One of the hardest adjustments to life with kids is the crazy amount of stuff that kids need. And with all these things, unfortunately, comes the waste. There’s extra equipment that’s necessary for both a kid’s happiness and development, or a parent’s sanity.
Although a dramatic spike in the amount of wasted food, gear, and packaging isn’t necessary. Ultimately food amounts to fuller landfills, which then produce methane- a gas 21 times more harmful than CO2. Reducing food waste at home and buying from ethical supply lines, manages to help people along the supply line while keeping the planet happy.
Here are a few that are easy to implement and make a big impact.
Be Smart About Using Pouches
Yes, those plastic baby food pouches are a go-to product for snack emergencies when you’re out of the house. But they’re really expensive and not as nutritious as the label leads you to believe. Also, it may interfere with the development of healthy eating habits and skills. The increase in pouch use in the U.S. has led to a massive waste issue. They’re relatively empty calories in a pouch since most of them are just fruit. If you must use them, there are a few ways to cut the waste they produce. Try making your own pouches by pureeing whatever meal/snack you have on hand and pour it into a pouch. That way, when you need to use pouches, at least you can provide a more nutritious and filling food. Another option is to use reusable pouches, which allow you to get up to a year of re-use out of a single pouch. When you’re done with them, they’re recyclable!Bring Snacks, Rather Than Buying Them
Always pack more snacks than you think you’ll need for an outing. This way you don’t end up buying a packaging-heavy and overpriced emergency snack. Pack food that you can offer again for a later meal or snack on the same or next day. If it doesn’t get eaten, it won’t go to waste.Buy In Bulk
Do what you can to buy in bulk. This way you’ll save the extra packaging of smaller containers of your child’s favorite food. This way you can make your own snack packs and save money on the pricier pre-packaged snack packs. On top of it all, you’ll reduce some waste here, too.Wash And Reuse Plastic Food Storage Bags (Then Recycle Them)
Zip-top bags and other plastic bags are far more durable than most people give them credit for. You’d be surprised by how many times you can reuse a simple plastic sandwich bag- it’ll save you money and reduce plastic waste, one bag at a time. After 5-10 uses, your bag might spring a major leak, which means it’s definitely time to send it on its way. But even then, don’t head for the trash. Some recycling programs will accept soft plastic bags in their curbside pickup programs. If your town isn’t there yet, you’re not alone. Luckily, many major retailers have plastic bag recycling drop-offs.Places that might have recycling places for the shopping and food storage bags:
– The local supermarket – Drugstores – Big box storesStore Milk In a Savvy Way
If you’re a nursing mom and pumping, storing it can be a challenge. The best product for the job are Zip-top bags. They’re the safest most sanitized containers. They only store 4-6 ounces, then end up in the trash.Luckily, there are a couple of lower-waste options:
- If you have the budget and room to store them:
- Freeze milk right in the plastic pumping bottles.
- Buy glass bottles in 4-ounce and 8-ounce sizes that can be used to freeze, thaw, and warm the milk. You can wash the plastic and glass bottles in the dishwasher’s hot water cycle to thoroughly clean them.
- You can get really convenient and affordable glass bottles on Amazon. The problem is they don’t always come with flat caps. To solve this, you can use the nipple top and cover that came with the bottles to secure the bottles for freezing. Another way is to use the yellow caps that come with your pumping bottles.Secure the cap before freezing and store the bottles standing up.
- If you MUST use the plastic Zip-top bags, use the sturdiest bags out there. Why? You can overfill them. It saves every 4th bag! Remember to leave extra room for the milk to expand as it freezes, so your bag won’t rip!