3 fun ways w/ fruit for the lunchbox!

Here are three cute ways to pack fruit in the lunchbox:

Grab a pointed (but not too sharp) object to do the writing and leave a fun message like, "I love you", "Good luck on the test" or "Have a great day!"

Cut or pull the top and bottom circles from the orange/tangerine. Then slit between two sections and roll it out.

Cut up apple and then re-assemble with rubber band around it.

all photos from pinterest!

granola bites

Looking for a healthy and lightly-sweet treat to pack in your child’s lunch?  These granola bites are perfect!  A combination of oats, honey, nuts and dried fruit makes this compact little snack a super-charged, yummy addition to their lunch box!  This recipe is easily adaptable, so feel free to modify with your favorite ingredients (mini chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, banana chips, chia seeds, sesame seeds or rice crispy cereal would be tasty additions!).

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4-5 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup of dried fruit & nuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Spread the oats and coconut on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. 
3. Meanwhile, combine the peanut butter, honey and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until combined, stirring continuously so as to prevent scorching. 
4. Turn heat off.  Add the toasted oats and coconut to the peanut butter mixture along with dried fruit & nuts, and stir to combine. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes. 
5. With a small ice cream scooper (or dampened hands), shape into 12 one-inch balls and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

recipe modified and photo courtesy of Whole Foods

lunchbox lessons

I packed my son’s lunch every day last year for his preschool.  It wasn’t until the end of the year at the parent/teacher meeting that his teachers told me, “You know that Ike can’t open any of the lids to the containers you send in?  Right?  We have to open them.  And next year the elementary school lunch teachers won’t have the time or availability to open them for him.”  Well, ‘No’, ‘I didn’t know that!’.  It turns out that all of my fancy stainless steel containers were kid-UNfriendly!  Yikes.  A whole year of Ike not being able to open any of his containers and he never told me!  Now that I realize a lot of these stainless steel containers have tight-fitting lids (too tight for a 5-year-old), what is a green mom to do?  Test the goods before purchasing!  Let your kids maneuver the products and see if they can easily open and close them.  It’s sometimes hard to test the containers because a lot of the greener ones are not available at a store near you and have to be purchased online.

Stainless steel water bottles and reusable sandwich bags are an easy and safe bet no matter where you buy them.  For containers that hold fruit or other wet ingredients (or easily smushed foods), I am on the lookout for an easy-to-open lid.  Typically, I try to avoid plastics at all costs, but if it seems to be the easiest to open, I may be going with going with a BPA & PVC-free plastic container.  I’ll keep you posted! 

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packing lunch… the green way!

It is estimated that each American child produces 67 pounds of lunch packaging waste each school year! That’s a big ‘F’ in our report card! This year when school starts, make sure that your kids are lunch box smart!

There is no longer a need for plastic sandwich bags, paper bags and juice boxes.  There are tons of green lunchbox options out there and a lot of them are super cute too!  Here’s our eco lunchbox lowdown:


 1. Forgo the brown paper bag and invest in a durable lunch box or bento-style lunch container.

2. Go reuseable! Reusable sandwich bags and containers are super sturdy and easy to use, clean & store. If you have to pack a plastic bag, try to reuse it or recycle it!

3. Store beverages in stainless steel water bottles! Have your kids sip out of a reusable bottle rather than a juice box or plastic water bottle.

4. If your child needs cutlery or a napkin, pack the real thing. Encourage your child to bring home all leftovers to prevent accidentally disposing of the napkin and utensils (they may even be able to compost any leftovers).

5. If possible, steer clear of purchasing prepackaged foods for your child’s lunch. They are typically wrapped in excessive packaging and are more expensive than buying in bulk.

We’ve got an entire selection of GREEN LUNCHBOXES & accessories on our eco ike eco boutique!  Check out our entire selection here!