Laptop Lunch (or similar)

[MamaInMarch]

Ok, I think I want to start packing a bento-type box in my diaper bag. So fill me in on all things bento! I like the looks of the Laptop Lunch ones. Are there different sizes? What are everyone's preferences? Another brand to recommend? What are prices I should be looking for so I can jump on a deal? I am up for any and all recommendations of brands, things to pack in them, and where to find the best deals!

[anonomom]

Whose lunch are you packing? How much do they eat? And how much flexibility do you want in a lunch box? All are important questions.

If you're packing for a baby/toddler or preschooler, you can't go wrong with a Sassy box. They sell for about $5 in the baby section at Target, and come with one large divided box and three smaller, lidded boxes that fit inside. It provides a lot of flexibility and the containers are relatively leak-proof.
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy--Go-Feeding-Set-Colors/dp/B003JHREL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325713595&sr=8-1 (I notice that Amazon has it for about $9. The price may well have gone up since I bought mine 2 years ago).

Another great option is a lock and lock divided container:

http://www.amazon.com/Lock-3-6-Rectangular-Storage-Trays/dp/B000R9ZT2S/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1325713664&sr=1-1-catcorr

I've been using this one for DD's kindergarten lunches. Like the Sassy box, it offers a lot of flexibility. Mine actually came as part of a set I ordered directly from Lock & Lock using a voucher from Plum District. If that deal ever pops up again, jump on it! They have a lot of great products.

I also have a few one-off food containers I bought at the Disney store, of all places. I had a small Tiana box for DD that worked great for over a year. It had two small cups, and I usually used it to pack fruit alongside a sandwich or something else.

All three of these options fit easily into DD's Land's End study haul lunch box.

One box we bought and have not liked is a Goodbyn. It's simply too large and too inflexible to be really practical for us.

Hope this helps! One great website to look at for lunch ideas (as well as extensive product reviews) is www.anotherlunch.com.

[megulis]

Thanks for the ideas! I wonder if you can buy the Lock & Lock bento style locally. I'll have to look for the sassy at Target.

[solsister]

I use these for my daughter, and they ROCK!
They have fantastic customer service, as well.

I, actually, have so much fun making her lunches with
these fun little compartments!

[Jo..]

we use easy lunchboxes. (easylunchboxes.com)

Still divided, so I can pack a variety of food. But honestly, I don't have the patience to mess around with all of those tiny containers, and stick them in my dishwasher.

Easy lunchboxes are the same concept, just MUCH. EASIER.

[ahisma]

I really want to get these for the kids: http://www.planetbox.com/

[crl]

Love our planet box. They are not cheap, but stainless lasts virtually forever.

Catherine

[MamaInMarch]

Thanks for the great ideas! I have an almost 3 year old and one who will be coming up on puffs and things in a few months. So I am looking for a style that I can pack several different snacks for the preschooler in individual containers that I can take out and hand him (and eventually have things for Little Miss, too). But rather than a bunch of loose things in my bag, I want them all to fit in one place. So the Sassy set and such is perfect!

Jo, I thought the same thing about all those little pieces and lids for a school age kid!! And the blog anonomom linked reccommends the Easy Lunchbox, too! I really do like that for an older one!

Oh, those Planet Box ones look awesome. Wonder if they ever put those on sale...

[anonomom]

If you're looking for a good snack container, munchkin sells one that I think is meant for snack/formula. It's six small containers that all snap on top of each other. Each has a small spout for pouring, and you can use as few or as many as you like at a time. It is a lot of parts to keep track of, but it is nice for small, dry snacks.

[hillview]

Love our planet box. They are not cheap, but stainless lasts virtually forever.

Catherine
:yeahthat:
love

[WatchingThemGrow]

Thanks for the great ideas! I have an almost 3 year old and one who will be coming up on puffs and things in a few months. So I am looking for a style that I can pack several different snacks for the preschooler in individual containers that I can take out and hand him (and eventually have things for Little Miss, too). But rather than a bunch of loose things in my bag, I want them all to fit in one place.
that's exactly how I use the laptop lunchboxes. I used one for me and DD, then added another as the feeding needs grew. Packing for myself too was helpful to keep my energy level up since I was often nursing, pumping or pregnant! We are currently using the klip-it from Old Navy/the Container Store for DD's lunch. The boys and I will take either the laptops or the ziploc divided containers.

[keckert]

I bought a set of Easy Lunchboxes and then bought a few accessories from an online bento store (some picks, shape cutouts and silicone cups). Doesn't take me any longer to do for my daughter, and she gets a kick out of it.

[minnie-zb]

I really like these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UIRUJ2/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

We've used these for 18 months and I've been really happy.

[calv]

goodbyn for a steal! RUN $11.90 for pink and few others at about $13

http://www.amazon.com/Goodbyn-20073-Bynto-Lunchbox-Raspberry/dp/B0050O92G4/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1325778997&sr=8-31

[Jo..]

goodbyn for a steal! RUN $11.90 for pink and few others at about $13

http://www.amazon.com/Goodbyn-20073-Bynto-Lunchbox-Raspberry/dp/B0050O92G4/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1325778997&sr=8-31

This thing is HUGE. Like ENORMOUS. Won't fit in any lunchbox we have. Ours gets no love.

[calv]

This thing is HUGE. Like ENORMOUS. Won't fit in any lunchbox we have. Ours gets no love.

there is a kid version and bigger kid/adult version. maybe you got the bigger one? love love ours!!

[Jo..]

Maybe. Ours is the size of a car. :hysterical:

[zukeypur]

Do you put those inside another lunch bag with an ice pack? They have a handle so they seemed to me to be intended for use alone, which sounded silly to me since I didn't see a way to keep food cold.

[MamaInMarch]

Yes, most that I have seen that are truly intended for lunch also have a carrier that holds an ice pack.

[nfceagles]

I love the Easy Lunchboxes. I've had a laptop lunch box for years, but hardly ever use it. It's so many little pieces to keep track of. Just too complicated. The easy lunch boxes work great for my 1st graders lunch everyday. And I use them for all of us when we go on day trips. DS's fit's great with an ice pack in a typical lunch box I picked up at Target.

[Pinky]

Does anyone have this one?
Kotobuki 280-129 2-Tiered Bento Box, Panda Face by Kotobuki
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B00200L840

I've been looking for ways to get my almost 2 year old to eat more variety.

[Octobermommy]

If you're looking for a good snack container, munchkin sells one that I think is meant for snack/formula. It's six small containers that all snap on top of each other. Each has a small spout for pouring, and you can use as few or as many as you like at a time. It is a lot of parts to keep track of, but it is nice for small, dry snacks.


I have these and LOVE them.

[Pinky]

If you're looking for a good snack container, munchkin sells one that I think is meant for snack/formula. It's six small containers that all snap on top of each other. Each has a small spout for pouring, and you can use as few or as many as you like at a time. It is a lot of parts to keep track of, but it is nice for small, dry snacks.

We have one of these too and it's great for small dry snacks!

[melonkelli]

Does anyone have this one?
Kotobuki 280-129 2-Tiered Bento Box, Panda Face by Kotobuki
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B00200L840

I've been looking for ways to get my almost 2 year old to eat more variety.

That is really cute! It looks like something you could purchase at Daiso (http://www.daisojapan.com/) or Ichiban Kan (http://www.ichibankanusa.com/), the Japanese $1.50 stores nearby. You can also order online, or find similar items in Japanese/Asian grocery stores.

Kelli

[KimMae]

What a great post! So many considerations.

I use Reynolds Casuals boxes with 2 compartments that I've gotten in the last two years from Big Lots for $2-3 each. They are about 10 x 6 inches - the size of the Goodbyn and Easylunches. They fit into the kids' regular lunchboxes that are from Lands End and fit into or clip on the backpack. I had no idea I was so on fad until this thread.

So several points:
Kids ages - mine are younger elementary so would do the cute but even my 3rd grade boy is growing out of super cute and I think would balk at the Goodbyns and possibly even that awesome stainless steel container. They have to be able to open and close everything easily and get it into/out of the lunch bag in a short time so many lids wouldn't work.
Size for Food - the 10x6 container holds enough food for my growing 80 lb boy but may need to be larger in a couple years though I can throw things into the lunch bag outside the container.
Size for carrying - must fit into backpack, already may have musical instrument and backpack and book to read on bus, no more. So that lovely Easylunches carrier looks great for an entire family but not one kid! Though I see some of you use regular lunch bags/boxes.
Cleaning - must agree with everyone on Too Many compartments/pieces on the Laptop. Must be dish washable and cheap enough to replace when the plastic looks worn.

[nabigus]

I like the flexibility of little containers rather than bigger containers with dividers. I pack everything into a Lands End StudyHaul lunch box. We have enough that some can be in the dishwasher at any given time.

My two favorite kinds of containers are the little bitty Lock and Locks (6 oz):
http://www.reuseit.com/store/lock-lock-leakproof-food-container-p-2836.html

and then two sizes of the Sistema Klip-Its
6.7 oz:
http://www.amazon.com/Sistema-6-7-Ounce-Containers-3-Pack-Clear/dp/B002KKCLM8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1325875725&sr=8-9
and 13 oz:
http://www.amazon.com/Sistema-2-Ounce-Containers-3-Pack-Clear/dp/B001XSM04C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325875725&sr=8-4

I find that a sandwich on modest-sized bread fits *perfectly* cut in half in one of the 13oz size containers.

I also have a 3oz itty bitty container, for things like hummus, and the small Rubbermaid drink containers.

And just to get really uptight :) , I found that the Lock & Lock and the Sistema each stores perfectly in the medium Container Store multi-purpose bins:
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/storage/openBinsBaskets/plastic?productId=10022942&N=71223