Now Swap it Out, Swap it Out...

Being a mom creates a lot of garbage. It's hard not to leave a trail of trash behind you while chasing your tot through a world of diapers, snacks, spills, and outgrown clothes. Many who live the extreme zero-waste lifestyle argue against having children altogether. I'm not extreme and I love babies and hope to raise some amazing humans who will continue to change the world for the better. But, the fact remains, unless you have unlimited time, patience, and resources, you're going to have a lot of garbage.

One of my favorite waste reducers—this genius reusable pouch! There are several DIY pouch systems on the market, but the bags are just Ziploc-types with limited uses. This one is silicone and can be used forever (or until you lose it in a toy box and find it filled with some unimaginable funk...).

             

Pre-packed pouch snacks are an amazing convenience invention that keeps your kid from becoming covered in liquid snacks, but they're incredibly hard to recycle and you'll be hard-pressed to find a local facility that takes them. These are a little on the expensive side, but the cost is easily offset by lowering your grocery bill.

Yogurt, applesauce, weird sweet potato baby mushes, you name it, it's great in the pouch. They come in 3, 6, and 16oz sizes. If you have a giant toddler like me, I'd go with the 6oz size.

To reduce your trash heap even more, buy larger Costco size tubs of yogurt and applesauce to do your refills. More food, fewer containers. Bada-bing, bada-boom, you're creating a little less garbage than you were before.