Green Shopping Guide: Toys and Food

We’re talking about Earth Day all month long on VancouverMom.ca, and this week we’re sharing some of our reader’s earth-friendly green shopping picks. If you want to green your life, or just find some toys you know are safe for your baby to chew on, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’re sharing your favourite sustainable toys, as well as some great food and drink options.

Green Shopping: Toys

When you have kids, you have toys. Of course you want to know that those toys are safe for your little ones to play with. You also want to know that they don’t have a huge carbon footprint. Here’s our green shopping guide for toys and sustainable play.

On Facebook Britt Baxter-Bellas suggested Apple Park toys, saying, “They are really cute and my son loves them!” Sold.

Kippo Kids also weighed in on Facebook, recommending Topozoo. “We love our Topozoo toys made from eco-friendly products, [they’re] packaged in recycled cardboard and totally fun.”
On Twitter Raspberry Kids seconded the Topozoo recommendation, and upped the ante by adding, “Hape, Janod, Le Toy Van, Plan Toys, miYim, Modern-twist, Sprig, anything wooden!”
On Twitter MomstownVic also felt the wooden toy love, giving the thumbs-up to Melissa and Doug, and saying, “I consider a quality, longlasting toy that plays well a “green” investment toy. High reuse value = green to me.”

ToyJungleToybox also shared a suggestion on Twitter. “Anything by Plan Toy, especially the fruit and veg.”
ToyJungleToybox gave some more green shopping toy recommendations, “Green Science Bottle Catamaran, Green Toys Race Car, Spring Dolphin Explorer Boat, Green Creativity Recycled Bottle Light and Crazy Tower game. So many choices, it’s hard to pick a fav!” We feel that.
Our Content Manager Amber Strocel is a big fan of play silks. These versatile toys can be used in many ways. She says, “My kids have used their play silks as capes, skirts, veils, picnic blankets, doll clothes, doll slings and more. You can find them online at Natural Pod or ByNature.ca.”

For babies, Amber suggests Dress Me Up Organic’s Teething Bonbon. “They’re all natural materials, and totally organic, which I especially love in a teething toy.”

Green Shopping: Food and Drink

We all have to eat. How do you reduce the carbon footprint of your meals without sacrificing taste and variety? Here’s our green shopping guide for food and drink.

Contributor Michelle Carchrae brews her own beer in reusable glass bottles. She says, “The guys at Dan’s Homebrew Supplies on Hastings have been super helpful.”

West Side Contributor Erin Cooper loves home grocery delivery. “We buy all our groceries online at Spud.ca. Saves trips to the grocery store (and gas), and they offer mostly local products.”
Our former West Side Contributor Kate Marples gave the thumbs-up to Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., which claims to buy as much produce as they can from local farmers. She wrote, “I like that, not only because it supports the local economy, but also because I think it makes for a better tasting dish.”
Content Manager Amber Strocel suggests checking out your local farmers’ market. She says, “When you buy local, you’re reducing your carbon footprint because your food doesn’t have to travel as far to get to you. Plus, you’ll be amazed by the variety of food grown in the Vancouver area.”

Do you have a green shopping pick to share for playtime or mealtime? Leave us a reply and let us know! Also, stay tuned for the rest of our Green Shopping Guide, this week on VancouverMom.ca.

*Feature image credit – Roland Tanglao on Flickr.