrigerator; halves of cucumber, bell peppers, and other veggies that you may normally wrap in saran wrap or put in a ziploc bag.  To put over a bowl for storage rather than saran wrap, place the Food Kozy over the bowl and secure with a rubber band.  Endless reusable options!

Kids Konserve Food Kozy is a reusable alternative to plastic baggies, plastic wrap and foil. Recycled, FDA approved, non-toxic, non-leaching, recyclable PE plastic. This product does not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) and is Phthalate free. 13.5" round.

What's in your Food Kozy?

January is a time of renewal and fresh beginnings.  A time to think about the greater good and a time to make resolutions for the year ahead.  We at Kids Konserve are making resolutions, in addition to having had one of our own "Eco Wishes" granted! 

We are asking ourselves and you, "If I could change or wish one thing for the greater environmental good in 2010 what would it be?" 

Here is what Kids Konserve's wishes are:

      Chance: I wish that I would never have to see another plastic bag stuck in a 
                           tree or bush as I drive down the freeway.

       Lynn:    I would like to see less "garbage" bins filled with recyclable materials 
                          like glass bottles and aluminum cans.

      Christy:  I wish that restaurants/fast food restaurants would reduce packaging
                          waste.

      Wendy:  I wish that our culture would recognize the irony of manufacturing
                         "disposable" products often made from materials that persist in our 
                          environment for generations.

      Gene:    I wish we would all treat the environment as well as we treat our
                          children.

      McLaine (6 yrs. old):  I would like to help the birds to not have any pollution from
                                              the factories.

We want to hear from you.  What is your one wish for the environment this New Year?  We will pick five wishes we receive and post them on our site for Earth Day.  In addition these five 'winners' will receive a copy of of the book, "Bag Green Guilt".

A look back to 2009 and Kids Konserve's New Year's resolutions included things like reducing the amount of trash going into community landfills, making it easier for families to pack waste-free, and giving back to schools by providing fundraising monies to help support their green efforts.

Wishes Granted:  Kids Konserve is growing thanks to you!  Kids Konserve was awarded this year with a grant from the New York based women's clothing company, Eileen Fisher, which will enable us to continue providing more and researching more innovative products. The grant was given to a woman owned business who is working toward environmental changes in society.  We are honored beyond belief to have received this grant.  Thank you Eileen Fisher!

Click here to leave your Eco-Wish

(5 Winners will be chosen randomly on April 20, 11:59pm PST to receive a copy of Bag Green Guilt.  Open to US residents only, ages 18+)

Put meaning in the greening this holiday season.  Want to make this a truly eco-friendly holiday for your family and friends?  Our Kids Konserve's gift guide features the season's best non-toxic and sustainable gifts.  Whether you are the green guru of the house, or you're struggling to find a gift for one, you'll find selections that you can be proud to give. 

Hostess & Teacher Gifts:  Thinking about what to give to the hostess of the party, your child's teacher, hairdresser, neighbor gift, what to bring to the cookie/gift exchange....  Tired of giving out candles?  Here are some great ideas hanging from the tree (below) at great prices. 

As seen in Entrepreneur Magazine: The Greening of Lunch/Greening of Holidays

1.  Set of 304 Food Grade Leak-Proof Stainless Steel Containers for life.

2.  Reusable Party Pak for the Classroom.  Take the trash out of the bash!

3.  Nesting Trio Leak-Proof Stainless Steel Containers, all the right sizes
                       and easy to store!

4.  Cotton Napkins - Save a tree and use these at your family dinners. Pick
                        from squiggle, caterpillar, or butterfly patterns.

5.  Food Kozies - The reusable wrap for homemade cookies, peanut brittle,
                        or brownies.

6.  Waste-Free Lunch Kits - Give a Kid a Kit (choose your style, pattern, or
                        create your own).

7.          Bottles - No Liners! Non-Toxic Stainless Steel bottles.  One for everyone in
                       the family.

8.  Minis - From nuts to jelly beans, you can always find something to put in
                         these!

9.      Drawstring bags - Great gift wrap, for a bottle of wine or on the go
                        snacks, a great anytime bag.

10. Snack Paks - Perfect for light lunches and on the go snacks.

11.          Green Cleaning - Greenwood Naturals!  Biodegradable and Non-Toxic!

12.      12 oz. Insulated Thermos - Going beyond the Sandwich!  Endless
                      options!

Each year the U.S. consumes 380 BILLION plastic bags, sacks, and wraps!!!
(source: Environmental Protection Agency)

The last thing this world needs is another plastic bag.  Nowadays there are so many eco-chic reusable options to the 'plastic bag or baggie' that it is making it easier to cut out the use of plastic bags and baggies all together!  Kids Konserve is dedicated to the cause of helping make your life easier one less plastic bag at a time.

Meet the Kids Konserve Snak Pak. The perfect waste-free solution for on the go snacks and light lunches for just $22!

Includes:

    Reusable cotton drawstring bag 9" x 13".
    Reusable cotton cloth napkin.
    Reusable food kozy – the Kids Konserve reusable plastic baggie.
    Reusable 304 food-grade stainless steel leak-proof food container.
   NON-TOXIC, Non-Leaching, BPA, PVC, Phthalate, and Lead-free!
 

Kids Konserve; making it easier for you and our planet!

In our last post, Have an Eek-O-Friendly Halloween, Kids Konserve wrote about how businesses can align and strengthen the message they are sending!  In this post we had the opportunity to do just that!  Kids Konserve got the chance to talk with Beth Aldrich, Green Living Expert and Health Coach, for some great tips and inspiration.  How you treat yourself, your family and your home all add up to how we collectively take care of our planet.  Beth knows that in today's busy world, it is not always easy being green, yet explains that making simple green choices will make a big impact on the environment.   Becoming an eco-conscious consumer will help make eco-conscious decisions.  Here are a few of her tips:

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Cutting down on waste can save 4.4 pounds of garbage a day, 29 pounds per week and 1,600 pounds a year.  Clean out clutter by recycling old papers and giving away kids' outgrown clothes.  Take inventory and purchase only items that you need.  Pack a reusable, waste-free lunch with Kids Konserve reusable, eco-friendly food containers.  Read Beth Aldrich's review on Kids Konserve here.
  
  
• Ditch the Plastic:  Choose only stainless steel reusable water bottles!  Plastic and aluminum can leach into your drinking water.  It is best to avoid this all together.  Pledge to never accept another plastic bag in a store again!  Be eco-ready for your purchases; carry a compact reusable shopping bag in your purse or car to avoid using bags at the store.  
  
  
• See Green to Live Green: Beth Aldrich also stands behind Airwear for their eco-conscious practices.  Airwear is a company that has taken our planet into consideration.  New Airwear packaging uses 100% recycled cardboard made from 100% wooden fibers that are recyclable.  This packaging change is helping reduce Airwear's environmental footprint by eliminating 570,000 pounds of plastic waste every year.  The lenses are manufactured using 100% recycled water, cutting water consumption in half and conserving millions of gallons of water.  For more information, visit www.LighterSaferGreener.com.  More and more companies are making "green" changes.  The more we support them, the more there will be.
  
  
• Use Non-Toxic Products: Look for plant based household products to cut back on chemicals in your home.  In general, buy from companies that use environmentally aware practices.  Check out Greenwood Naturals - non-toxic and biodegradable.
  
  
• Swap-Out for Greener Staples:  Try to buy locally and support fair trade companies.  When possible, buy in bulk to reduce shipping, packaging and transportation.

Beth points out that the consumer needs to be the one to ask.  Just like we have learned to read labels on food packages, we can learn to ask these questions: Is it eco-friendly? Do they support fair trade practices?  Is it reusable?  Educate yourself.  Small things add up to big things!

To learn more about Beth Aldrich and her Green Tips visit her sites, The Green Mom, For Her Information, Beth Aldrich.com.

Stay tuned for Kids Konserve's Great Green Holiday Gift Ideas in our next blog!

Back in the day, Halloween was different.  It was a time to create, be imaginative, and it was a low-budget holiday.  I still remember the countless decorations and costumes that were made out of old sheets and cardboard, not bought.  The treats were homemade and trick or treating was done on foot.  We used old pillowcases as candy bags!  Back then, Halloween was green and it didn't even phase us.  It was fun.  Now, almost $6 billion a year is spent on costumes, candy, decor and other accessories, most of which are made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials, by people who may not be paid living wages or treated fairly.  Most of the stuff - what isn't consumed - winds up in landfills.  It is time to get back to basics - having good clean fun!

For many schools, Halloween kicks off the 1st Classroom Party for the new school year.  Signups are posted and the party planning is under way, thanks to all the parent and PTA involvement.  Who is bringing the paper products?  Let Kids Konserve help you keep the trash out of the bash with our Party Pak.  Kids Konserve has parties in the Bag!

Environmentally minded businesses are increasingly finding one another to join together and strengthen the message.  GreenHalloween is a non-profit, grassroots initiative striving to create healthier, eco-friendlier holidays - starting with Halloween.  The mother and daughter team has come up with 25 Green Halloween tips to help with planning and reducing the cleanup.  Here are some of their tips (to read all of their great tips and ideas, go to www.greenhalloween.org):

• Apply the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to all of your holiday choices: costumes, décor, goodies, etc. Of the 3 R’s, reducing is the best for the Earth, our wallets and, in regard to food, our waistlines. Rent, borrow, make or acquire used, when possible, to avoid buying new, especially disposables.

• Consider your costumes. The truth is, many store-bought costumes and accessories contain toxic chemicals that not only are a potential hazard to your child, but also to the environment and the people who helped to make them. Choose fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk or make costumes yourself from materials you know to be safe.
  
  

• Trim your trick-or-treats. Hand out less ________ (fill in the blank). Preferably your goodies of choice are healthy and/or Earth-friendly, but even if they’re not, handing out just one (rather than the conventional handful) of something is better for kids, better for the planet and better for your bank account.
  
  

• Choose eek-o-décor. Say ‘no’ to disposables and instead, re-use or re-purpose items you already own. Look also for items from nature and don’t forget to decorate with food (consumable décor). If you must use disposables, look for products that are reusable and recyclable items like Kids Konserve Party Pak.
  
  
• Instead of buying a goodie bag use a Kids Konserve Reusable Lunch Sack or Kids Konserve Drawstring Bag.
   
• Make your own face paints – the recipe can be found in the book, Celebrate Green!
  
  
• Invitations – use e-invitations or make your own from reused, recycled or tree-free sources. 
  
  
• Start small and build your confidence. Start simply by having (and using) a recycle bin at your party or by going bottled water-free. You can green up each of your next celebrations a little bit at a time until celebrating green-style becomes old hat.  Small things add up to big things.
   
• Don’t drive to trick or treat.  Encourage your neighbors to go green and then go door-to-door near you. It’s good for you and the planet and builds community.
  

For more great tips and tricks sign up for the e-newsletters from Green Halloween and learn how to get involved locally.  Enter the bag design contest for kids and you could win a Kids Konserve Snak Pak - more on our new Snak Pak in our next blog...

Kids Konserve wishes you all a safe, fun, and eek-o friendly Halloween!

The new school year is in full swing, PTA meetings are in session, and ideas are flowing!  Are you finding that old habits and hosting the same fundraisers year in and year out are hard to break?  Sally Foster Wrapping Paper, bake sales, car washes, you know the drill.  There is hope!  There are so many new and innovative, not to mention GREEN, ways to raise money and awareness for your school.  Kids Konserve's Waste-Free Challenge is one of them! 

The time is right for CHANGE and making a difference!  YOU can be the one to make a difference by submitting to your PTA ideas on how schools can raise money.    Take our challenge and raise money and awareness at your school today.  Visit http://kidskonserve.com/schools_waste_free_challenge.asp to get started. 

Visit: How to Prevent 67 Pounds of Trash! to learn just how much trash Kids Konserve can help you get rid of.

Fundraising is a large part of raising money for worthy causes.  By launching a Kids Konserve Waste-Free Challenge, you will be making a lasting contribution towards the future of our planet.

• The average school aged child generates an estimated 67 pounds of lunchtime trash per school year. 
  
• 25 million children carry lunch to school daily, which means 3.5 billion pounds of lunchtime trash is dumped in to our landfills each school year! 
  
• Kids Konserve can help reduce the amount of waste we produce by millions of pounds of landfill per year and save you money. 

More Ideas: 

• In the Classroom – The Kids Konserve Party Pak!     Take the trash out of the parties and keep the fun in the classroom – Kids Konserve has parties in the bag with our PARTY PAKS - reusable, dishwasher safe, 100% recycled plastic plates, cups and cutlery! 
   
• At Recess and on the field – Customized Stainless Steel Bottles!   Rid yourself, your school, and your community of plastic water bottles for good!  Create your own custom logo stainless steel bottles with Kids Konserve – minimum order just 50 bottles!

See how one school took the Kids Konserve Waste-Free Challenge and created a Trash-Free Thursday!  Visit our Kids Korner featuring Tori J. Sabatini and Trashless Thursdays.

Contact wendy@kidskonserve.com today to setup your school and start earning.

Kids are the VOICE of CHANGE and so is your PTA!

FACT:
The average school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year.

The average sized elementary school generates 18,760 pounds of lunch waste per year. 
(EPA)

Just 1 day of lunch time trash from a school of 300 students!

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

How to prevent 67 pounds: Pack a waste-free lunch by using reusable food containers and reusable water bottles. 

How to prevent 18,760 pounds: Have your school sign up for a Kids Konserve Waste-Free Lunch Challenge. 

With just one click you can save 67 pounds of lunchtime trash from going to our landfills. 

It is that easy!  

Kids Konserve; making a difference one lunch at a time.