strokes of

Genius

Zero-waste lunch and back-to-school basics with a surplus of style

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Remember those nifty metal lunch boxes we used to take to school? Well, metal—in the form of stainless steel—is back in a big way. But unlike before, you can share these new lunch boxes with your kid without looking like a raver.

A ti;n is an ingenious stack of metal containers that simultaneously separates, stores, and carries food. This

1 ti;n Action Pack is paired with a cloth tote ( www.lifewith outplastic.com) so you can sling it over your shoulder. The

2 Kids Konserve Butterfly Lunch Kit ( www.kidskonserve.com) includes a water bottle, containers, napkin, and cotton tote (tote not pictured). The 3 EcoLunchbox, made of fair-trade Indian fabric block-printed by hand, comes with two metal containers, three matching napkins, and a wooden spork

( www.ecolunchboxes.com).

Other stainless-steel standouts include the sleek, partitioned 4 LunchBots Duo ( www.lunchbots.com) and a 5 Sanctus Mundo oval stainless-steel lunch box ( www.lifewithoutplastic. com)—both great for packing obento lunches or leftover lasagna. Speaking of obento, this beauteous 6 Japanese Bento Box is made of cedar and coated with natural, non-toxic urushi lacquer ( www.lifewithoutplastic.com). 7 Fabkins cloth napkins are smaller than regular cloth napkins, and feature appliqués such as fruits or animals ( www.fabkins.com).

The dawning of the Age of Aquarius seems captured in Built’s übergroovy neoprene 8 Rainbow Flower Gourmet Getaway lunch tote ( www.builtny.com). 9 Fleurville’s phtha-late- and BPA-free insulated lunch bag has a handle and backpack straps that zip away ( www.oompa.com). 10 Mimi the Sardine Flora Lunch Bag is made of cotton lightly coated in non-PVC acrylic ( www.oompa.com).

11 Crofter’s Organic Superfruit Spreads o;er wild flavor combos like Maqui Berry and Passionfruit, and Pomegranate and Black Currant—they combine with nut butters to make one heck of a PB&J ( www.croftersorganic.com).

12 Notebooks from Whitelines have pale gray paper with white lines, so that you can write and design neatly while steering clear of high-contrast ruled paper—which can be a challenge for kids and adults with ADD or dyslexia ( www.whitelines.se, www.amazon.com). It’s also eco-conscious: produced without carbon-dioxide emissions.

13 Carolina Pad’s new line of Sasquatch school supplies

(folders, binders, notebooks, etc.) is made of mostly recycled paper ( www. carolinapad.com).

July–August 2009

And now for some getting-ready-for-school aids:

14 Sparklehearts is a line of natural bath and body products free of phthalates, sulfates, and other toxins. They contain essential oils, coconut, shea butter, and green-tea extract to get the job done safely ( www.sparklehearts.com). 15 Kinesys is an alcohol-free, spray-on sunscreen that’s easy to apply. The company is a signatory to the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and its bottles are 100 percent recyclable (www. kinesys.com).

The shift from happy summer daze to busy school days can take its toll; to support my kids as they transition into second grade and kindergarten, I plan on using 16 Bach Flower essences, 17 Do Terra’s Dr. Mom Kit, and 18 Aroma MD’s Bright Student aromatherapy formula. The alcohol-free Bach Kids flower essences include remedies for Daydreaming, Confidence, and good old Rescue ( www.shoporganic. com). Aromatherapy is another of my favorite tools; the Do Terra Dr. Mom Kit ( www.doterra.com) contains nine certified-pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils, from lavender to melaleuca (tea tree), plus such blends as Breathe and DigestZen. Aroma MD’s Bright Student essential-oil blend is intended to naturally relieve anxiety and increase focus ( www.onlynaturesfinest.com). I like to keep a few packets of 19 Voots in my purse for my kids’ low-blood-sugar moments. One serving contains the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in three servings of vegetables and fruits ( www.eatyourvoots.com).

My own back-to-school treat: 20 S. Stein’s Toolbag has 16 pockets for all my mom tools—datebook, makeup, notepad, pens, checkbook, coupons, camera, cell phone, iPod, Band-Aids, vitamins, wallet, keys—and even has room for the book I’m reading. It keeps everything unjumbled, all the while looking very Katharine Hepburn (www.ssteindesign. com). And that’s my definition of a winning combination.

Candace Walsh, mama to Honorée and Nathaniel, is Mothering’s features editor and product reviewer.