Need a healthy trail mix for all your on-the-go adventures this summer? I’ve got you covered with my favorite picks to make your own trail mix.
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Best plastic free lunch box gear for kids, including containers, snack size boxes, and water bottles. Read on to prepare your kids for back-to-school with a healthy lunchbox, even before the food gets packed. (links below are affiliate links in Amazon for you to see the various sizes available.)
What are some first steps we can take to create a plastic free lunch box for kids?
- Switch to glass and stainless steel whenever possible.
- Purchase produce not wrapped in plastic, or remove once you purchase from the store.
- Transfer food to glass storage containers as you meal prep.
- Avoid putting any plastic you have in the dishwasher.
Why do we want a plastic free lunch box for kids?
In case you missed it, the Academy of Pediatrics released a new study showing the danger of plastics and the effects on children. They released a statement expressing concern about the scientific evidence that chemicals from plastics interfere with the body’s natural hormones and long-term development. The chemicals that are cause for concern in the latest statement include phthalates, which are needed to make plastic flexible. It also includes bisphenol (BPA) which is still used to line metal cans, and also perfluoroalkyl (PFCs) found in grease proof paper and packaging.
Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to hormone disruptors. This can increase their risk of obesity, diabetes, and fertility issues. Make the switch to glass and stainless steel, for your kitchen and for creating a plastic free lunch box for kids.
Best Plastic Free Lunch Box
Let’s start with the actual bag, or tote, for your kid’s lunch. There are so many options, but not all are created equal. Look for ones that are PVC, BPA & Phthalate-free, and CPSIA compliant. One of our favorites has been the Wildkin brand. (they also make really sturdy backpacks too!)
- Plastic free lunch box bento style in stainless steel
- Rover is great for most school aged kids.
- Launch is great for older kids (and adults)
- Comes with coordinating containers for “wet” food like yogurt, applesauce, and oatmeal.
So many amazing lunch ideas for the Planetbox.
- variety of simple, stainless steel containers
- great for busy parents…keeps packing simple and you can toss them in the dishwasher at the end of the day.
- I have multiple on hand so some are ready to prep, while others are getting washed overnight
Plastic free lunch box snack containers, great food storage containers for home and school
- Kids Konserve– variety of sizes and easy to open silicone lids. I’ve used them for years, and finally ordered a second set last year. Love them.
- Kid Basix Safe Snacker– sandwich size option, but also fits a salad for my 9-year-old. Added this to our lineup last year and it’s a great multi-use option. Also good for car trips.
- opt for generic colors so the containers don’t “belong” to any particular child. It will make your packing lunch life easier.
- Wean Green– we have had our first set of Wean Green containers since our youngest went to daycare at 9 months. We packed baby food in them, and now they hold her salad dressings! They now offer a variety of sizes and they are super durable. Dishwasher friendly and the square sizes pack really well in the lunch box. As you go up in size, they are also great for meal prep!
Plastic Free Lunch Box Bags and Accessories
- Beeswax wraps- skip the bag and use a beeswax wrap. This is great for young kids as it’s easy to open, and doesn’t add extra weight to their backpack like glass does.
- I like both Bee’s Wrap and Abeego
- Lunchskins are our favorite fabric sandwich bags. Itzy Ritzy zippered fabric bags are my favorite for smaller snack size options. They have a ton of cute patterns too!
- Bamboo utensils to pack for oatmeal, salads, or yogurt parfaits for lunch. Stainless steel kid utensils are great for the dishwasher, but adds more weight to the lunch bag.
- Stainless steel thermos options are another great way to add more variety to your kid’s lunch. We like the Lunchbots Thermo Soup Jar. It works for when we send in oatmeal or a yogurt parfait. (Or a fried egg that stays hot and can be used for an egg sandwich!)
Plastic Free Water Bottle for Lunch Box
This has been a struggle for way longer than I would like to admit. Between straws that are hard to clean, leaky snap covers, and paint that chips off, we have seen it all. I can give you a few suggestions of what everyone has been happiest with lately.
- Contigo Thermalock bottle– we bought this last September and it’s still in great shape for the school year ahead! No straw, easy to clean. I do think it’s better for older kids as it may be challenging to open it.
- Eco Vessel Kids Scout bottle– this has also latest over a year for us. It does have a food-grade silicone straw, but it detaches easily and the spout cleans well too. My younger kids have this one and love it.
- As our kids get older I see them asking for bigger water bottles. Certainly for sports they need more water. The Hydro Flask brand is a favorite in our house as they have a variety of lids, depending on what you need. The sport top is the easiest for the kids to “lock” so we don’t end up with wet backpacks!
Whew! That’s a lot of info about how to switch to a plastic free lunch box! Happy back to school everyone!
Resources
- NY Times article
- Back to School Meal Plan
- Green Smoothies Your Kids Will Love
- Get Organized for Back to School-free printable
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of OneBar.
Are you getting ready for a road trip this summer? Anything that takes longer than one hour in the car for us is considered a “road trip” since we don’t do it often. We will be visiting Connecticut this weekend so I’m thinking about what snacks to pack to keep the whole family happy, and quiet, for the three hour drive.
The kids recently taste tested the OneBar and they gave it a big “yummy” when they tried out the apple, cherry and mango flavors. Kids can be very picky about eating fruit and the OneBar can help fill in the gaps. Each bar counts as a full serving of fruit, but is low calorie so the kids will still eat their next meal.
On car rides, one thing that drives me crazy is accidentally packing a snack that leads to very messy hands in the car. Since we drive a minivan, those kids are wayyyy in the back and I can’t just wipe hands off as we travel. Maybe your kids love cherries, but you won’t take the risk of packing cherries in the car. Could you imagine? Just pack a OneBar and they get a favorite treat and you don’t have to deal with the mess. Each bar is “dusted” with a superfruit called baobab. The dust keeps hands from getting sticky, but also delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants.
For parents packing for kids with allergies or food sensitivities, the OneBar is made without gluten or wheat. Plus it’s made without added sugar, and no food dyes either. Sometimes life moves at a fast pace and it’s great to have a snack ready for a road trip or in between school and sports practice.
Packing a variety of snack items for the family on a road trip not only helps keep everyone’s energy level up, but it helps beat boredom. Try to pack a rainbow of colors and see if the kids can name every color they ate. Pack up snacks in individual bags so you can avoid sibling squabbles.
Which flavor OneBar would your family like the most? Any new flavors you want to see in the mix?
All Random Recycling readers can enter to win a giveaway for three boxes (all three OneBar flavors, including Apple, Cherry and Mango). Don’t want to wait for the contest? Order now with the coupon code EasyFruit – good for 25% off their total order placed by August 31 at OneBar. Check out where everyone else is enjoying their OneBar by searching the hashtag #easyfruit.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of OneBar. All opinions shared here are my own.
I almost forgot it was Sunday night because of the nice long weekend. Another snow filled one here, complete with very cold noses and homemade hot cocoa. I made a loaf of oatmeal bread in the bread maker today and it was enjoyed as an afternoon snack, and at the neighbor’s for dinner.
This week is a short meal plan as we plan to visit friends in Vermont. I’m planning on making a batch of homemade granola to pack with us for the trip. This morning we made the Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes from the Joy the Baker cookbook and they were so good, I may make a dry mix of it to make again and share with friends. We topped them with some homemade applesauce that we made last fall…delicious. I find it’s helpful to take care of breakfast foods when you are a houseguest, especially when you are able to bring something special.
Sunday~ It was going to be Walnut Crusted Salmon…last-minute switch and had Shepherd’s Pie with the neighbors. Perfect end to a snowy day.
Monday ~ Probably having the salmon for lunch, then Sloppy Joe’s for dinner. (Pioneer Woman’s recipe.) Plus I have a sample of Smith’s Farm Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese kit to test out. It’s a local dairy farm and there are two beautiful cheeses that I’m excited to mix up into yummy side dish.
Tuesday~ Our family favorite chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries on the side. We will need to finish up any leftovers in the fridge too.
Wednesday~ Off to vacation!!
Anyone else taking some vacation this week? Do you tend to bring some of your own food or pick things up once you get to your destination?
All of the past meal plans can be viewed here. If you are looking for more ideas, you can visit OrgJunkie’s weekly meal plan post.
