Does anyone have thoughts on bento boxes/kids' lunch boxes?

[Summers]

I've been toying with the idea of packing my kids' lunches, despite the fact that I'm really quite lazy. I've had lunch with my kids at school and I don't really feel like a good mom knowing that's what they eat every day. So... I think the idea of a bento box is adorable and will keep my neurotic child happy because the grapes won't touch the carrots or whatever. I tried to do a little research. Most of them seem really small, like toddler-lunch size. Do they hold more than they appear to? Do you have any recommendations? Some of them are quite pricy, like $40 for a set of plastic boxes... Do I really need to invest in a "good" one? I know, obviously, I could just throw everything in a paper bag, but I like the idea of having everything in a little reusable box so I'm not wasting a billion plastic bags. That's why the idea appeals to me.

I'll come back later. I'm off to watch Finding Bigfoot. Srsly.

[ploto]

I packed my kid's lunch in a paper bag and told him to bring the bag home and not throw it away. Worked for us.

I would be concerned about the expensive box not making it home.

[ashbeeigh]

I had to google bento....is there a reason why you want all the compartments? Just to keep it all separate? I just use baggies and tupperware to keep my lunch separate. I mean, I'm a grown-up and pack my lunch like 4 days a week and just have a little thermal lunch box from Homegoods. It's colorful and does its job of keeping my food cold.

[Drachen]

We have this. http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP092026 you can buy them at an heb plus

[Spur|n|Austin]

I had to google bento....is there a reason why you want all the compartments? Just to keep it all separate? I just use baggies and tupperware to keep my lunch separate. I mean, I'm a grown-up and pack my lunch like 4 days a week and just have a little thermal lunch box from Homegoods. It's colorful and does its job of keeping my food cold.

OP said her kid is neurotic and doesn't like his food touching.

[Drachen]

I've been toying with the idea of packing my kids' lunches, despite the fact that I'm really quite lazy. I've had lunch with my kids at school and I don't really feel like a good mom knowing that's what they eat every day. So... I think the idea of a bento box is adorable and will keep my neurotic child happy because the grapes won't touch the carrots or whatever. I tried to do a little research. Most of them seem really small, like toddler-lunch size. Do they hold more than they appear to? Do you have any recommendations? Some of them are quite pricy, like $40 for a set of plastic boxes... Do I really need to invest in a "good" one? I know, obviously, I could just throw everything in a paper bag, but I like the idea of having everything in a little reusable box so I'm not wasting a billion plastic bags. That's why the idea appeals to me.

I'll come back later. I'm off to watch Finding Bigfoot. Srsly.


Also, for my daughter, we use these (link in picture)

http://planetwiseinc.com/images/sandwichwrap_mid.jpg (http://planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Sandwich_Wrap_70_cat.html)

http://planetwiseinc.com/images/snackbag_mid.jpg (http://planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Snack_Bag_69_cat.html)

[Latarian Milton]

i might be wrong but according to my sources 99% of such foods served to school kids for lunch are taminated with germs and not safe to eat tbh. when i was in school i'd skip the lunch 4 or 5 days a week, as a method of training my mental hardiness, and skipping lunch may also have good impacts on your physical health as well, per uncredited researches

[Summers]

We have this. http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP092026 you can buy them at an heb plus

This is perfect! I saw the containers at HEB but I didn't get them because they don't have any kind of strap or carrier and they're kind of a weird, bulky size/shape. But... at their website they sell the insulated bags to fit the boxes. Rubbermaid is good stuff and not nearly as expensive as the ones I've been looking at. Thanks for the link!

[Summers]

i might be wrong but according to my sources 99% of such foods served to school kids for lunch are taminated with germs and not safe to eat tbh. when i was in school i'd skip the lunch 4 or 5 days a week, as a method of training my mental hardiness, and skipping lunch may also have good impacts on your physical health as well, per uncredited researches

My kids are 6 and 9. They don't skip lunch. I'm not worried about germs; I'm concerned that all my kids eat off their plate are the fries and ketchup.

[Summers]

Also, for my daughter, we use these (link in picture)

http://planetwiseinc.com/images/sandwichwrap_mid.jpg (http://planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Sandwich_Wrap_70_cat.html)

http://planetwiseinc.com/images/snackbag_mid.jpg (http://planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Snack_Bag_69_cat.html)

Those are cool, thanks!

[Drachen]

My kids are 6 and 9. They don't skip lunch. I'm not worried about germs; I'm concerned that all my kids eat off their plate are the fries and ketchup.

...and don't worry, I make my daughter's lunch every morning, it takes close to no time at all and I get to dictate what she gets (though the lunches at her school aren't that bad). I like this because I have a daughter who is always begging me for fruit when she wants a snack.

[Drachen]

Those are cool, thanks!

yeah the sandwich wraps are really cool because they fold completely out and become a mat for her to set her lunch on. She comes home, I wipe them down with a sanitary wipe, throw them on the dish rack to dry and they are ready to go again.

[Summers]

...and don't worry, I make my daughter's lunch every morning, it takes close to no time at all and I get to dictate what she gets (though the lunches at her school aren't that bad). I like this because I have a daughter who is always begging me for fruit when she wants a snack.

Yeah, I hope once I get in the groove and have everything on hand, it'll be easy to throw their lunches together. Our little one is a fruit nut, too... we call him "fruit bat" because he's always raiding the fridge for apples and oranges. I didn't mean to bad-mouth the school lunches. I know they do the best they can with the budget and federal guidelines they have, but I know my kids fill up on nuggets and burgers and don't eat any of what is technically the "vegetable" part of their meal (meaning the lettuce leaf, slice of tomato and perhaps an apple).

[Latarian Milton]

back in the day when i was in college i skipped more lunches than classes tbh

[baseline bum]

back in the day when i was in college i skipped more lunches than classes tbh

Damn son, are you a child progeny? Driving at 7, college at 11? You a UTSA alum?

[Vladimir Lenin]

back in the day when i was in college i skipped more lunches than classes tbh

Latarian Milton (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=21247) I know what you mean. Did same. School Lunches nasty.

[Vladimir Lenin]

http://www.wfp.org/stories/russia-provides-model-school-meals-cis


school lunches in Russia

[ploto]

You all are fancy! My kid got Ziploc bags and a paper bag.

[Latarian Milton]

i've never eaten lunch
i wouldn't say never but i think my stomach is already quite used to having only two meals a day rather than 3, that when i have lunch on a random day i feel very uncomfortable in my belly and feel tired as shit through the whole afternoon. lunch is a feminine stuff and a man doesn't need to eat 3 times a day imho

[Spur|n|Austin]

i wouldn't say never but i think my stomach is already quite used to having only two meals a day rather than 3, that when i have lunch on a random day i feel very uncomfortable in my belly and feel tired as shit through the whole afternoon. lunch is a feminine stuff and a man doesn't need to eat 3 times a day imho

Lunch is a feminine stuff? Wtf?

[Latarian Milton]

if you were embroiled in the war time you would feel lucky with one meal a day tbh

[DMC]

i might be wrong but according to my sources 99% of such foods served to school kids for lunch are taminated with germs and not safe to eat tbh. when i was in school i'd skip the lunch 4 or 5 days a week, as a method of training my mental hardiness, and skipping lunch may also have good impacts on your physical health as well, per uncredited researches

That's because you worked at the laundry mat with your family during lunches, and you'd have to run to store every time you heard "we need more Calgon".

[Latarian Milton]

That's because you worked at the laundry mat with your family during lunches, and you'd have to run to store every time you heard "we need more Calgon".
i dont have lunch but it doesn't mean i can't afford it. i intentionally skip lunches as a method of cultivating my fortitude and that's also the reason why im a lifelong celibate tbh. as such a gregarious and gorgeous guy as i am i would've got a legion of bitches waiting in the line to give me free sexual service if i ever wanted, but i turned them all down because im determined to live a frugal live as a celibate. god will reward me an eternal life and that's beyond what you sybarites can ever understand tbh

[LarryDavid]

This, or you're a horrible parent...

http://kotaku.com/5919496/this-is-the-greatest-cute-bento-maker-on-earth/gallery/1

[Summers]

You all are fancy! My kid got Ziploc bags and a paper bag.

I think that would work if I made sandwiches, but I won't be packing sandwiches. We don't eat meat at home, so I'll be packing lunches that include things like hummus and carrot sticks and yogurt/cheese and fruit and oatmeal cookies. I like the idea of a washable container to avoid throwing away upwards of half a dozen ziplocs every day (I have 2 boys). And nothing will get squashed/crumbled/spilled.

[Drachen]

You all are fancy! My kid got Ziploc bags and a paper bag.

Just avoiding having so much trash. Plus it costs substantially less than continually buying ziploc and paper bags.

[I. Hustle]

I didn't even know what a bento box was until I went to San Francisco last week. We stayed in the financial district and every restaurant had those things. It seems like everyone working there likes to eat like a kid. I was looking to see if the lunches came with a juice box.

Summers, what do you mean you don't eat meat at home? Whatupwitdat?!

[Summers]

Summers, what do you mean you don't eat meat at home? Whatupwitdat?!

Well, I mean I don't eat meat (anymore), so I don't cook it at home (very often). I don't mind the kids eating meat at school--this isn't about militant vegetarianism--but I worry what they're eating isn't very healthy. I can feed them a healthy dinner, but they're still getting breakfast and lunch at school. That's a lot of missed opportunities to make sure they're getting enough protein, calcium, fiber, vitamins, fruits, veggies, etc. If they have a sausage and biscuit for breakfast and then a burger and fries for lunch, the gorgeous stirfry we have for dinner is awesome, but that's one serving of veggies a day they might be eating. Not good enough.

[TDMVPDPOY]

did any of ur childrens school banned anything that has peanuts in them?

[ploto]

Just avoiding having so much trash. Plus it costs substantially less than continually buying ziploc and paper bags.

We used one paper bag about every 2 weeks. Some Ziplocs are reusable, too, depending on what was in them.

[Drachen]

I have used the same bag to pack her lunch as well as the same sandwich and snack bags since about a month into prek. She is now a few months away from the end of kindergarten.