There is so much tradition behind Japanese bento boxes. The food needs to look pleasant to the eye and be nutritionally balanced at the same time. There are even classes across Japan where people can learn how to pack their lunch boxes. And bento lunch boxes for kids are no exception. With their love of aesthetics, the Japanese take their food culture to an art level. But there is a reason why this Japanese term is now widely used among Americans. Simply put a bento box is Japanese equivalent for a lunch box. And now I’m obsessed with the idea of bringing the concept to my boy’s lunch box, and why not to all of our family meals too. I have to confess I’ve just recently learned what a bento box is. But the plastic ones aren’t either, even if they claim so. Please also note that these are not freezer or microwave safe. So initial investment might seem pricey but, believe me, it pays off in the end. Yes, stainless steel lunch boxes are more expensive. Lightweight – if you choose lunch boxes made with kids in mind, those are pretty light.Easy to clean – Dishwasher safe: rust and stain-resistant.Eco-friendly – Zero waste goes to landfills. Even if your child drops his container a million times it won’t break and can last a lifetime. Durable – unlike glass, stainless steel doesn’t break.Safe material for food storage – it doesn’t leach harmful chemicals into our food, doesn’t pose health risks, doesn’t retain tastes or smells, no toxins or lining.Stainless steel is the safest and most practical option for your child’s lunch box for the following reasons: Especially when kids are involved – glass is heavy and it can break. While glass is the safest material for food storage, it’s not practical for on-the-go food. And if you care about the planet and want to reduce your carbon footprint, this is another reason to say goodbye to the plastic lunch boxes. It’s not environmentally-friendly either. Do you really want THAT to come in contact with your or your child’s food? Don’t believe me? Just go and smell your plastic containers. Moreover, over time it’ll start to retain odors. After a number of washes, you’ll notice that your previously cute plastic container doesn’t look as good anymore. This means that when it comes into contact with cold, hot or acidic conditions, plastic starts to deteriorate. Plastic is plastic – even if its BPA or the-hell-knows-what-else free! Plus there are plastic Tupperware lunch boxes that claim to be BPA-free, hence safe for storing food. I know you might argue that plastic containers are lighter, more practical, cheaper (much cheaper!). I have zero tolerance when it comes to plastic. If all the other points are met, I’m ready to splurge and get that one perfect lunch box. Not too expensive – actually, this is not as important.Easy to open – I don’t want my boy to rely on someone else’s help and stay hungry if he can’t open his own lunch container.So an ideal lunch box needs to have separate compartments for all food groups – veggies and fruits, protein and grains. Compartment lunch box – I feed my boy and our entire family based on USDA’s MyPlate guidelines.Small and lightweight – I want my 3-year-old to be able to fit it into his backpack and then carry the backpack on his own.NO PLASTIC – I’ll explain in the next section why packing your child’s lunch in a plastic container is not a good idea.It’s time to find the right one.īefore starting my research on the best lunch box for kids out there, I decided to make a list of everything that I look for in an ideal one. That’s how I ended up with a completely useless lunch box for my boy. For our kids to have the best lunch experience at school the lunch needs to be packed in a right way.Īs with everything else the variety of lunch boxes available on the market today is overwhelming. And that’s what I pack for his lunch.īut the thing is that it’s not just about the food. For most cases, I make sure my boy eats organic, whole, homemade food. When it comes to food, I do a pretty good job. Your son needs help with opening the food container and feeding himself at school … Or food just doesn’t align or look good together. It’s either the way the lunch box is constructed. You pack nutrient-rich healthy food in his lunch box every day. So, your little one started school this year. If you click highlighted links or pictures and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Why read: This is a detailed guide on how to choose the best stainless steel lunch box for kids, as well as other lunch essentials – lunch bag, thermos, ice packs, utensils.įor your easy shopping, this post contains affiliate links.
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