04 May, 2009
A Rainbow of Choice in Bento Lunch Boxes
Posted by: Meg In: Lunchbox Products| featured
When I first started searching for a waste free lunchbox a few years ago, there just weren’t very many choices. Now, there seems to be an option for everybody! Here are a few of my favorite no-waste bento style lunch boxes available. From multi color bento boxes, to stainless steel bento lunchboxes to less bold and more traditional–regardless of the style you are looking for I think you are sure to find one you like. If you have a favorite, please send along!
Laptop Lunches
Laptop Lunches are popular American made bento sets with a huge flickr following. They are well-sized with 4 inner containers that hold enough food for a kid or grownup. Laptop Lunches Bento Boxes are made of safe materials–their outer and inner containers are made of polypropylene and the lids are made of polyethylene. (no BPA or lead).
The Laptop Lunches Dimensions are: outer container is approximately 9 x 7 x 2 inches with 4 inner containers, 2 large and 2 small removable containers. The two larger containers hold 1 cup each while the two smaller containers hold 1/2 cup each. Their bento box is fully dishwasher safe, and ours are over 2 years old and going strong. I like many aspects of this system, and if you are interested I did a more thorough review of this system here.
Plastica’s Bento Box Jr.
This smaller stacking lunch box is great to use as a younger kid’s lunch box or for kids snacks on the go! Cute colors, too. Dishwasher safe but not microwave safe. Dimensions are 5″ tall with 2 compartments. Each level is 2″ x 4.75″ diameter made of Melamine. Cost is $24 from Plastica.com.
Stainless Steel Tiffin Carriers
Similar to the Plastica’s carriers above, there are a couple of companies that carry stainless steel tiffin carriers modeled after the tiffins carried in India and Asia. As I mentioned in my Happy Tiffin post, I have used one of these cool little carriers for my first grader for the last couple of months and we have both enjoyed it. There are many size choices you may view and purchase at Happy Tiffin. A similar product is made by a company called To-Go Ware, they also have some cool utensils and lunch bags.
Traditional Japanese Bento Boxes
For more traditional Bento lunch box choices, look to sites like Ichiban Kan. I have had good experiences ordering from Ichiban Kan and their prices are great! For another huge selection visit Sugarcharms Bento boxes.
The traditional bento lunchboxes often have 2 layers, each with some way to further divide up the layers. Some have dividers that are removable or you can slide for various compartment sizes… others have fixed dividers. Traditional bentos tend to come if more conservative colors, but there are many cute themes geared towards children (like Hello Kitty). The choices are many!
For more bento box options please check out my Lunch Box Resources page and send along any great websites I might be missing!
