Reusable Lunch Boxes and Bags
Reduce plastic waste by using reusable lunch boxes and bags.
Ziplock bags and single-use containers are convenient but also costly and bad for the environment. Here we present reusable and eco-friendly alternatives that you will be excited to use.
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Top 5 Reusable Lunch Boxes
Lunch boxes are ideal for storing one meal at a time. They tend to be more solid so the food in it can not be squished or damaged. Below we have made a list of our favourite 7 lunch boxes which are both practical and stylish.
#1 | Prep Naturals Glass 2 Compartment Box (3 Pack)
Sturdy glass with two compartments.
These handsome lunch boxes are ideal for meal prepping thanks to the 2 compartments. The sturdy glass makes them freezer, dishwasher, and microwave-proof.
- Capacity: 24 oz.
- Compartments: 2
- Material: Glass
#2 | Fullstar Plastic Food Containers (12 Pack)
Airtight leak proof easy snap lock.
This stackable lunch box set contains 5 different sizes and is made of durable BPA-free plastic. The 4-hinge locking system forms an airtight seal and the containers are freezer, dishwasher, and microwave proof.
- Capacity: 12 to 35 oz.
- Compartments: 1
- Material: Plastic
#3 | Rubbermaid Vented Lid Food Storage (21 Box Set)
Microwave and dishwasher safe with vented lids.
Of the 6 included sixes 3 have vented lids allowing for splatter-free microwaving. This Rubbermaid set of simple, durable food containers is everything you need for meal prepping or packed lunches.
- Capacity: 4 to 56 oz.
- Compartments: 1
- Material: Plastic
#4 | Bayco Glass Storage Containers (9 Pack)
Thick glass, leak proof and BPA-Free.
Set contains 9 oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher-proof containers, all different sizes. These high-quality reusable lunch boxes provide you with durable basics for packed lunches and are even available in various colors.
- Capacity: 11 to 36 oz.
- Compartments: 1
- Material: Glass
#5 | Longzon Silicone Stretch Lids (14 Pack)
Flexible lids turning any container into a lunch box.
These handy Longzon Silicone Strech Lids are not lunch boxes, they flexible lids which can seal almost any container for transport, such as glasses, bowls, and pots. They are stretchable, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave proof and are leak-proof, even or rectangular contains.
- Capacity: 2.6 to 9.8 in. diameter
- Material: Silicon
Bring your own stylish lunch box or bag to work or school.
Top 5 Reusable Lunch Bags
Reusable lunch bags are flexible containers, which can depend on their size hold one or more types of food at a time. Below we present a list of our 5 favorite reusable lunch bags which are of high quality and very practical.
#1 | Stasher Silicone Sandwich Container
Use it for more than just food storage.
This Stasher silicon bag ideal for taking your sandwiches to work or school but can also be used for other items and to steam some foods in boiling water. The pinch-lock seal will keep your food fresh, just burp your bag to remove excess air.
- Capacity: 15oz.
- Quantity: 1
- Material: Silicon
#2 | Built Neoprene Lunch Tote
Simplistic, spacious, and lightweight.
This handy Neoprene Lunch Tote bag can hold your lunch, snacks, and drinks for the day and it is even available in 16 colors. It is machine washable and the neoprene material is insulating so your food will stay cool or warm.
- Capacity: 11.5 x 6.8 x 12.5 inches
- Quantity: 1
- Material: Neoprene
#3 | UPPER ORDER Durable Insulated Tote
Comfortable and practical lunch bag.
An easy-to-use insulated bag can hold all of your snacks and your lunch for the day. This lunch bag is all about practicality and comfort, that is why is it 25% larger than the previous model.
- Capacity: 11 x 10 x 3.6 inches
- Quantity: 1
- Material: –
#4 | Kavave Reusable Silicone Food Bags (3 Pack)
Robust airtight food container bags.
Use these microwave, freezer, and dishwasher-safe silicone containers to store and transport your food. The material of these bags is so strong you can lay them in a pot with boiling water to steam your veggies in.
- Capacity: 15 to 50 oz.
- Quantity: 3
- Material: Silicon
#5 | WOHOME Airtight Food Bags (6 Pack)
Sturdy leak proof preservation ziplock.
These reusable WOHOME ziplock bags are ideal for storing and transporting food because they are space-efficient, can be labeled well, and easy to clean afterward. Close them and make them leakproof and airtight with the rail for extra security.
- Capacity: 30 to 50 oz.
- Quantity: 6
- Material: Silicon
Top 10 Reusable Food Containers
Reusable Tupperware and food storage containers are much more reliable and useful than the single-use alternatives.Recycling.com
More About Reusable Lunch Bags and Boxes
Although choosing your lunch box or bag may be easy, there are features to be aware of that can help you choose a box or bag that you will be happy with for a long time. And if you are doubting getting a reusable lunch container, then below we address the practical and environmental reasons why you should purchase one today.
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Why should you use reusable lunch bags or boxes?
There are a few reasons why it is better to use reusable food containers rather than single-use containers. What it essentially boils down to is that reusable containers are more environmentally friendly and in the long run they are also cheaper because they are a one-time investment. This is why they are so commonly found in Zero Waste starter kits too.
Some of the containers we have mentioned above are also more practical as they, for example, stand up straight, and some can even be used for things, such as steaming food, which single-use food containers are not strong enough for. The material of reusable lunch containers is much more durable and safe as well.
Reasons and benefits for using Zip Top containers
This video is the original video of Zip Top containers, and first it explains why single-use ziplock bags and flimsy Tupperware is not an ideal or environmentally friendly solution. Afterward, it goes on to explain all the benefits and uses of Zip Top containers.
Reusable lunch bags are an eco-friendly replacement for disposable plastic sandwich bags. These single-use plastic lunch bags have a negative impact on our environment.
6 Ways to Use a Stasher Bag
A lot of these reusable lunch bags are much more robust than single-use ziplock bags, which also means you can use them for more than just storing and transporting food. This video (Watch on Youtube) demonstrates what else these Stasher bags can be used for.
Features to look for in reusable lunch bags or boxes
What to look for when buying a reusable lunch bag or lunch box to replace your plastic sandwich bags? Think about these points:
- Insulated yes or no? – Do you want your food container to keep your food cold or hot during the day? Then you need an insulated lunch cooler. These lunch containers have a special coating that keeps your food on the right temperature.
- A bag or a box? –Are you looking for a bag to store food containers in? Or do you want a box like a bento box to store your food in?
- Foldable or collapsible? –Does your lunch container needs to be compact? Then get one that you can fold or collapse. These are usually lunch bags instead of boxes.
- What size? – The capacity of your new food container is important. Check the measurements of the lunch bag or box in the specifications and don’t rely 100% on the product images. Because these images tend to be misleading quite often.
“Plastic bags break into small pieces, and seabirds often mistake them for food. When floating in the water, the bags resemble jellyfish.”
- Easy to clean? –A lunch bag or lunch box is used for food, so you want to keep it clean so you can eat safely out of your food container. Make sure you can clean the container easily. Most containers are dishwasher-safe, but we recommend to wash your lunch box or bag by hand if you can. Also, check if the lunch tote or box is leak-free and air-tight.
- What type of material? –A lunch bag or box comes in all kinds of materials. Such as high quality BPA-free plastics , canvas, leather and stainless steel. It is up to you what type of material you like.
- Dishwasher, Microwave, Freezer, and Ovenproof –If you want your food containers to be able to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures like those of boiling water or your freezer then you need to check that the materials are strong enough to handle this. Note that with some lunch boxes the lid may not be able to handle what the container can. Also, some containers need to be kept open in the Microwave.
Brands and manufactures
- StasherBag.com – Stasher Reusable Ziplock Bags
- RubberMaid.com – Rubbermaid Food Storage Containers
- BuiltNY.com – BUILTNY Lunch Bag
- OmieLife.com – OmieLife Kids Lunch Boxes
- Bentgo.com – Bentgo Lunch Boxes for Kids
- PrepNaturals.com – Prep Naturals Meal-prepping Containers
By Cara Dettmann/ 9 January 2021