I’ve been out of school for so many years it’s hard to even keep track, but there is just something about this time of year that feels like a reset. Whether you’re in school, have kids in school, or feel like I do about this season shift this post is for you.
Back to school means a lot of shopping. School supplies, snacks, wardrobe, etc. Excess shopping means excess waste. At Hungry Hippie we are all about reducing our waste, and lessening the negative impact that we have on the environment, so today I am going to share with you some simple swaps and tools I use to make a more positive impact on Mama Earth!
Shop Organic
When I think of back to school I immediately think of back to school shopping. Growing up I went to Catholic school so we took a trip to Flynn O’hara and got some knee high socks and pretty much called it a day. BUT then came dress down days. Once I month I would go to the mall and find a new outfit, because “I could not be seen in the same outfit twice!” Once I was out of school and working in corporate FASHION I “had to” be on top of trends so shopping every season was essential. Now I treat myself to a few new pieces a year, but make sure that they are coming from brands that are doing the right thing. The fashion industry is a leading cause of environmental issues - from water contamination to production waste and everything in between - it is bad. My thought process is - if it’s bad for the environment it’s bad for me too - so I look for brands that are organic, sustainably sourced, and offer incentives for the environment.
PACT Organics is my go to for basics - I love their underwear. I live in their basic sweatshirt year round, and I just invested in some of their basic dresses!
TenTree plants a new tree for every item purchased! They also use organic and sustainable materials like cotton and hemp.
Allbirds is my favorite sneaker ever! Although the material is wool (technically not vegan) they work with organizations to ensure the safety of the animals when sheering ( a process that is necessary for the health of the sheep!) If wool really isn’t your thing they also have other materials available. They also share technology with the rest of the footwear industry focusing on the greater good of the planet and thinking MACRO!
Other favorites include Rothy’s, Mate the Label
Packed Lunches
Whether your working from home or you have a hybrid student in the house, prepping lunches in advance is probably something that you will be doing to keep morning running smoothly.Packed lunches can be super wasteful, so here are some tips to help you keep that trash can from filling up!
Avoiding plastic sandwich bags is pretty easy these days. If you don’t mind a few extra dishes Stasher bags are my go to, but if you’re maxed out on time spent at the sink opt for Compostable paper bags instead.
One thing that I found very interesting when I was learning more about recycling was that Chip and Candy bags are made with mixed plastic and aluminum materials and are recycling contaminants. This means that they can not be recycled with the rest of your plastics. Back to school food shopping often includes individually packed snack bags or candy bars - one way to reduce your waste this season is to opt for larger bags and pre-pack them into reusable snack bags yourself. You can also check out TerraCycle which offers recycling options for products that would traditionally end up in a landfill.
Same thing goes for juice boxes and juice pouches. When possible shop for Juices in glass bottles and portion out in reusable and seal able cups!
Supercharge Your Routine
Summertime is slow and easy, so getting back into a routine might require a little supercharging. One of the ways I supercharge my morning is by drinking Four Sigmatic mushroom coffee. I opt for the coffee with lions mane (which is great for Brain health and function!)
They also have elixirs to support the immune system, increase energy naturally, and protein drinks!
To save 10% use code - kaleismykarma - at checkout.
Shop Second Hand
For a while I was purchasing digital books, but I love to hold and have a copy of books that I love. Once I stopped buying digital I started buying second hand. If you need a book for school, or a coworker just shared a must read there’s a few different options. Always see if you could borrow a book, or set up an office swap. I sometimes get weird and won’t lend out books, so I totally understand if people don’t want to do that. If it’s a book you think you’ll want to own check on sites like Amazon for pre-owned in good condition. You can also check out your local library for FREE reading!
Healthy Swaps
Well it wouldn’t be a post on Hungry Hippie if we didn’t talk about healthy swaps. So much of what is considered normal in American diets is filled with sugar and unhealthy ingredients. It is time for a serious upgrade. Here are a few of my favorite swaps for American Classics:
Olipop - the perfect Soda Sub! I was never a big soda drinker, but when I tried Olipop I was HOOKED! The root beer flavor took me straight back to my childhood. Not only do they only have 2g of sugar per can, they are packed with functional ingredients designed to benefit your gut health. Healthy gut and oral microbiomes are KEY to fighting off virus’s like the flu, and COVID so keeping these diverse and strong is key to staying healthy! Olipop goes into great details discussing the benefits of their ingredients on their site so check them out! You can also save 15% off your first purchase by using this link!
Fried chips in vegetable oil will make you feel sluggish and wreck havoc on your gut. Simple swaps include Kale Chips, Siete Tortillas, Bare Chips, and Plantain Chips.
You’ll also want to be mindful of what you have for breakfast. Swap muffins, sugary cereals, and fruit juices for whole foods and healthy fat to get you through busy mornings!
My go to breakfast that is easy to prep the night before is Sweet Potato Avocado Toast with everything bagel seasoning and black beans!
BONUS:
For an amazing roundup of eco-friendly back to school supplies this blog post was so resourceful!