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Wednesday, July 30, 2014


Lunch Box Comparison List

Over the years I have received inquires about which lunchbox I like the most, which ones are leak proof, which ones I would recommend and more. Since I have packed many lunches and alternate among the many lunchboxes in our ever growing collection, I thought it might be helpful to make a list of some of them along with the features that we like and things to consider.

As it is more the case that I have no consistent favorite, I usually make my selection from the lunchboxes I have based on what might be best for that particular lunch. Sometimes it is important that the box is leak-proof, other times it isn't important and one which lacks that particular feature might better complement the contents.

There are times when the layout of the container is a factor; where the number of sections or their relative size would be more suitable for the lunch I am making. Perhaps, like me, you may end up with a collection of them.

Lunch box comparison list, Bento school lunches

To make it easier to view, I have arranged these 'in a nutshell' descriptions here in alphabetical order. This list is based on my own experience over the years of lunch packing.

Easylunchboxes


The  Easylunchboxes container provide three sections for food which makes packing lunches easy.

Features that we like: 
- The containers are microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe and they are made from BPA free, FDA approved, food-safe polypropylene plastic.
- In case you are wondering whether these are similar to those disposable ones sold in stores, the answer is NO. The Easylunchboxes are much higher quality, more durable, the lids are not flimsy.
- The lids come in fun colors.
- Easy to open and close for small hands.
- They are quite economical, a set of four for around $14. The sets come in classic and brights colors. The newest are the Urban colors which we love.
-  The insulated lunch bag is great and I have even used it for carrying other boxes.

Things to consider:
- The boxes are not leak proof and do function best when carried in this Easylunchboxes insulated lunch bag.

**You can see my gallery of lunches packed in Easylunchboxes by clicking HERE.


ECOlunchbox

  
The ECOlunchbox is a stainless steel container and we own both the Solo Cube and Solo Rectangle versions. The Solo Cube measures 5 1/4 inches square, 1 7/8 inches deep, with 600ml capacity and the Solo Rectangle measures 4 3/4 inches wide, 6 3/4 inches long, and 2 inches deep with 850ml capacity. The price range for the Cube and Rectangle is around $16-$20.
They also have several different styles of containers, lunch bags and accessories that can be found here.

Features that we like:
- Easy to open and close for small hands.
- Stainless steel will not retain stains, odors or residues and will last for a long time with proper care.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Lead free, plastic free, BPA free, phthalate free, non toxic and waste free. 

Things to consider:
- The containers are not leak proof.
- Not for use in microwave.

**You can see my gallery of lunches packed in ECOlunchboxes by clicking HERE.

Goodbyn Bynto


The Goodbyn Bynto is a 3 compartment lunch container which will keep food separated. The goodbyn bottle fits nicely in the middle compartment and they carry very cute dishwasher safe sticker sets which my son loves (bottle and stickers are sold separately). The dimensions are 10.75 in x 6.75 in x 2.5 in which the largest compartment holds 2.1 cups of food, the middle holds 2 cups, and the smallest holds 1 cup. The price range is $9-14 depending on where you get them. Recently I have seen them being sold at our local Target stores.

Features that we like:
- Foods are not touching each other with the divided compartments.
- The drink section is great especially when we needed to pack a quick snack and drink for the weekend.
- Top drawer dishwasher safe.
- BPA and phthalate free, FDA approved and 100% recyclable.

Things to consider:
- The lid needs to be closed properly. The important thing is to press along the perimeter of each of the compartments when closing the lid.
- Not leak proof.

**You can see my gallery of lunches packed in the Goodbyn Bynto by clicking HERE.

Go Green Lunch Box


The Go Green lunch box is a generously sized five compartment food container which even comes with a bottle that will hold eight ounces of your preferred drink.

In our particular case it didn't get used much since we got it. Make no mistake, we love the box, it is just that Nikolai usually does not eat that much at lunch time. I am expecting to use it much more this coming school year. It is truly leak proof due to their innovative design. Yogurt which I included with Nikolai's lunch stayed properly within it's compartment. Due to it's size, it fits best with the lunch bag that comes with it.
The dimensions are 13in x 8in x 3 in and the lunchbox set is currently $39.95 on Amazon.

Features that we like: 
- It's leak-proof. The “turn n lock” knob and soft silicone bands were designed to make it leak-proof and airtight.
- The top and bottom are tethered together so I don’t have to worry about the lid getting lost or being forgotten at lunch.
- The drink bottle fits neatly inside the box and the bottle is stainless steel.
- Easy to unfasten retention clips allow lid to be separated for cleaning.
- It is BPA-free, Lead-free, PVC-free, and Phthalate-free.

Things to consider:
- Not recommended for dishwasher.
- It's best used with their own lunch bag since it's size is larger than most standard bags.

**You can see my gallery of lunches packed in the Go Green Lunch Box by clicking HERE.

Laptop Lunches 


The Laptop Lunches (name changed to Bentology Living) is quite versatile, and I like that the bento buddies can be arranged in many different ways, using one container or all depending on what you decided to pack. Laptop Lunches come with an outer container and five inner containers; three with lids and two without. I sometimes like sending applesauce in his Laptop Lunches container since the bento buddies with individual lids are leak-proof.
I love the bright colors of the bento buddies which are available in assorted colors which you can mix and match for more flexibility. 
The outer container measures 9 x 7 x 2.25 inches and the Laptop Lunches bento box is around $24.

Features that we like:
- Removable inner containers can accommodate a variety of food sizes.
- Tray-like feel makes lunch fun.
- The lids seal well to prevent wet foods from leaking onto other foods.
- Its convenient size fits in backpacks and most lunchboxes.
- The containers are microwave safe (without the lids).
- Containers and lids are dishwasher safe--top rack only, no heat boosters.
- Option to order additional inner containers of varying sizes.
- Additional space for utensils and napkins.
- BPA, PVC, and Lead free.

Things to consider:
- The individual lids for the inner containers may be a little difficult to open by a small child with small hands.
    **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in Laptop Lunches by clicking HERE.

    Lock and Lock


    The lock and lock food container has a leak proof locking lid and comes with four inner individual containers. I love the flexibility of using one or all of the inner containers. It has a generous capacity of 870ml and an air-tight seal, but as the inner containers do not seal, liquids  or sauces may leak from one inner container to another. The container currently sells for $11.50 on Amazon.

    Features that we like:
    - Removable inner containers.
    - Leak proof and airtight with the four hinge locking system.
    - Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.
    - BPA free.

    Things to consider:
    - The lid may be a little difficult to open/close for younger kids.

    **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in the Lock and Lock container by clicking HERE.

    LunchBots 
     

    We personally own both the LunchBots Duo and Quad. LunchBots are made of stainless steel, come in various sizes and styles and with lids in cheerful colors. The LunchBots Duo measures 6.25in x 4.5in x 1.75in; capacity:600 ml and the price around $19. The Lunchbots Quad measures 6in x 5in x 1.75in; capacity:600 ml and the price is around $22.
    We own the LunchBots duo for four years now and it is still in perfect condition, well worth the price.

    Features that we like:
    - Divided compartments to keep food separate and not touching. 
    - The lids are easy to remove even for small hands.
    - They are easy to clean, will not retain stains, odors or residues since it is stainless steel.
    - Will last for a long time with proper care. 
    - Lead free, plastic free, BPA free, phthalate free, non toxic and waste free.

    Things to consider:
    - The containers are not leak proof.
    - Not for use in microwave.
      **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in LunchBots by clicking HERE.

      PlanetBox


      The Planetbox Rover has five compartments and two dippers. It measures 10” x 7.5” x 1.5” and price tag of $60 which includes the carry bag. The PlanetBox Shuttle has two compartments and one dipper. It measures 7.75" x 5" x 2" and the price tag of $40 with the carry bag. Each come with a colorful magnet set, perfect for personalizing. The lid is the hinged type and is secured with a metal snap-type latch, so it all remains together.
      The price tag is on the high side but if you’re looking for a box that will last for years to come and that is completely plastic free, high quality and durable, this is the one for you. While the price is a bit more than some alternatives, the value more than justifies it when its quality and all of its many features are considered.

      Features that we like:
      - Made of stainless steel and there’s no worry about BPA.
      - Dishwasher safe, eco-friendly and should last indefinitely.
      - Compartments which provides variety and versatility.
      - Cute magnet designs to choose from. 
      - The dippers are great containers to hold sauces, dips, yogurt etc that fit perfectly inside the Planetbox.
      - Whether using the handle or the removable and adjustable shoulder strap, the insulated bag is both sleek and functional. On the outside there's a place for a water bottle and a pocket for a napkin or a snack box. On the inside is a mesh pocket for a PlanetBox cold kit or any ice pack, and a couple little straps that secure utensils or a cute note from home.
      Things to consider:
      - It's a little on the heavy side compared to other lunch boxes.
      - Not for use in microwave.

      **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in PlanetBoxes by clicking HERE.

      Trudeau Fuel Everest Box


      The Trudeau Fuel boxes we discovered were easy for our son to open/close when he started kindergarten. This was a big plus for us as we were concerned about him having difficulties and need assistance in the relatively short time allotted for their lunch.The measurements are 5.6 x 5.6 x 2.2 inches and currently sells for $4 on Amazon. There are no dividers, but we often separate foods with silicone cups or baran sheets.
       
      Features that we like:
      - The one piece construction where the lid is attached and therefore there is no chance for it to become separated and lost. 
      - Made from polypropylene which is both eco-friendly and BPA free.
      - Dishwasher safe.
      - Available in multiple colors.

      Things to consider:
      - Not leak proof.
      - Not for use in microwave.

      **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in Trudeau Fuel boxes by clicking HERE.

       Yumbox


      The Yumbox Panino has a four compartment removable food tray which you can choose either with illustration or without illustrations. It is truly leak proof and I've sent yogurt, applesauce and dips without any problems.The main section is large enough to fit a sandwich or two cups of pasta, brown rice, salad or more. Two more half cup sections are ready to hold your sides and then there is a one ounce circular shaped section for any topping, dip, or treat. The removable tray is also ideal for meals or snacks at home. The box measures approx. 8.5 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches so it fits nicely in a standard size lunch tote. 

      Features that we like:
      - It's leakproof! It seals very well to prevent wet foods from leaking onto other foods.
      - It has an overall size which is convenient for backpacks or lunch totes.
      - The removable tray is divided into sensible sized sections.
      - It is dishwasher safe.
      - All materials are BPA-free and phthalates-free.

      Things to consider:
      - Although I have never had the need or desire to microwave our Yumbox, their website claims that the Tritan tray of the newest version (after May 1, 2013), but not the outer shell, is microwavable.
      - When using a dishwasher, Yumbox recommends using top rack only.

      **You can see my gallery of lunches packed in Yumbox Panino by clicking HERE.

      The above are just a few lunchboxes from our collection and this list does not include the many double tiered bento boxes, some of which can be seen HERE, or some really cute ones which can also be found on this blog.

      Do you pack lunches for your kids or for yourself, and do you have a favorite lunch box? I also created a resources page which I listed the bento supplies that I love and frequently use, check them out HERE.
      Continue Reading »

      Thursday, July 24, 2014


      Goodbyn Hero: Koala bento and the new CuteZCute Cuddle Palz Kit

      Hello everyone! It will soon be back to school time for us. With only a few weeks before school starts, we are trying to squeeze into our schedules as many fun activities, quality time together and as much travel as possible. I have not made as many bentos or shared items from my back logged ones as I'd planned, but as soon as I received the super adorable CuteZCute Cuddle Palz several weeks ago, I wanted to use the set to make a bento for Nikolai.

      If you wish to get only one set of cutters for making your back to school lunches, this should be it!! 1 kit, using mix and match could create over 40 main cute combinations, how nice is that.
      I really like the food pick which can be used to help remove small cut outs from the cutters and also as a cute decorative food pick for the lunch.

      The CuteZCute Cuddle Palz set is affordable, versatile, and super cute! You can find more information about this set HERE. I made this Koala bear enjoying it's ice cream cone on a hot day.:) I'll need to start packing now for our trip tomorrow.
      Have a nice weekend!



       In this bento lunch:
      • Koala bear sandwich with organic blueberry jam filling and an ice cream cone pick on a bed of salad. A bear shaped egg which I made with the CuteZCute Animal Palz in a silicone cup.
      • Top right: Cherries with Koala food pick.
      • Bottom right: Salad with shredded cheese and a Koala bear pick from the set.
      • This lunch is packed in a Goodbyn Hero lunch box.
      Here are the supplies that I used to create and pack this lunch.

      Continue Reading »

      Wednesday, July 16, 2014


      Goodbyn Hero Set Review and Giveaway

      The nice people over at Goodbyn kindly offered me one of their new Goodbyn Hero Sets and several other Goodbyn products that nicely complement it, for me to review.

      Goodbyn is generously offering an identical Goodbyn Hero set which will include the Blue Goodbyn Hero, Dipper set in blue, Bottle in blue, Embroidered Patch- robot, Insulated lunch sleeve in blue, the Ice pack, and The Original dishwasher safe sticker set to one of my readers! All these items come to a total value of around $50.

      Now, let's start with the review of these awesome products. The Hero has three separated compartments, which can be used with or without the dippers, it is top rack dishwasher safe, BPA and phthalate free. The lunch box with its lid provides for ample space. It is quite deep, deep enough for a couple of sandwiches to be stacked together, leftovers from dinner, salad, or other tasty treats, and that is just the main section. The other sections are a great size for veggies, fruits or a satisfying snack. The Dipper set, which is included, is wonderful for separating the sauces, toppings, yogurt, apple sauce or extras. Our son is kind of fussy about things getting all mixed together and these dippers solve this problem nicely, though they claim they are not leak-proof.

      The drink bottle will hold 8oz. of a favorite beverage, is easy to clean, reusable and even 100% recyclable. The set of dishwasher safe stickers with which you can decorate both the hero and the bottle are a really fun way to customize your set.  Also, there is the beautifully embroidered patch which has a sticky backing and you can sew it on to permanently affix it to the insulated sleeve. The sleeve is light, bright, and comes with a little adjustable loop so that it can be piggy-backed to something else like a backpack. I only wished that it had one of those stretchy net things to handle the bottle.  It is big enough to easily hold the hero and the ice pack which is quite nice for keeping things fresh.

      Here are the items which we received.


      Below is a simple and cute lunch which I packed for Nikolai. The main compartment contains a couple of puzzle shaped sandwiches stacked, a mini Babybel cheese, pretzels and raisins in one of the the dippers. The sides are Rainier cherries and cucumber slices.


      Goodbyn is generously offering an identical set of all the above items to one of my readers.

      To enter this giveaway use the Rafflecopter widget below. The primary condition to enter this giveaway is to like Goodbyn on Facebook. For additional entries just follow the instructions below. The winner will be randomly selected using Rafflecopter on July 25th, 2014 and notified via e-mail. Winner will have 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, a new winner will be drawn.
      This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.

      a Rafflecopter giveaway
       
      Disclosure: Goodbyn generously provided me with the items for review without cost to me. Other than receiving the item, I have not received any compensation to write this review. This giveaway is sponsored by Goodbyn.
      Continue Reading »

      Tuesday, July 8, 2014


      Review: Laptop Lunches Dual Tote and under the sea bento

      Laptop Lunches recently launched some new items and I am so happy to be given the opportunity to review their new Laptop Lunches Dual tote. I have received many inquires about how I transport the lunches I prepared to have an expectation that it will arrive without the food re-arranging itself into a mess by lunchtime. I have always recommended packing the lunch box tightly with food and into a lunch bag that will hold the lunch box flat while being carried.

      With this dual compartment tote you will be able to send  more than just  the Laptop Lunches bento box. With the large compartment on top there is quite a lot of room for an additional snack box, water bottle or more with the bottom compartment nicely holding your bento. I was quite pleased to discover that it could hold many of my other lunchboxes. Often there are days which include after school activities like field trips or sporting events for which an extra snack would be desired, and this lunch bag would be the perfect solution.


      Here is the picture of the super cute shark frenzy dual tote which Nikolai selected.


      We love the color of the dual tote, it goes perfectly with his blue Laptop Lunches bento box. The quality is superb with zippers well made, as are the sturdy, well anchored carry handle on top and it even has a sling strap for when you have both hands full! 


      As you can see from the picture above, there is plenty of room in the upper compartment, and also that it is fully insulated and easy to clean. Below is a picture of the lower compartment which has the same great features.


      Among its features you will find that its dual-compartment style is fully insulated, versatile, and food safe (contains no lead, BPA, phthalates, or PVC). It measures 9.5 x 7.25 x 7.25 inches and wipes clean with a damp cloth.


      Here is the 'Under the Sea' bento which was a lot of fun to make.
      • Crab made from mini croissant with legs and claws made from organic baby carrots and fruit leather smile between candy eyes.
      • Lower left is a fruit leather octopus with carrot accents on applesauce. 
      • Upper left is Persian cucumber slices with a lobster pick.
      • Upper right is fish shaped hard boiled egg in silicone cup and seedless red grapes with starfish pick. Far right is a spoon wrapped in cloth napkin.
      The picture below shows the Laptop Lunches bento box fitting snugly into the Laptop Lunches dual tote lower compartment.


      Overall, we love this well made, user friendly and versatile tote! I am sure I'll be using it very often for Nikolai's school lunches and snacks.

      Here are the supplies that I used to pack this lunch.

         

      Disclosure: Laptop Lunches generously provided me with the item  for review without cost to me. Other than receiving the item, I have not received any compensation to write this review.
      Continue Reading »

      Wednesday, July 2, 2014


      Bear bento

      It's already July and it is amazing how quickly time flew by. I try not to think about it being back to school time which is coming next month.

      I had it in mind to make bear onigiri for which I usually use sushi rice, but this time I wanted to give brown rice a try. It failed as it was impossible to shape the rice which was not sticky enough I guess. I had to come up immediately with another plan so I added facial accents on the rice instead. Nikolai had enjoyed this bento over a month ago when he had half day at school.

      In this bento lunch:
      • Brown rice topped with asiago and nori cheese circle cut nose, cheddar cheese ears and nori eyes.
      • Chicken nuggets with a couple of picks, a leaf baran and cherries.
      Here are the supplies or similar that I used to create and pack this lunch.

      Continue Reading »

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