Start A Green Living Now!
Green at School
School Lunch On The Healthy Side
It’s difficult for a kid to eat healthy if they are eating in the school lunchroom everyday. Different organizations are working toward improving the quality of lunch food at schools, but there are some ways that you as a parent can help your child eat a healthier lunch at school. If you are not able to pack a lunch for your child to take from home, talk to your child about the different options of food at school. Make your child aware of what foods are good to eat, and which ones they should stay away from or only eat once in a while. Some things you may want to mention: • Take extra veggies • Choose milk as your beverage • Skip the desserts or only take a dessert once in a while • Use the salad bar if your school has one Informing your child about healthy eating practices is important in their development. Another way to advocate for healthier food in schools is to take it upon yourself to be the voice in your community lobbying for healthier lunches at school. Pack lunches for your child that are not only healthy but also enticing. There will always be plenty of snacks around school and they ...- Bookmark :
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Natural Vending Machines
Congress passed a law recently that requires officials to put nutritional standards in place for all foods that are sold in schools, including vending machines. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 looks like it will help boost the already growing $26.5 billion organic food industry. Schools, office buildings, and fitness clubs will soon be outfitted with vending machines that are stocked with granola bars, organic yogurt, fresh fruit, and gluten-free snacks. These healthy snack vending machines will be replacing vending machines of the 1970’s that were chocked full of sugar, soda, hydrogenated oils, trans-fats and high-fructose corn syrup. There is a big demand for natural vending machines, as people are seeking out more and more chemical-free foods that don’t contain artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors. Healthy U Snacks is a company that supplies natural vending machines. They started distributing natural vending machines in Chicago in 2009. The Organic Trade Association says that 1/3 of consumers now buys organic products on a monthly basis. The new healthy and organic vending sector is comprised of mostly small, locally owned businesses. Industry players expect a high rate of growth for the natural vending sector in the coming years, similar to the growth that the ...- Bookmark :
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Eco-Friendly Interior Design Informal Education
Pursuing a career in a green field in this day and age is a good idea considering society’s efforts toward cleaning up the planet and increasing our awareness for the effect that we have on our planet. Naturally, the need for professionals in the area of eco-friendly modifications and efforts is on the rise. With demand for these professionals, educational facilities to support the eco-friendly landscape are also growing in demand. One of the developing trends in interior design education is a student looking to earn a degree in green interior design and other related certifications. While some schools are starting to offer classes for eco-friendly design, the availability and diversity of these courses is still limited. This is a dilemma for people looking to enter this specialized field. Numerous people facing this predicament have opted to take classes related to the environment, eco-friendly building techniques and sustainable living. While these topics may not appear to be directly related to a degree in green interior design, these subjects can provide a foundation of knowledge for students to build off of as they pursue the profession. Having skills and knowledge in similar eco-friendly subjects will give a student a leg up when ...- Bookmark :
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Easy Strategies to “Green” a School
The green movement goes beyond our homes. It has entered the realm of education, and administrators and school officials are looking for ways to go green in their schools. Here are some strategies for greening a school. 1. Start a program at your school. This will accomplish the first step, which is raising awareness. Check with the appropriate school officials, and plan meetings on campus after school. Include members of the faculty at these meetings if possible. If it is not possible, then be sure to present your ideas to them periodically. 2. Approach school officials with well-planned ideas. The better organized and specific your ideas are, the more likely they will be well received. Keep things simple at first. 3. Set up recycling bins in the cafeteria. Make sure there is a plan in place to have the bins emptied and kept clean. Have bins for aluminum, plastic, paper, and glass. 4. Food waste can be put to good use in a compost or worm bin. A good worm farm can break down waste quickly, and the school can sell or use the resulting compost. Schools do generate a great deal of food waste. 6. Use all that great compost to plant a school ...- Bookmark :
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Unschooling – An Introduction
"Unschooling" is an interesting term that has a tendency to defy a precise definition. Like "unchaining" or "unleashing," unschooling is an "un" with a positive connotation. Essentially, unschooling is an unconventional approach to educating children that does not follow the institutional school model. Unschoolers do not use a traditional curriculum like homeschoolers do. The core belief of unschooling is that children have a natural curiosity and drive to learn - they are always learning and the unschooler's job is to encourage them. To understand better what unschooling is, here are some things that unschooling is, and some things it is not. What Unschooling Is Not * Neglectful - The one who unschools his kids is in frequent interaction with them. He is well aware of laws and requirements that his children will have to answer to, and unschools accordingly. * Passive - Unschooling is actually even more active than the traditional school model. The unschooler is engaged with her kids, constantly teaching and listening to her students. The unschooler must know her children, because unschooling is primarily led by the children's natural readiness to learn. * Lazy - It's impossible to be lazy and truly unschool! In fact, unschooling requires more work in some ways because ...- Bookmark :
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