Green Ambassadors
TRASH-FREE LUNCHES
Jefferson's lunches are nearly trash-free thanks to recycling, packing trash-free and being conscientious about the environment! Jefferson Elementary students celebrate their grand prize win in L.A. County's first Trash Free Lunch Challenge created by Manhattan Beach-based nonprofit organization Grades of Green.
Packing a trash-free lunch is easy once you make it part of your daily routine. Here are a few guidelines to get you started:
Pack Food in Reusable Containers—Avoid plastic bags, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and prepackaged foods whenever possible.
Pack Food in Reusable Containers—Avoid plastic bags, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and prepackaged foods whenever possible.
- Sturdy containers prevent “squishing.”
- Resealable containers make it easy for children to save uneaten food for an after-school snack.
- Purchasing lunch foods in larger containers instead of single-serve packages costs less. (i.e. yogurt and applesauce in larger containers and spoon it into a smaller container for lunch).
- Buy quality bulk bin items, including fresh-ground peanut butter, nuts, dried fruits, and granola.
- Consider purchasing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share or shop at the farmers’ market.
- Cut up fruits and vegetables.
Use a Refillable Drink Bottle—Consider using a made-to-last water bottle instead of refilling single-use bottles.
- If you use a refillable bottle, your child can save some of his/her water for later. If you pack a juice box or pouch, most of it may end up in the trash, and your child will have nothing left to drink at the end of the day.
- Water spills are easier to clean up than juice spills—at home, at school, and in your child’s lunchbox.
Use a Cloth Napkin Instead of Paper—Make or buy a napkin for your child to decorate. This can be a fun family project and will provide your child with a sense of ownership, increasing the chances that the napkin will make it home again.
Pack Reusable Utensils Instead of Disposables—Provide your child with utensils that will make lunch feel like a “real” meal! (Just remember real or plastic, knifes are not allowed at school)
Pack Reusable Utensils Instead of Disposables—Provide your child with utensils that will make lunch feel like a “real” meal! (Just remember real or plastic, knifes are not allowed at school)
WALK-TO-SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS
Participating in Jefferson's weekly Walk-to-School Wednesdays program can improve the health of our children & community. That's an encouraging outcome for a lifetime! Join us each Wednesday in this endeavor towards good health!
Walking, rolling & bicycling to school helps students:
- Reach the recommended goal of 60 minutes of physical activity every day
- Arrive at school energized & ready to learn
- Leave the car behind & reduce dependence on fossil fuels
- Take an active role in their well-being
Before walking to school make sure to choose a safe route and walk this route with your child, pointing out road signs and areas to take caution. A safe route is one that has sidewalks, crossing guards to assist with crossing streets, controlled intersections with stop signs and/or stop lights and a buffer zone (or parked car zone) between traffic on the street and pedestrians on the sidewalk.