Now, that Eben is getting older – he has an iPod – which means I am always on the look out for smart phone apps with healthy, green themes for kids. We have tried out a lot of different ones and found many that we enjoy. Jump over to Applegate to check out 7 of our favorite green apps!
Hello, Friends! Many of you may have noticed that a couple of months ago I became an official blogger for Applegate. I am happy to announce that the blog is up and running! I am very excited to share even more sustainable living tips for families with the Applegate Farms community. Yay! Please visit me at Applegate and while you are there check out all of the fantastic information available.
Thank you for your support!
Sweet Greens
Do you send snacks to school with your kids? Finding snacks that are organic, healthy and at the same time, delicious enough that your children will eat them is easier than you may think. I have been packing organic, healthy snacks for Eben for many years and have a list of goodies that he will happily eat.
These snacks can be made in large quantities, then stored in reusable containers. All you have to do is pick one each morning to throw in your child’s backpack and feel great knowing that your child has a healthy snack for school. Check out my eight favorite backpack snacks that are kid approved for back to school.
photo credit Shutterstock via Inhabitots
If there is one item that I never forget to back in Eben’s backpack each morning – it is his reusable water bottle. Kids work and play hard – so having a great reusable bottle full of fresh water with them all day is essential for optimum health! However, if that water bottle is made using BPA – Yikes! We have a great selection of BPA free reusable water bottles in our home that we refill using our fridge filter, so I thought I would share my top five favorites for your back to school shopping list!
#1: EarthLust
EarthLust reusable water bottles have been one of my favorites for years. I love their kid friendly 13 oz. bottles made of food grade stainless steel and the designs – oh, the designs! Printed with non-toxic paints, EarthLust bottles aren’t just for keeping your kids hydrated they are portable pieces of art. Top that off with a BPA free cap with carabiner – which makes it perfect for clipping to a backpack.
+ EarthLust 13 oz. Bottle $16
#2: KleanKanteen
Eben has been using a 12 oz. Klean Kanteen reusable bottle for ages – because it is the perfect size to fit inside a lunchbox. Klean Kanteen reusable bottles are made using 18/18 food grade stainless steel and the lids are also BPA free. These reusable water bottles are heavy duty – yet extremely lightweight, ours is banged up from years of use, but it’s one of our favorites so we keep using it!
+ KleanKanteen 12.5 oz. Bottle $16.95
#3: CamelBak
We are a family of hardcore hikers, so we have been using CamelBak products for years and years. CamelBak also offers great reusable water bottles for kids that are 100% BPA free. These water bottles are also sturdy and durable. I am a huge fan of the Kids’ Stainless Bottle 12 oz. bottle made from stainless steel!
+ CambelBak 12 oz. Bottle $13
#4: Vapur
Vapur’s Quenchers are fantastic for lunchboxes, since it is a flat reusable water bottle. You can fill it, freeze it and use it as a ice pack in your child’s lunch box. Then, by lunch time it will have melted enough to drink! Vapur reusable bottles are also BPA free and great for on the go – Eben can shove the water bottle in his pocket and fill it up at school. We have also used our Vapur reusable bottles when we hit the amusement or water park – because we can drink the water in between rides and then roll up the bottle, put it in our pocket and hit the roller coasters!
+ Vapur 13 oz. Bottle $11.99
#5: Kor
The Kor One reusable water bottle is BPA free and has a hinged cap which makes it simple to add ice cubes! Kor One has a great spout that makes drinking splash free – and with their Kor Stones, you can see a message of inspiration every time you take a swig!
+ Kor 25 oz. Bottle 29.95
Do you have a favorite that I missed?
It’s back to school time, which means getting your family organized is essential for a smooth sailing year. Being organized will make most of the aspects of back to school easier and more enjoyable. Let’s face it, when we add all of the elements that come with school (homework, extra-curricular activities, music lessons, parent-teacher conferences) our family stress levels can rise. One of the best ways that I have found to keep back to school stress at bay is by being organized. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn my 8 eco-friendly organizing tips for back to school – the best part, they won’t cost you a dollar and have zero impact on the environment.
photo credit Shutterstock via Inhabitots