Exploring, Enjoying and Protecting on Your Vacation

It’s safe to say that this summer has been brutally hot!   Cool off on a vacation that’s overflowing with fun in the sun, outdoor adventure and new experiences!  Check out these eco-friendly travel tips from Sierra Club National Outings to minimize the impact of your next vacation:

1.       Low-impact activities – Exploring and enjoying the planet without leaving a large carbon footprint is easy when you focus on activities such as hiking, kayaking, nature walks, swimming, and snowshoeing.

2.       Pack it In, Pack it Out – Everything you bring into the outdoors should leave with you. Plan meals carefully and repackage ingredients into reusable containers to minimize garbage. And if you see litter on the trail, pick it up!

     3.       Volunteer – Give back to the wild places you love on a service trip.  You’ll work on a variety of rewarding tasks, like repairing trails and removing invasive plants, with plenty of time to relax.

    4.       Group transportation – If you’re driving, plan a carpool. Some national parks even offer shuttle or train access. When visiting an urban area, opt for public transportation.  Mother Earth will thank you, and so will your wallet.

5.       Be a force for change – Want to protect the places you visit after you return home? Visit the Sierra Club’s My Piece of America site to stay up-to-date on threats to our nation’s wild places and opportunities to help save them.

Feeling adventurous, but not sure where to go?  Visit the My Piece of America web site and enter to win the Sierra Club Outings “End-of-Summer Sweepstakes!”  The winner will receive two round-trip tickets to Florida, 6-night stay in the Everglades National Park and kayaking lessons!

Source: Sierra Club National Outings

Enjoy Great Food While Greening Your Travels

Italy-Homemade Pizza - After
purchasing ingredients at Campo
de’ Fiori market in Rome, we made our own pizza.
Photo by: Greenloons

Savoring local flavors helps communities, families and the environment.

Eco-tourism travel is about preserving ecosystems, educating visitors about conservation, empowering localities, operating sustainable tourist attractions – and, most of all, having fun and unique family experiences!  Of course, eating is a big part of traveling and aside from the fact that families can truly immerse themselves in the travel experience when sampling local foods and delicacies, the practice of eating locally teaches the value of food to both young and wise, and helps the environment.

The environmental benefits of eating locally include: less need for preservatives, better health since smaller farms are less likely to use pesticides and more likely to grow a variety of foods, and helping local economies since farmers receive the full retail value of the item rather applying it toward the expenses of transportation, processing, packaging, and refrigeration.

To find sustainable food restaurants in the United States and Canada, two great resources are Eat Well Guide and Local Harvest, which provides a comprehensive U.S. directory of farmers markets, farm stands and other sources of locally grown food.

London-Gastropub - Farm-fresh appetizer
 at London’s only certified organic restaurant,
the family-friendly Duke of Cambridge.
Photo by: Greenloons

When traveling overseas, a great resource to use is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which lists organic farms as well as organic farm volunteering opportunities around the world.  While ‘farmers markets’ may be a relatively new concept for Americans, almost every foreign city large or small has established local markets that sell fresh meats, fish, cheeses, breads, pastries, vegetables and fruits.  Traversing through one of these markets with children will not only reveal the different colors, shapes, textures and smells of local food, but will serve as a quick language, math and social studies lesson too.

Alternatively, if you are overseas and a family member suffers from allergies, Select Wisely portable translation cards, which can also be downloaded to a smartphone, cover all manner of food allergies and medical conditions including cards for nut and shellfish allergies, restaurant chefs, gluten-free diets, as well as smoke-free and low-salt requests.

Zurek Soup-Poland - The Polish specialty
of Zurek Soup, served in Krakow,
 is not only nutritious and filling,
 but “delicious” according to
my 7 year-old.
Photo by: Greenloons

Next time you are traveling to a new country, try to find a sustainable food restaurant or organic farm market or festival, and start savoring the local flavors.

About the author:

Irene Lane is the founder and president of Greenloons, which connects families to meaningful and unique nature-based travel experiences all over the world.

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Planning to travel this summer? Don't forget your Laptop Lunches!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Laptop Lunches Keeps Nutrition Intact During Summer Travel

American-style bento boxes are fun, eco-friendly, and only $39.99 at www.laptoplunches.com.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – May 24, 2010 – Road trips, long flights, local getaways – these all lead to one thing: junk food! Travelers can avoid nutrition breakdown this summer with American-style bento boxes from Laptop Lunches. This Bento-ware for Everywhere is ideal for packing wholesome, earth-friendly, on-the-go meals.

The Laptop Lunches Bento System (only $39.99 at www.laptoplunches.com) includes five inner containers that rest in a tray, a set of stainless-steel utensils, and a water bottle, all of which zip into an insulated mini-laptop case, appropriate for both kids and adults. The brightly colored inner containers accommodate everything from carrot sticks to miso soup.

Each system comes with a handy little guide, which takes the guesswork out of what to pack. It includes creative lunch ideas, travel-friendly menus, and recipes for fun, nutritious meals. And while the Bento System eliminates the need for plastic baggies, the guide gives other tips for reducing waste, as well.

About Laptop Lunches

Obentec, Inc. was founded in 2001 by two California moms, with the mission of helping families improve lunchtime nutrition while reducing waste. Laptop Lunches are affordable, high quality, made-in-the-USA meal containers designed for people on the go, and are perfect for school, work, and travel. The founders of Obentec, Inc. believe that healthy kids come from healthy communities; thus Obentec is committed to giving back to schools and environmental organizations. Learn more at www.laptoplunches.com.
For additional information, please contact Alecia J. Wachtstetter at aleciaw(at)lotus823(dot)com.

http://www.laptoplunches.com/LaptopLunches_travel_2010_lunchbox_PressRelease5-24-2010.html

Hungry Travelers Turn to Laptop Lunches for Their Next Meal

In their rush to reduce in-flight food service, many airlines have left passengers scrambling for creative ways to carry meals on board. Laptop Lunches, manufactured by Obentec, Inc. (www.obentec.com), provide a convenient, low-cost, healthful solution. This stylish line of lunchware, originally designed for school and work, has become indispensable among savvy travelers.

The Laptop Lunch System

Inspired by the Japanese bento box, the Laptop Lunch System features an insulated carrying case, resembling a laptop bag, a hinged outer container, four inner food containers, a small dip container, utensils, and The Laptop Lunch User's Guide, a book of wholesome menus and recipes. It all fits comfortably on a lap or airline tray table.

Airline Travel

"The last time we flew," explains Obentec president, Amy Hemmert, "we went 'no-frills.' At dinnertime, we set our Laptop Lunches on our tray tables and devoured our delicious home-cooked meals-with envious fellow passengers looking on. That's when I understood that Laptop Lunches could fill a need."

According to the American Obesity Association, 64.5% of U.S. adults are overweight and 30.5% are obese. 30.3% of American children ages 6 to 11 are overweight and 15.3% are obese. This puts Americans at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, stroke, diabetes and more.

"When I flew back East last month, I was offered a snack--cheese-filled crackers, cookies, and candy," says businessman Steve Chipman. "I took one look and said, 'Where's the food?' No wonder Americans keep getting heavier. No wonder we're having heart attacks and strokes. These 'meals' just don't cut it."

Family Car Trips

Laptop Lunches are popular not only for airplane flights but for road trips as well. "I always pack Laptop Lunches for car trips," says Monica Van Natta , mother of two. "That way I don't have to stop for fast food. Before we leave, I hand the kids their Laptop Lunches. This gives them control, and my husband and I can have a decent conversation."

The Laptop Lunch System is available online at www.laptoplunches.com and through select retailers nationwide. For a complete list of Obentec retailers, visit www.laptoplunches.com/retail.html.

Travel Tips

Heading out of town for the long weekend? Don't forget to feed your body.

* CAR TRIPS--Car travel can be stressful with kids in the back seat. Consider packing plenty of nutritious foods in your Laptop Lunches so you won't be forced to stop at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Laptop Lunches are economical, convenient, and fit nicely on your lap!

* IN THE AIR--If you're not crazy about airline food, or if your airline has stopped providing meals altogether, consider packing a Laptop Lunch with your own nutritious meals and snacks instead of picking up an overpriced fast food meal at the airport. Before your return flight, pack it full of nutritious treats or fresh salads. You'll be happy you did!

* TWO FOR ONE--Restaurant portions can be huge! If you find yourself eating out more often when you're on the road, remember that there's only one reward for being a member of the clean plate club--added pounds! When you eat out, take your Laptop Lunch and fill it with the leftovers instead of asking for a disposable box. Store it in the refrigerator overnight. You won't have to make (or buy!) lunch the next day. And you'll have one less disposable container to feel guilty about.