Summer is over and its that time of year to go school shopping. Try to reuse items from last year to stay green and recycle the ones that are trashed. You can make back to school shopping fun, eco, and safe this year with HipMomsGoGreen picks. I have personally bought all of the items on the list. All of the products are on a second year of use so they really last!
The Spicy Relish Lunch Tote by Built is the best lunch box. My youngest son used a built lunch box last year and it is still in perfect condition this year. My other sons had different brands that will remain nameless. These were trashed and looked like I ran over them with my car. The built bag has a TON of space for everything including a full size water bottle, bowls, sacks, napkin and more. It folds flat when empty and is fairly compact. The neoprene stretches to accommodate all your lunch essentials and stands up solid. Its easy to carry with soft-grip handles or with removable shoulder strap. It comes with an inside pocket and has a zip closure. The bag was tested for lead safety, has no vinyl or PVC. The best part is that you can wash it and it is like NEW! Enjoy.
The Klean Kanteen 18 oz colorful bottle with sports cap is a reusable, stainless steel bottle that is lab tested to be 100% free of heavy metal, toxins, and BPA. This is the perfect size because you can also fit it in the lunch tote. The wide-mouth accommodates ice cubes (big issue for others) and makes cleaning easy. The sports cap is wonderful but if you have a toddler I have mentioned before the sippy cup lid is the best from this company.
I love LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags mainly because they work very well. These bags have a seal that is strong and the food stays fresh. I am on my second year with these bags so they really hold up well are worth the price. They are a colorful, high-quality alternative to plastic baggies. Made from the same food-safe materials used in high-end bakeries and patisseries, not only will they store your food. They are quick drying, greaseproof, and dishwasher safe. They are high-quality cotton with food-safe coating, and are BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free. They also have a nice big space to write your child’s name.
Kids Konserve stainless steel containers are perfect for packing your lunches. They last forever and are made with an amazing seal when you place the top on. The tiered sizes hold snacks, sides and main courses and they nest inside each other when you’re done, taking up minimal storage space. Unlike many other containers, they don’t leak, so you can pack your favorite foods and toss them in your bags without worry.
Julie Naylon is the founder of 
Like people, it is important that we feed our canine companions healthy food. But what do we look for in dog food and treats to achieve the desired level of healthfulness? What differentiates an organic dog treat from a holistic or natural one? It is worth mentioning that the dog food and dog treat industry do not have a government sponsored regulating agency such as the FDA. However this does not mean the industry is left completely unchecked. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (
- (seed)+ is a new personal care line based on the powerful benefits of seeds. Certain seeds are naturally rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids – and their new line of grape seed enriched products offers all of these powerful nutrients – and the many body health and beauty benefits from them. (seed)+ is powerfully 100% Natural and I personally love them. I hope you do to. 
– I can barely live without my Vitamix. If you want truly smooth drinks and fantastic soups this is for you. Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500 is a heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender that delivers optimum performance and power. Superior engineering strengthens each part, ensuring a product that will last. 
-A favorite of one of my raw foodie besties, Julie. In this lushly photographed book, Kenney and Melngailis share some of that magic — and show that preparing and eating raw does not mean bland, unsatisfying, or impossibly time-consuming meals. Using dehydrating, Vita-Mix blending, a nuanced understanding of spices, and unprecedented creativity, they explore a whole new outlook on raw food that transfers beautifully and easily from their kitchen to yours — no matter what your present diet. And you’ll immediately begin to reap the benefits of healthful, delicious, life-giving raw food. 
– This perfect for raw food must have is great for families that love eating healthy! Drying food is fun! Make your own chips and bars for so much less money and more nutrition. The Excalibur Dehydrator allows you to dry anything evenly and efficiently. The unit can dry all fruits, vegetables, meats, and more! Make fruit leathers and home-made jerky – FRESH! The Excalibur has a trademarked horizontal-airflow drying system which dries foods perfectly evenly on all the trays. Dehydrating is a great way to add a new way of consuming foods without damaging valuable nutrients which may be lost during high heat cooking! Dried foods are a great treat to snack on because they hold almost all of their nutritional value and flavor. 
-This is one of my go-to gals for gluten-free, Elana Amsterdam. The prevalence of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity among millions of adults and children has created the need for gluten-free recipes that are as nutritious and tasty as their traditional counterparts. Popular food blogger Elana Amsterdam offers ninety-nine family-friendly classics–from Pancakes to Eggplant Parmesan to Chocolate Cake–that feature her gluten-free ingredient of choice, almond flour. So whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast treat, a comfort food entrée, or a showstopping dessert, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook proves that gluten-free cooking can mean healthy eating for everyone. 
-love these… Totally Bamboo’s Salad Hands are distinctively attractive and super strong – perfect for special occasion and every day use. Plus, these servers are eco-friendly. Two piece set made of sturdy bamboo. The benefits of using bamboo are numerous. For example: bamboo is 16-percent harder than maple, it’s naturally anti-microbial and it’s eco friendly; it holds the promise of a sustainable, cost effective, and ecologically responsible alternative to the widespread clear cutting of our old growth forests. Totally Bamboo uses organically grown moso bamboo, so you need not worry about harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Plus, this bamboo is not a food source, or a habitat, for the giant panda. Totally good for you and totally good for the environment. Servers are easy to maintain – simply wash with warm water and use Totally Bamboo’s revitalizing oil, occasionally, to extend the life and keep them looking beautiful. 
-A New York Times bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us—whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed—he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet. 
-“What ’s for dinner?” seemed like a simple question—until journalist and supermarket detective Michael Pollan delved behind the scenes. From fast food and big organic to small farms and old-fashioned hunting and gathering, this young readers’ adaptation of Pollan’s famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices. In a smart, compelling format with updated facts, plenty of photos, graphs, and visuals, as well as a new afterword and backmatter, The Omnivore’s Dilemma serves up a bold message to the generation that needs it most: It’s time to take charge of our national eating habits—and it starts with you. 
-Santa Claus is having a green Christmas! In the spirit of Christmas giving, Santa shows boys and girls that they can give to others while giving back to the Earth — and have fun while they’re doing it! Simple things like riding bicycles to the store rather than taking a car, turning the tree lights off during the day and before bedtime, taking the tree to the community mulching center, using discarded newspapers for gift wrap, and making decorations and presents for one another rather than buying new ones, are all ways that kids can help Santa have a green Christmas.
-With this collection of forty-eight fun-filled, science-based environmental activities, kids from eight to eleven explore the world they live in and find ways to make it better. The projects in Eco-Fun cover a range of difficulty and include a mix of scientific experiments to do at home or school, activities that explore kids’ own world and real-life ecology projects for their neighborhood or community. They can build a solar panel, make recycled paper, build a worm composter and create a forest ecosystem in a jar. Lively, easy-to-follow illustrations clearly tell kids what to do and show how each activity works. 
-Make a fashion statement with eco friendly/cruelty free jewelry by Christy Robinson! This ID style tag is handstamped with “vegan” and made out of recycled sterling silver! The tag measures 3/4″ x 1/4″ has a satin finish. Tag has a recycled copper star charm attached which measures 1/2″ x 1/2″ it has a shiny finish. Comes with sterling 1.5 mm flat cable chain with a handmade hook and eye clasp. *Due to the handmade nature this item may vary slightly from image Chain used is from ethical sources and Made in the USA. 
-Made with certified U.S. grown organic cotton. Organic cotton is better for you and the earth than any other fiber. Organic cotton does not use genetically modified seeds, toxic and persistent pesticides or herbicides, bleach, heavy metals or synthetic fertilizers. Jade Yoga will provide a month’s worth of clean drinking water for one person in the developing world for every towel sold. Cotton is pure cellulose, a naturally occurring polymer which attracts water molecules and absorbs water – about 25 times its weight in water. Perfect for hot yoga. Soft and comfortable, organic cotton is perfect for drying off during your yoga work out. It also is comfortable and thick enough to provide warmth and lift like a blanket. Please note that because this towel is made of organic cotton, it is not designed to provide grip like the synthetic fiber towels on the market, but rather absorbency, warmth and lift. In addition to organic cotton loops, Jade yoga towels are made with polyester stitching for added strength and longevity. 
-I love my Eco Cup! ECOTM CupTM is a permanent home for hot beverages. Do away with papercups and enjoy your daily grind of coffee in this single-walled, porcelain cup with an attachable silicone lid and sleeve. Keeps drinks warm while sparing the environment paper and styrofoam waste. 
-These cute animal towels are a spa-grade hooded towel. This is made up of natural terry toweling on the inside and organic cotton knit on the outside. These hooded towels are ideal for baths or dips in the pool. It measures 29″x29″ in size. This hooded towel is machine washable. It is the perfect gift for baby in this holiday season. The outer shell is made up of 100% organic cotton Terry towel and is also 100% unbleached cotton. See it here in pink and other animals. 
-All three of my boys have dragged this adorable little alligator around. Plan Preschool toys combine learning with fun. Their carefully crafted push-pull toys, manipulative toys, musical instruments, games, puzzles, and blocks are all specially designed to enrich every aspect of your child’s early development. These toys inspire children’s imagination as well as promoting their physical and intellectual development. PlanToys are made from non-toxic, natural materials such as organic rubberwood. Their toys enable children to play, learn and become closer to nature while being pulled; the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clack sounds. 
-This is a must have for 2 and ups. My boys did not have to use training wheels on any bike because of the balance learned early on from this bike. It is amazing. Jackson hopped on a big bike and cruised down the road at 3 1/2! Children learn to balance and ride while boosting their confidence. No Pedals! No training wheels! . -Pneumatic Rubber Tires with extra long tube valves. -Rubberized handle bar grips. -Cushioned leatherette seat. -Spoke-less disk wheels to prevent little feet from getting caught. -Unique carry handle incorporated in the bike s body. -Limited steering radius to prevent jackknifing. -Adjustable seat height to grow with your child with 5. height positions adjustable from 13.5 to 17.5 inches. -Suitable for ages 2 years and up to 60 pounds. Eco friendly wood harvested from a replenishable source, formaldehyde free glue, non toxic paints. 
-Construct a make-believe skyscraper. Repair an imaginary windmill. If young handy boys and girls can dream it, they can do it with the Green Toys Tool Set. This 15 piece workable set is made from 100% recycled plastic. Manufactured in the U.S.A. from recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
-A prodigy maybe one in the making. Sevi believes music is great for all ages and shows it in this beautifully crafted xylophone. Enjoy the music. Musical skills begin at home, and this easy-to-play instrument is a great place to start. Even small children can produce sounds on the xylophone, making it a fun and easy way to develop rhythm and coordination. And this one is made of all wood, producing a mellower sound that’s easy on parents’ ears. Made from eco-friendly materials and vegetable dyes. 
-This is what we use at our house and they are wonderful! The BornFreeTM Vented Glass Bottles Gift Set includes: 3x 5oz Glass Bottles, 2x 9oz Glass Bottle, 2x Level 2 Nipples. 
-Organic cotton tights with the biggest fun dots in delicious sherbet colors. 
-Small solar daybag that’s big enough to fit an iPad or Kindle along with the day’s essentials, 4 Watts Solar Power and 3,000 mAh battery included. 
- Kindle is a #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon. Now it’s even better.
-I could not resist putting this on the top of the list. In my opinion, this BBC version is one of the best movies ever! A must give to a girlfriend. We can resite the lines around our house. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has taken its place as one of the greatest television productions of all time. The landmark adaptation from A&E and the BBC captured the hearts of millions by seamlessly translating the wit, romance, and intelligence of Jane Austen s classic novel to the screen.
-Future of Food is one of the best-reviewed documentaries of 2005 is now available on DVD in this deluxe two-disc edition. There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. This documentary explores the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery store shelves for the past decade. It also examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multi-national corporations seek to control the world’s food system. “One of 2005′s must-see documentaries” -San Francisco Chronicle.
Following her first two hits (and a couple of my absolute favorite reads!), “Gorgeously Green” and “The Gorgeously Green Diet”, Sophie Uliano has done it again for all the green ladies out there! New York Times’ Bestseller, “Do it Gorgeously” is a must-read for any any woman who wants to live a healthy, eco-conscious life… fabulously.
For many of us with younger children, we spend 5 mornings a week for 36 weeks out of the year going through the same routine. Get ‘em up, get ‘em dressed and fed, make ‘em lunch and get ‘em out the door; it can become almost robotic. Sometimes we don’t have time to think- we just do.
As some of you may know I recently sealed the carpets at my son’s school so that we could avoid the emissions of VOCs all year long. The school was nice enough to call me when they installed the carpet so that I could have this process completed. Schools are on tighter budgets these days and 100% wool carpet was definitely out of reach. We have a wonderful school and they are making efforts to “be green”. We have a master organic gardener on staff, the children bring in compost materials, and they teach about and practice recycling. This year the school has even asked parents to purchase reusables for their children’s lunches to include snack bags, stainless water bottles, and cloth napkins. They are doing away with plastic bags and bottles!
Isn’t it great when you can take care of two problems with only step? Fortunately, here is an easy way to give you those feelings of satisfaction and make you feel like a model of efficiency: getting rid of junk mail.
not want their junk mail. Don’t forget about catalogs! Even more paper and toxic chemicals are wasted on catalogs and magazines you never read and may not want in the first place. Use 
Continuing our mission to integrate environmentally-sustainable practices and healthy lifestyles into the American ethos, Hip Moms Go Green has launched 
