How to Pack a Bento Lunch

1. Aim for four. This is a concept I teach my students about healthy eating. Our goal is to include foods from all four good groups, as per Canada's Food Guide, in every meal. Three groups is good, too, but four is better.
2. Eat a rainbow. Given that children should consume anywhere from 4 to 6 servings of fruits and vegetables per day depending on their age, I like to encourage the idea of eating as many different colours as possible. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different kinds of vitamins and nutrients so it's important to offer a variety. Plus, it makes lunches colourful and fun. Our Bento boxes are great because they have two containers with lids; one for fruits and one for vegetables. 
3. Go litter-free. Many of us lead busy lives so sometimes we don't stop to think about how we can reduce litter in our lunches. Pre-packaged foods are often a go-to when packing lunch on the run but can contribute to unnecessary waste. Instead, buy items you can find in bulk such as fresh produce. Of course, if time is of the essence, consider family-size fruit trays. I won't judge. They have come in handy many a time in our home and luckily the trays are accepted in our recycling program. And since our Bento boxes have a small container we use for dips or salad dressing, we can avoid purchasing single-serve packages. Finally, there is a compartment on the side for reusable utensils and/or napkins. It's a perfect fit for our new Funkins, a high-quality washable cloth napkin for kids designed to help reduce mealtime waste. 
4. Think kid-friendly. Offering a variety of bite-sized foods makes lunches more appealing. And even adult-friendly, too! Have you ever noticed how eating apples and oranges can be more enjoyable when they're already sliced up? 
5. Plan ahead. I may not have yet mastered the art of pre-planning our dinner meals but thinking ahead in terms of planning lunches for my kids has always been a priority. I want to make sure that my kids have healthy lunches that will sustain them throughout the day so they can focus on learning. I typically prepare lunches in the morning but I always run through a mental checklist of what I need the night before.
6. Involve the kids. By including my kids in the meal prep, it's pretty much a guarantee they will enjoy their lunches. It also helps them to build useful skills that will come in handy later on in life. 

• 2 tbsp butter 
• 2 tbsp honey 
• 2 tbsp brown rice syrup   
• 1 tsp vanilla  
• 2 cups EnviroKidz Koala Crisp™cereal 

• 3 oz cream cheese, softened  
• 1 tbsp butter, softened 
• 3/4 cup icing sugar  
• 4 tsp cocoa powder  
• 4 strawberries, sliced   

"According to a recent survey, almost all Canadians are taking some action when it comes to the environment and are doing the little things in an effort to make a difference."

Well, guess what. Brands are, too! Companies are realizing the importance of sustainability and the need for eco-friendly products. Rather, I feel there is a huge demand for these kinds of products because I, for one, don't want to leave behind a world of non-biodegradable garbage for my grandchildren to have to worry about. This is why I am excited to share with you some of the eco-friendly products that have recently caught my eye.


Take, for example, the Schick Xtreme3 Eco. It's the same Xtreme3 razor, only better for the environment. Actually, it is the first disposable razor designed for maximum sustainability. The handle is made of 100 percent recycled plastic and the packaging is 100 percent recycled paper. By using recycled plastic, 103,000 lbs of virgin material will be rescued from landfills and dumps in the first year of production. The Eco razor handle is made of retrieved items that have been recycled, such as coat hangers, buckets, and pails. I know coat hangers are problematic and cannot be recycled here in Toronto so it's great that there are companies willing to find ways to recycle them.