This amazingly easy and cute reusable sandwich wrap was made by Betz White, author of Sewing Green and she’ll show you how to make it step by step.

Make some Cloth Snack Bags.

Make a lunch box out of an old Nintendo – yeah it’s true.

Oilcloth Lunch Bag Tutorial – so cool and you can reuse an old tablecloth.

Reusable-Upcycled Lunch bag – made with a reycled bird seed bag.

Make a lunch bag out of old jeans.

Make a sweet as candy Vintage Pillowcase Lunchbox.

Make some other eco-friendly snack bags.

Make your own insulated lunch bag.

Make an ADORABLE burlap bag! So flipping cute you will faint. This one was made of an old coffee bag, but you could use any sort of burlap.

Add in some homemade cloth napkins.

NOTE: Since most homemade lunch sacks are fabric, don’t forget to make some little reusable covers for your ice packs or your bags will get too wet. Basically, make an ice pack cover like you would a snack or sandwich bag.

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I showed him all the choices, and he looked them up and down, and sideways, and made me read him the stats about them. He’s eight, and he’s saying, “So what does that bag measure?” For pete’s sake. Anyhow, his decision…

You won’t believe it:

He says, “I think I’ll just stick with the Bamboo Bag.” WHAT! Just to clarify, a week ago when his lunch bag broke, all we had around was that Bamboo Lunch Sack I recently reviewed, so I had to pack his lunch in that. Here’s Cedar a week ago:

• “Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Don’t make me take it to camp! It’s not coooooooooooooooooooooool!“
• “I don’t like Bamboo – even if it is a tree!” I know it’s not a tree, but he’s 8, so…
• “Why is it so green!? I want a blue lunch bag.“

But all of a sudden last night he’s on the Bamboo Lunch Sack train? Huh? I say, “You said you hated it, you said, find me a better one, what the flip is up?” To which he replies, “I’ve decided I like Bamboo. It’s soft and you can’t have it back.” Well then!

I don’t know why I bother sometimes. In any case, I don’t have to buy a new bag right away, although, as previously mentioned, this bag is not ice pack friendly so I likely will buy the non-toxic ice pak and sweat free cover I mentioned yesterday.

Kids right?

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In any case, Cedar my son is super picky about stuff. Clothes, toys, books, and so on, so I knew choosing a lunch pack wouldn’t be easy, but it’s actually been harder then I thought. He’s snubbed some eco-lunch kits as not cool enough already and our options are wavering. Of course I want eco-friendly, so I decided to post on it. I’ll choose some that I think Cedar will like and after let him choose. Along the way maybe you’ll see something you like for your kid. NOTE: Cedar is very boy – so all these will be ‘boy’ type kits. Later maybe I’ll post a girl friendly bunch…

Laptop Lunch System in Periwinkle: Cedar already gave this kit a color thumbs up, but he doesn’t like the water bottle. I told him fine, use your Kleen Kanteen. This kit comes with the Laptop Lunch insulated carrying case, water bottle, the Laptop Lunch Bento Box with all inner containers and utensils, and one copy of The Laptop Lunch User’s Guide. All Laptop Lunch products are phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and lead free. If he gets this lunch set, I’ll probably also pick up an extra set of interior containers.

Waste Free Lunch Kit: I like this kit, but I’m guessing that Cedar won’t like the bag color. He might though. Who knows. Because this bag is cloth, if he picks it, I’ll have to also get the non-toxic ice pak and sweat free cover (shown above as well) – a non-toxic green ice pack in a Squiggle cover made from plastic bottles. All Kid Konserve products are made from safe, non-leaching, bisphenol-A free (BPA) lead free and phthalate free materials.

The bag I think Cedar will like best so far is the ACME Bags – Recycled PET Medium Thermal “6 Pack” Lunch Bag – it’s boring but basic, which he’ll like. Perks include…

• 90% post-consumer recycled content
• Made from recycled plastic bottles & containers
• 100% lead-free materials
• Zipper closure and exterior slip pocket
• Thermal insulation keeps contents colder longer
• Made with Fair Labor/Fair Wage

Fleurville Lunch Pak in silver digital camo. Can be worn as a back pack or carried with handle.

• Closed-cell insulation throughout the entire body of the bag works as an insulator.
• Easy to clean lining.
• Hidden name tag.
• Heat reflective, easy to clean lining.
• Project pocket.
• Exceeds CA Prop 65 standards for lead and other toxins
• PVC-free/Teflon®-free

These are the most Cedar + earth friendly I found. I’ll let him take a look then I’ll be back later to let you know which pack wins the cool factor for this picky kid. My vote is with the laptop lunch kit, but I’m still guessing he’ll pick the ACME bag. We’ll see.

Which bag would your child like best do you think?

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In some cases, the backpacks get too worn to reuse. In many other cases, kids just get sick of the old backpack.

Alternatives to buying a new backpack:
• Swap backpacks with a friend or sibling

• Patch up a backpack with a hole or reinforce broken straps

• Select something from a thrift store

If you’ve already bought a new backpack and your old one is in good condition, consider donating the used pack.

Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army would be happy to have a backpack in good condition. Or mail your backpack to Adventure 16 to help them with their non-profit wilderness programs for youth.

Image via stock.xchng

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

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Last year we took a look at how to Pack Your Kids An Eco-Lunch and also saw (more recently) a cool idea for making your own Oilcloth Bags.

Both of the above are good choices. When looking for a good green lunch bag, you want materials that are not only earth friendly (if possible) but materiel that can take what your kids hand out. A lunch sack that breaks down after two months is not an eco-smart choice.

It’s also nice to make sure you have plenty of reusable containers on hand for storing food. You can go the plastic baggie route, but it’s more earth friendly to use reusable containers; they’ll last longer. Look for storage solutions that can be recycled as well. Lastly look for lunch storing items that are non-toxic, food safe, and lead-free.

Some ideas include…

[Basura bags - handmade using colorful recycled juice containers]

[Built NY Munchlers Backpacks - Insulated Medium Kids Lunch Bags]

[Lantor: Three-dimensional lenticular aluminum frame lunch box with shoulder strap]

[Built NY’s lunch tote - many color choices]

[10 oz Leak-proof Food Jar]

[Bento Box Set]

[Eco Certified Lunchbug]

Of course there are oodles of other lunch carrying options. No worries, we’ll see more later. In the meantime, if you’re looking for small containers to store food in, within your child’s lunch box, I’d check out the Green Guide’s Safer Containers list. This list can help you to avoid some of those icky chemicals you find in many plastics.

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Yes, I can say these tees are the “ultimate” since I tried one of them. Except mine was the adult size.

I’ll do a product review on it coming up later. For now, I’ll just say — very comfortable!

Mine Organics, an organic cotton clothing company started by two mothers, offers a hefty dose of stylish green for back to school.

Sizes include infants, toddlers, youth and adults!

All tees are 100% certified organic cotton, and even feature a tag containing wildflower seeds.

And of course, the tees rock with earthy-friendly messages.

For the infant who’ll be relaxing at home while big sister is in school, organic onesies!

Please check back later for more on Mine Organics, and a product review of the tee I’ve been wearing everywhere.

Images via Mine Organics.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family