What is the secret to effortlessly packing school lunches? It is a difficult task to entice children to eat nutritious meals and snacks and this challenge seems twofold when they reach school age.

As a parent to a very adventuresome four-year-old on the brink of starting school, this subject is at the forefront of my mind. My conversations with teachers, parents, and dieticians along with my perusal of parent blogs and online articles have given me some insight as to how I can navigate this transition with ease and, in turn, help my child adapt to life at school.

Making the transition into kindergarten is a huge milestone with a variety of associated hurdles. Your child begins to eat without your constant supervision and prompts and they are expected to be able to open and close any containers you send with them. No matter what age your child is, parents can dictate what is in the lunch box, but while at school, children remain firmly in control of if and how much they eat.

While I hope for ease and convenience while packing lunches, I am also aware of the immense importance of reducing household waste and living sustainably. Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson is a fantastic resource and her insights have certainly shaped some of my school preparations.

Here are some helpful tips to make the transition easier for parents and children:

Involve your children in packing their lunch

Involving your child in the lunch-packing process can encourage independence and ownership.

If kids choose their own sandwich-type or veggie option, they are more likely to eat it.

Use stainless steel containers

Consider choosing reusable stainless steel containers, thermoses, and water bottles.

Stainless steel is hard wearing, long lasting, light, and free of BPA and other harmful toxins.

Practice your child’s lunch routine in advance

You can practice your lunch routine before school starts by packing a demo lunch and going on a picnic.

This gives you the opportunity to see your child’s lunch gear in action and they can demonstrate their ability to open and close the containers so that you can be sure that the food you pack is accessible.

Fill reusable drink boxes with flavoured water

Juice boxes or tetra packs can be substituted with a refillable juice box and consider offering a homebrewed fruity flavoured water. Your child will feel like they have a special drink for school without the unnecessary sugar.

Teachers and education assistants have told me that one of the main sources of food waste in schools are half-full juice boxes that get inevitably tossed in the garbage after lunch is over.

Choose reusable fabric snack bags

Consider replacing plastic zip bags with reusable fabric snack bags. They offer the element of surprise and the novelty of opening a package. They are reusable, easy to wipe out at the end of the day, and can be tossed in the washing machine once they need a deeper clean.

Plastic wrap can also be replaced with a reusable alternative; Abeego Beeswax Food Wraps are reusable, washable, and compostable after one year of use.

Bake your own healthy treats

Pre-packed granola bars may seem convenient but a wasteful wrapper each day starts to add up in landfill. Consider baking your own nutrient-rich alternative.

If you bake large batches you can freeze the extra and thaw as needed. This is a great way to save time and money, while offering an opportunity for your child to be involved in food preparation.

Look online for more school lunch ideas

Do some research! A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of blog posts and articles with parents documenting their school lunch ideas. One of my favourite ideas is fresh fruit or vegetable skewers.

Try visiting the website of the brand of your child’s lunchbox. For example, the Planet Box website provides specific recipes that help you make the most of the compartments provided.

School lunches offer an opportunity for parents to instill healthy eating habits and foster environmental responsibility in their children.

There are additional resources in the community that can support this effort. For example, The Recycle Rangers: Planet Protectors Program, developed by GreenUP, addresses the need to reduce what is going to the landfill from our schools.

The program aims to educate our young people on waste reduction and inform and empower students so that they can educate their families and friends to be environmental leaders. For more information visit our website at www.recyclerangers.ca.

The GreenUP Store offers a variety of tools to help you create your child’s zero-waste lunch kit. We carry many reusable stainless steel container options in many sizes including Planet Box, and many other brands that feature easy-to-open lids, silicone seals, and insulated double-walls for keeping meals warm or cold.

We have many reusable bottles, drinking boxes, lunch bags and totes, fabric snack bags, and more!

For more information, visit our website at www.greenup.on.ca/greenup-store. Please visit us at the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer St. in downtown Peterborough or give us a call at 705-745-3238 ext. 222 or email kristen.larocque@greenup.on.ca with your zero-waste lunch questions.

All photos courtesy of GreenUP.

In our current realestateNOW feature, we tour a striking contemporary home in Bobcaygeon surrounded by a natural setting and just steps from Pigeon Lake, from Tom and Wendy Hunt of Hunt4Dreams Realty Inc.

Nestled away on a gently rolling tree-lined street that curves with the natural landscape and surrounded by the peaceful setting that is Pigeon Lake, 250 Riverside Drive seems a world away yet is mere minutes from all the wonderful amenities of Bobcaygeon.

This location is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast with access to a public boat launch on Pigeon Lake just steps away. Boating, hiking, cross-country skiing, great views, and lots of fresh air abound in this pristine area.

“It’s like you’re in the country, but you’re actually in town. It’s a very comfortable setting,” says Tom Hunt, Broker of Record with Hunt4Dreams Realty Inc.

Located in a high-profile subdivision, the 3,800-square-foot private and tranquil in-town bungalow was constructed a year ago to exacting detail, and with use of the finest custom materials by master builders and craftspeople.

“The finest modern amenities and intricate details enhance the home and add to its aesthetic and practical value,” explains Hunt.

This includes high ceilings, recessed lighting, tile entry, high-quality oak hardwood floors cut on the diagonal, gorgeous moldings throughout the main floor, stainless steel appliances, and high-efficiency propane heating.

The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large rear deck with beautiful views, a front covered porch, a private rear yard, and an attached garage.

There are two large family room areas, and a spacious laundry room on the lower level.

The wow factor

“There’s a wow factor when you enter the house,” boasts Hunt, noting the grand entry to rising 10 feet cathedral-like ceilings in the main great room.

“The oak hardwood floor that you see when you enter is heavy duty, hand-scraped hardwood and cut on a 45 degree angle,” he adds.

Every room is bathed in natural light, creating a seamless transition from indoor living to outdoor experience.

Main floor

The high-end kitchen features solid wood cupboards and stainless steel built-in appliances (stove with separate cook top and a double oven), paired with a large island and dining area.

Let the master bedroom be your sanctuary. This large suite is polished with an L-shape, 10 x 15 foot walk-in closet, along with an ensuite bathroom with a full soaker tub and a shower with rain shower heads and oversized ceramic and sliding glass panel doors.

The spacious second bedroom has oversized sliding doors to the rear yard, and the third bedroom is perfect for guests, or as an office or craft room.

Lower level

The lower level, covered in hardwood flooring along with a dampness barrier beneath, is an entertainer’s dream come true, says Hunt.

The raised floor has loads of features including two enormous entertainment rooms (measuring 23 x 20 feet and 23 x 26 feet), an ideal environment to display a huge TV screen and home theatre system.

VIDEO: A virtual tour of 250 Riverside Drive

“The nine foot ceilings and huge windows allow a lot of light and make you feel like you’re on the main floor,” notes Hunt.

It also has two utility areas, a three-piece bath with a corner Jacuzzi tub on a raised pedestal all surrounded by 12 x 15 inch ceramic tiles around the walls and floors, and a laundry room with ceramic floors.

Plenty of outdoor living

Creating an inviting outdoor living space in the yard is the best way to meet neighbors, and there is plenty of opportunity for that on this property with a front covered porch and 44-foot rear deck.

“Both decks are overbuilt and the floor joists are over code,” says Hunt. “They have solid support.”

If entertaining isn’t your cup of tea, you can just sit back and relax as you watch wildlife roam through the beautiful natural setting-right from the comfort of your own home.

View this property and more on the Hunt4Dreams Realty Inc. website at www.hunt4dreams.com. You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

The asking price for this property is $659,000. Real estate agents Tom Hunt, Wendy Hunt, and Madeline Brown can be reached by phone at 705-738-1414, or in person at their office at 42A Bolton Street in Bobcaygeon.

All photos courtesy of Hunt4Dreams Realty Inc.

Divorce: a life-altering, heart-wrenching, monumental process that most couples never imagined they would face. Add a overflowing dose of intense grief or anger or fear or shame — or all four.

What if there was a team of people who knew the gravity of the situation, who met you with compassion and understanding, who helped you manage your emotions but still had the legal answers, who could help you figure out the finances and still put you on a path forward?

Social worker Carolyn McAlpine — one of a team of lawyers, financial advisors, and family professionals with Kawartha Collaborative Practice (KCP) — helps provide that answer for couples in the throes of divorce or who want or need to separate, but know that a long and drawn-out court proceeding is too dear on both the pocket book and their emotional well being.

“People at that point in their lives need empathy and clarity,” McAlpine says. “They need someone to understand how difficult and scary their situation is. Next to going through a death, a separation is one of the most difficult things to experience.”

There’s just no room for that in the traditional divorce proceeding, she adds, explaining courts are not equipped to deal with emotions or to offer custom solutions for a couple facing divorce.

“The role of the family professional is based around communication and helping people to look ahead to their future — what they want it to look like when they get through the divorce.”

McAlpine’s job as a family professional, she says, is to help each person focus on what is most important to them: the children, the matrimonial home, financial security, and more.

Once a couple has choosen KCP by hiring a lawyer associated with the collective and asking for the process, McAlpine is often the first member of the collaborative team to meet with both spouses to begin to address any conflict, lack of communication, or issues relating to the children.

She listens to their stories, helps them identify what is most important to them, and identifies what may be difficult during the negotiations.

Particularly if one spouse feels there is a power imbalance, or is experience intense grief or anger, there can be complication during the talks.

McAlpine says there are ways to manage this that just wouldn’t happen in a court proceeding.

And, while she offers no therapy during this process, she says clients often say they can begin to look ahead after telling their story.

She also helps clients understand the collaborative divorce process, and the need to separate emotions from the “business at hand.” Most importantly, she can inform the lawyers and financial advisor what to expect at the table.

“It’s my job to figure out how each person can best manage around the table, so that discussions are forward moving and respectful — to help support and empower you to reach solutions that meet your short and long-term goals and to keep you focused on what matters most.”

McAlpine, who has two decades of experience as a social worker, children’s advocate, and mediator, says she’s always known there needed to be an alternative to the traditional divorce proceeding.

“Courts are backed up and divorce cases can go on for many years,” she says. “I don’t see that changing. And people will walk away from court feeling unheard, devalued and resentful. They won’t be able to move on. They’ve had no real resolution.

“Traditional divorce doesn’t ask what are you worried about. There’s no bargaining, no discussion of what would work and what wouldn’t, no consideration of the clients’ level of anxiety, no consideration of the subtleties or of the couple’s communication.

“The collaborative offers a safe place to move forward where everyone’s voice is heard. And we’re usually able to work together so each person’s most important goals are met.”

If you are facing a separation or a divorce and don’t want to go through the traditional court process, call 705-928-3218 or visit www.kawarthacollaborative.com. You can also find them on Facebook.