Back To Shool- BPA Free!
The studies on the risks of BPA just keep coming. Even the FDA, after years of nay-saying, now advise parents to minimize their kids exposure to the chemical. Unfortunately, Australian regulators still see the money before the kids. Many of the bright, funky lunch boxes, drink bottles, plastic wraps and eating utensils marketed directly at kids contain BPA and other toxic chemicals. So, with school back in just a couple of weeks, what will your kids be eating of of?
My absolute favorite thing right now is my Cheeki stainless steel water bottle. I have a 750ml bottle at home that goes everywhere with me, and a 500ml bottle at work that I can frequently refill. My daughter has her smaller one at home and a big one for school. My one year old has a cute little sailor bottle with the kids sippy top that he loves, though he’s getting really good at drinking out of the spout on mine- unfortunately he also likes to play in puddles, so that’s under strict supervision only!
Cheeki is an Australian company that makes BPA free stainless steel water bottles. Stainless steel lasts pretty much forever, as long as you follow the instructions (top shelf dishwasher safe only, do not freeze). It is a food grade material, so unlike aluminium bottles (like Sigg) they don’t require an inner lining- many of which contain BPA. They are one of the less expensive brands, coming in at just $16-$18 depending on size but the quality is not compromised at all. My bottles have lasted a couple of years with no issues and they offer a 12 month warranty on manufacturing faults. Simon, Larry and Robyne started the company in 2009 as a way to reduce the empty plastic bottles that frequently litter our beaches.
Stainless steel lunch boxes are a little harder, but not impossible to find. Ash and Jules have a great guide to choosing lunch boxes and the different brands available. Like the bottles, these should last pretty much forever, so I would choose a design the whole family can use! There’s a variety of sizes and shapes available along with opens like insulated containers to keep lunch hot or cold. Make sure you check the specs as some are not waterproof.
Because of my need for many and varied lunch containers, and the frequent tendency for them to go missing, I can’t afford to kit out my kitchen in non-plastic ware, but I do have a few good pieces of BPA free plastic lunch boxes. I like the nude food range as it looks pretty groovy but is also super functional. The lunchbox is the perfect size for an unwrapped sandwich (even when I bake my own bread which sometimes comes out a slightly odd shape) and the dome top on the !!! Means I can fit things like a corn cob or a boiled egg without it getting squashed. The containers that screw on to the bottom can either be used for yoghurt and berries and other snacks things, or left at home of they aren’t needed. You can can a good assortment of shaped and combinations for any lunch style you can think of.
Nude food also have BPA free freezer blocks and cooler bags that fit their range of containers.
If you still want the flexibility of a sandwich bag or glad wrap, don’t despair. You can get sandwich bags that are not only BPA and phthalate free, they are reusable- way better for the environment! These nifty little bags are water resistant, keeping food fresh and leak free. They’re great for trail mixes, nuts, cereal (without the milk!) and come Ina variety of sizes. There’s even one big enough for subs and rolls. They save a little more space than a solid container but do not protect items from getting squashed, so pack carefully.
This should give a pretty good head start. Remember to read labels- if it says ‘no BPA leaching’ there probably IS BPA in it. Even if they say it doesn’t leach it’s often only in specific conditions, like scratch free and under a certain temperature. I’ve seen how my kids toad test their stuff, no scratches is the stuff of dreams! And how hot do you think it would get sitting in a playground in the middle of a scorching day? Play it safe and get BPA free, every time.