A few months ago, one of our readers asked us if we’d heard of Warm & Tote. We hadn’t, and promptly checked out their site! They offered to send us their classic Lunch & Go to review. We have several Thermos products, ranging from the low-priced grocery store options to higher-end options. For our review, we compared the Warm & Tote against these standbys. We found that we preferred the flexibility of the Warm & Tote to our Thermos for some things, yet enjoyed our tried and true Thermos for others. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Lunch Gear’ Category
Lunch Gear Review: Warm & Tote
Monday, December 6th, 2010Greenware: A Great Addition to Your Lunchbox
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
This is a quick post, but timely: we’ve been using Greenware portion cups for two lunches in a row, and we love them! We used them to hold ketchup and hummus, putting the Greenware cup in our Easy Lunchbox both days. They didn’t leak, and best of all, they’re 100% compostable (which is great, since our local school composts)! Check out the two lunches where we used these:
These cups are made in America using a renewable, natural resource. They’re available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Read more about the Greenware portion cups, check out their Facebook page, and let us know below if you have had similar experiences with Greenware or similar products!
Quest for an Easy Lunch Box
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Since our kids started school and we started this Web site, we’ve been on a “container hunt”! Over the past few years, we’ve collected a lot of great (and not so great) containers to transport lunch. While searching for articles about school lunch, we discovered Kelly Lester’s EasyLunchboxes.com site. Even as a family that promotes packing a healthy lunch, we have to admit to getting tired of the “container” drawer in our house. You know you have one, too: a drawer filled with plastic and glass containers of every size and shape, with lids haphazardly strewn about. Her affordable lunchbox system looked like a perfect thing for our family to add to our lunch collection. (more…)
Beyond the Brown Bag
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Depending on your age, you might be familiar with the saying “brown baggin’ it.” Might not. Regardless, it’s a good bet you’re not bringing your lunch to work or school in a brown paper bag, as was the custom when that saying was coined. There are a lot of great options out there for bringing your lunch, so we thought we’d write a bit about some that might fit with your personality.
For Stylin’ Women and Girls
We found Haute Lunch recently, and really love the chic style of their lunch totes. These lunch totes are designed in the U.S.A., and they also give back: on their web site, Haute Lunch say they’re proud to support Commit 2B Fit, a not-for-profit working to combat childhood obesity and promote overall wellness. Haute Lunch has a really nice collection online, and at the time of this writing you can get their Modern Zebra collection (pictured at right, with included charm below) through their web site or from a retailer listed on their “Find Us” page. Check them out! (more…)
Where can I learn more about BPA-free containers?
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009What is BPA?
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a chemical used mainly to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used in many places, but of concern to us is its use in water bottles, infant bottles and portable containers.
Why is it a problem?
BPA can leach into food from containers that contain BPA, such as any of the aforementioned containers. The chief concern is how widespread the use of BPA is, and therefore the emergence of containers marketed as BPA-free.
How can I identify a container that may have BPA in it?
Polycarbonate plastic containers containers usually contain a “7″ on the bottom. However, “7″ is used to denote “other plastics”, so it alone doesn’t mean a container contains BPA. If the plastic is hard and clear, it’s probably polycarbonate. Plastics marked with 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 do not use BPA during the manufacturing process. The only way to be 100% sure is to check with the manufacturer.
What can I do?
The NIH found that some animal studies suggested that infants and children are affected by BPA the most. The NIH suggests
- not microwaving polycarbonate plastic containers
- reduce use of canned foods, since BPA may be in the resin that coats the cans
- use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, or BPA-free plastic containers (SC Johnson says that they do not use BPA in their plastic products, Ziploc bags or Saran wraps)
How do I keep food hot or cold?
Saturday, April 18th, 2009Keeping foods at the correct temperature is more than just a health and safety matter. It is often the difference between food landing in your child’s mouth or the cafeteria garbage. To keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, try these techniques.
Keeping Food Hot
- Use an insulated lunch bag and invest in a good quality thermos.
- While you are heating up soup or other warm foods, fill the thermos with boiling water. When you are ready to add the hot food, dump out the water. Your child’s lunch will stay piping hot until lunch time.
- Avoid adding a cold pack for cold foods when you are packing a hot lunch. Choose a beverage that doesn’t need to be chilled, such as water and select sides that don’t need chilling.
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