Trash Free Lunches

Campers at Camp Kingfisher are encouraged to bring trash free lunches in an effort to protect our planet and conserve our natural resources.  And as soon as I read that the littles were recognized each day that they brought a completely trash free lunch, I made it my mission to not only comply (I never met a challenge I didn’t like) but to provide the cutest trash free lunches I could come up with (roll eyes now.)  This means no zip locks, no juice boxes, no chip bags and no paper napkins.  It sounds easy in theory, but was actually quite a challenge at first.

As luck would have it, I had already purchased the Pottery Barn Kids bento box in preparation for Kindergarten next year.  I’ve been fascinated by the bento box for some time now.  They promote offering a variety of healthy food options in appropriately sized portions, they reduce waste, they are BPA and phthalate free AND they can be run through the dishwasher.  KEY for Mommy.  I went with the PBK variety for two reasons 1) I had a coupon for $25 off of a $50 purchase and 2) the PCP requested a Star Wars lunch sack and book bag and these bento boxes are sized to fit right inside of their Mackenzie line which just so happens to have a Boba Fett variety.  KEY for a rising Kindergartener.

So, here’s a run down of the five lunches the PCP happily carried off to camp.

Monday = FIESTA!
This bento contained cheese quesadillas with fresh salsa for dipping, baby carrots and grape tomatos, fresh berries and a couple of vanilla wafers and fruit snacks for dessert.

Tuesday = A “Fintastic” Lunch
Next up was a fish shaped ham and swiss sandwich (cut with kitchen shears and using cream cheese to adhere a raisin eye), Goldfish crackers, baby carrots and grape tomatos making up the rocky coral and a few Swedish Fish candies swimming in a sea of blueberries.

Wednesday = A World of Fun
Today’s lunch featured lightening bolt chicken nuggets with ketchup, star shaped cheese, “comet” carrots and “Pluto” tomatos and shooting stars (oreo sticks and fruit snacks).

Thursday = Another FIESTA Day!
We do love us some Mexican, but the main motivator for fiesta part deux was none other than LEFTOVERS!  The PCP dined on Trader Joe’s Chicken Taquitos, jalapeno shaped cheddar cheese bites, sour cream for dipping, fresh berries, black beans and rice and a few animal cookies for dessert.

Friday = Monkeying Around
We ended the week with a peanut butter and banana sandwich cut into a monkey head with raisins for eyes, ears and mouth, animal crackers, flower power cheese slices, carrots, tomatoes and grapes.

For snacks, I packed home made trail mix (pretzels, peanuts, raisins, m&ms), pitas and hummus or popcorn in small tupperware containers.

The PCP was just as pleased as punch to have been recognized for “his” efforts every. single. day.
xoxo