“Don’t Eat Dirt, Eat for the Earth!”
The Green Flag Committee conducted a survey and the results are in, ABIS NEEDS TO EAT HEALTHIER! Our lunches are full of processed foods in packages! Most of the packaging that foods come in CANNOT be recycled which means that a cookie package stays on Earth for thousands of years. Did you know that every piece of plastic that has ever been produced is still in existence? That’s a ton of plastic, and all that plastic is ending up in our oceans and in our food supply! YIKES! At ABIS we can help reduce the amount of packaging we throw away by choosing to eat healthy foods that don’t need packages like bananas, apples, cucumbers, carrots and other fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable scraps are compostable and healthy for the Earth. Eating less packaged foods and more fruits and vegetables isn’t just healthy for the Earth, it’s also healthier for us! Diabetes is a growing concern in Oman and there is a ton of HIDDEN SUGAR in packaged foods. To help us become a healthier school and community The Green Flag Committee is holding a whole school competition called “Don’t Eat Dirt, Eat For The Earth.” Every day The Green Flag Committee members will take photos of student snacks and lunches, and each week the class with the highest percentage of students with a “Waste Free Lunch” will win the Green Broccoli Award!
So what exactly is a waste free lunch? It’s a lunch full of homemade meals, raw vegetables and fruits packed in reusable containers, and drinks in reusable drink containers! If it comes in a package, it doesn’t belong! Ok, ok, I know, it can be hard to pack a snack and a lunch for your child these days without having any packaged items so I’ve included some tips from www.wastefreelunches.org to help you reduce the amount of packaging in your child’s lunch.
Understanding the Problem
The Typical Lunch:
If you walk around at lunchtime and take a good look at the lunches our children bring to school, here’s what the typical lunch will look like:
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sandwiches in disposable plastic bags
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fruits and vegetables in plastic bags
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prepackaged chips, cookies, fruit bars, granola bars, cheeses, and fruit leathers
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single-use yogurts, applesauces, and puddings
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crackers, pretzels, chips, and other snack foods sealed in plastic bags
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disposable juice boxes, juice pouches, juice cans, water bottles, and milk cartons
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plastic forks and spoons
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paper napkins
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reusable lunchboxes and disposable paper and plastic bags
A Waste-free Lunch:
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sandwiches and other main dishes, fresh fruits and, fresh vegetables, and treats in a reusable lunch container or containers
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cloth napkins
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stainless-steel forks and spoons
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reusable drink containers
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reusable lunchboxes
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In this scenario very little trash is generated because foods are bought in bulk or in larger packages. The packaging is left at home for reuse or recycling. Food waste also decreases because with a reusable lunch container, children can re-pack uneaten food instead of dumping it, packaging and all, into the school trash can.
Above information comes from www.wastefreelunches.org. This website also has some great tips to help get your child involved in packing their lunches and taking more responsibility for their health and the health of the Earth.
Together we can reduce our waste, increase our health, and create healthy sustainable habits that benefit ourselves, our community and our Earth. Happy lunch packing!
The Green Flag Committee