Q: Hello readers. It's Carrie the Managing Editor. I'm selfishly commandeering this space today to ask you my Good Question. My son is starting full-day preschool soon and I'll be sending two snacks and lunch with him. For lunch I usually reheat dinner leftovers from the night before. I'm looking for recommendations for lunch containers that are lidded (with a good seal) and that are microwaveable. So far I've found the Beaba Lunch Box which I'm considering (it's a little bigger than I'd like) and I'd like to know about other options.
I'm also considering this 3-cup Pyrex container with a microwave vented lid, but I need to find out from the school if I'm allowed to use glass.
Wise reader, do you have a recommendation for me?
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Hey Carrie! You should check this out, lots of cool lunch info -- Here's the lunchbox discussion on Anotherlunch.com: http://www.anotherlunch.com/2010/06/tools-of-trade-part-2-boxes.html
The containers she writes about are BPA free and are dishwasher safe, but I scanned the comments section and I wasn't running across info about the microwave. I'm going to get some of her suggestions (the Sassy boxes) because they all seem great for separating the food into little compartments. I'm writing about lunchbox food and her site tomorrow on my site, http://www.juliasbookbag.com/. ~Melissa
Also, you might want to look into these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R9ZT2S?tag=funwithlunch-20&camp=213761&creative=393545&linkCode=bpl&creativeASIN=B000R9ZT2S&adid=140975BA3N7VWSGN2GF2&
I would first verify if they will heat the lunch, and if so, how will they accomplish this for 20 kids. That is actually really rare. We use a fogo thermos instead.
We often carry pyrex glass dishes without breakage but our preschool won't allow it.
Agree with JudiAu. You should make sure that your child is going to be able to reheat lunches. Not only do most elementary schools not have microwaves accessible for students, its impractical for staff to be able to help multiple students heat up their lunch in the time allotted.
I like kinderville's storage jars. The seal is pretty good but maybe wouldn't hold up to being tossed and banged around.
I bought this for my preschool son. Only use for warm meal. Way better than target or walmart Thermos. Let him practice how to open them without spill before he goes to school .
I carry it for him in the morning, so the weight shouldn't be a problem and once he finishes, it's light.
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-NCE09-Bento-Stainless-Steel-Vacuum/dp/B0016S7MJM/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header
Good luck!
My day care heats lunches every day for my son; I had no idea it was so rare. I have this Beaba set but find that it leaks some, so I have found other microwave safe containers, but sadly I can't find the ones we use online.
I am such a freak about heating plastic in the micro wave! Even though the entire microwave is made out of plastic on the inside. Our mothers day out program does microwave our meals. But there are only 8 - 10 on a busy day! Try The Container store. Most of these type of things are trial and error due to the amount of bumpage your child does and what works best for you.
My daughter is only 15 months, but we have had great luck with these Sassy lunchkits with three different containers inside -- perfect for a main dish and two sides at lunch -- http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-On-the-Go-Feeding-Set-Pink/dp/B003JHREL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314126271&sr=8-1. They suit her portions now just fine but also have room to grow for an older toddler, I think. They're a little fiddly to clean all four tops and containers, but buy two and you won't have to wash them every night. I was sending some of her foods in little glass containers for a while, but then one of them got broken on the floor in the classroom and I felt bad about how much panic that probably caused, so I stopped doing that and switched to all BPA-free plastic instead.
I send my son to preschool with something to heat up almost every day. I haven't found a good plastic-free solution, but these GladWare containers with screw-on lids work very well (they are BPA free.) They are cheap, so I replace them often. I sometimes send my smaller Frigoverre containers, too. They are glass, but the teachers haven't said anything about it. I'm looking for better solutions, too, but haven't found much.
here are links:
Gladware:http://www.target.com/p/GladWare-Medium-LockWare-Food-Storage-Containers-3-ct/-/A-13486211
Frigoverre: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/food-containers-storage/4-piece-round-storage-bowl-set/s588563
You may want to check with your preschool about how they do the heating. I used to worry about it with my kids (glass is not allowed, so I send meals in tupperware), but then I found out that the daycare staff just dumps everything out on a paper plate or bowl before heating, so it doesn't really matter what I send it in.
Laptop lunchboxes are microwavable.