If you are preparing to pack a reusable lunch box because your child’s school requires waste-free lunch boxes or just because a litterless lunch is the responsible thing to do, you need to know the range of your options. At the Kids’ division of bynature.ca we’ve stocked up reusable school lunch products for you.
Systems
Laptop Lunches is a bento box system that comes with a 90-page user guide. So many parents are using this system, that they have uploaded 8,600+ photos of bento box lunches to a Flickr group. Includes four reusable containers with lids, stainless steel fork and spoon, and a reusable water bottle.
Goodbyn Lunch Box
This cute, two-piece lunch box fits into a backpack or can be carried by the handle. Easy to open even for young children. Food is separated into compartments without separate containers. Includes a drink bottle. Just wash the whole lunch box at the end of the day. Comes with a bunch of stickers to encourage a child to customize—these include food allergy stickers. You know they are going to put stickers all over it anyway!
The To-Go Ware tiffin is a lunch box system from India. This reusable lunch box can carry cold or hot food. You can use just one tier for a snack or both tiers for a full meal. Easy to carry by the handle or put in a backpack.
Boxes and Bags
SoYoung Mother lunch boxes are linen outside with an insulated inner lining. An extra pocket on the outside can carry a napkin, flatware, or notes to the teacher. Carry by the handle or messenger style with a long strap.
The Dabbawalla lunch bag is made from a neoprene-like fabric that is machine washable. The fabric is insulated, so it helps maintain food temperature. The fabric has earned the rigorous Oeko-Tex 100 standard of safety in textiles, an ecological certification process that tests for over 100 harmful substances.
Mimi the Sardine Lunchbugs and Lunch Sacks
It’s the great prints that attract children and parents to Mimi the Sardine. Their lunch bags come in two sizes: Lunch Bugs for younger children and Lunch Sacks for older children and adults. The Bugs have zippered closures and soft handles, while the Sacks have a fold-over Velcro closure and a heavy-duty handle. Both can be wiped clean or machine washed and tumbled dry on low.
Reusable Snack Bags and Sandwich Bags
Kanga Sac Reusable Snack Bags
Kanga Sac reusable bags come in two sizes: sandwich bags are 7″ x 7″ and snack bags are 7″ x 4″. Zipper closure is easy to use for any child. Washable alternative to plastic baggies.
Itzy Ritzy Reusable Snack Bags
Itzy Ritzy bags have great cotton prints on the outside with a waterproof coated polyester on the inside. FDA-approved as food safe. 7″ x 7″ for sandwiches.
Reusable Drink Bottles
SIGG child-sized aluminum bottles are the easy way to carry a drink for one meal. They all have the new ecoCare lining and flip-style lids.
Klean Kanteen reusable drink bottle
For a child who drinks more during the day, a Klean Kanteen water bottle will be more appropriate. Comes in 18oz, 27oz, and 40oz sizes. You can also buy a sports cap separately.
Accessories
Fabkins
Reusable napkins come in several colors with designs that kids love.
If your child doesn’t want to drink straight from a water bottle, you can still avoid tossing away plastic straws after every drink. Try stainless steel straws. Come in two lengths: long straws are 9.5″ and short straws are 6.95″. Washable, reusable, and keeps plastic out of your child’s mouth.
Resources
- Waste-free Lunch – Guide for reducing lunch waste both on a personal and on a school-wide scale. Includes research and success stories.
- Green My Lunchbox Campaign – Manufacturers of litterless lunch products offer a discount. Their goal is to encourage 15,000 families to commit to packing waste-free lunches in order to eliminate an estimated 1 million pounds of waste from landfill.
