This is the pamphlet we got
http://www.wastefreelunches.org/TheW...eeLunchbox.pdf
Page 3 suggests sending a cloth napkin. I have been sending a j-cloth (do you have those) that I wet and put in a small container because it washes faces so much better.

I have been packing waste free lunches already so it's not a change for us. Many of the parents have expressed concerns about their containers not coming home but I just labeled everything with Mabel's Labels https://www.mabel.ca/ Instead of ordering labels with the kids name on them, I ordered all of them with our last name only. The labels stick really well and all our containers come home.

Some parents at the school are refusing to do it and are still sending Lunchables but the kids have to carry the waste home. Most of the kids are excited about the changes. The teachers are being really good about showing them how much waste there was vs. how much there is now.

The school has overhauled a lot of things environmentally so it's not just this one area they are pushing for. I'm pretty happy about it. I hope it lasts.

I agree the the cost factor is way off but I like the environmental factor.

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This bothers me. I have 5 kids, and do not have time for Anything. I think the schools should be spending more time coming up with better ways to teach. It sounds like a nice idea, but it should be by CHOICE.

K, I was reading the wastefreelunches site, and it mentioned to not send plastic spoons, and to send in silverware. Now what happens and who's to blame when and if there are some mis-uses with the forks and the knives in the cafetaria??? Isn't this why they banned silverware on the planes all together? I'm all for enviroment and I do send in plastic containers, but there's no way I'm sending silverware in my son's lunch box.

This is my point. I make lunches for 4 kids every morning. I grab a go-gurt, make sandwiches, crackers, etc. That would total about 5 containers per kid. For one thing, their lunch boxes are not big enough for that!!!! And that does not include a drink (mine always buy milk at school!!! I think if I can afford to send their snacks in little bags and by go-gurts (cheap at Sams!) I should be able to. Send the garbage home if you want, heck my son always brings his home anyway. I do not want to be washing 20 little tupperwares everynight and spending time dishing up yogurts and freezing them ahead of time. Yes it is good to teach about wastes, but you do not have to make life difficult for parents who are trying to provide nutritional lunches for their children.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I think this is a great idea! I already do this except i do send juice boxes but the sammy and fruit go into a tupperware container. I really think this may be difficult for some parents. Alot of families have both mom and dad working outside of the home so they may not have time to do this for several kids. But I really think that my son who is only 4 could indeed dip his own yogurt into a container and put his fruit into a container and with my supervision could pour his own juice into his thermos. So really it shouldnt be hard for moms and dads to do this. I sent the link to every teacher I know!!! I really hope once my little man starts kidnergarten his school implements this! He starts pre-k in august and I will start asking around to see what I can do to help to get this started in our schools. Thanks so much for posting this!

Good point. I just checked and I see that they changed that part in ours. We were asked to use plastic spoons or plastic 'picnic' spoons and forks but to wash them and re-sue them.

They can't make the parents change .. it was just suggested. Only one kid in each of my kid's classes parents refused. Now that kid is the one feeling left out.

HTH

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I have the same concern with this as I did with cloth diapers. How much does it cost to launder them and how much time are you spending washing extra dishes. You will use extra soap, water & electricity. I'd rather spend time with my children than washing out stuff. I think a thermos and sandwich container are fine but what about the yogurt, pudding or cheese sticks. I don't make my own yogurt.

OK..I am a juice box Mom. I can't find a thermos that doesn't leak!

I also use juice boxes but wanted to let you know that I've had good luck with Nalgene bottles- do not leak. Sometimes the lid gets cracked but you can buy a replacement lid. They sell the eddie bauer brand at Target. I bought some from rei.com and some from target.

I agree. Our Nalgene bottles have never leaked and we've been using them for years. But we haven't had good luck with the copies. We get the name brand with these ones.

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