All opinions are my own in this post!

Now that the kids have fully transitioned into full-day in-person learning, I’ve begun my love-hate relationship with packing school lunches. I'm not too fond of the idea of coming up with creative ways to pack lunches daily, but I love knowing that packing brain-boosting eats encourages healthy eating habits at school. So, for the most part, I don’t see it as a chore but as an investment into my children’s health. Having the right lunch essentials makes packing lunches more enjoyable and encourages me to be innovative by offering various foods daily. I have a variety of lunch boxes that I use for my kids and many different accessories to help, but today I will write about my top two eco-friendly lunch boxes.

The first lunch box I ever purchased was The planet box rover for Aiden's first day of pre-school: my favorite feature is stainless nonplastic construction and its durability. It has been over five years since I purchase the rover lunch box, and it is in excellent condition. The planet box lunch boxes come in three different sizes: The Shuttle, Rover, and launch.

Reasons why I love planet box

• Toxic-free: contains no lead, PVC, phthalates, or BPA material.

• Eco friendly and easy to open

• Durable ( I have the launch over five years, and it is in perfect condition)

• Tight fitted (leak-proof, easy to open containers)

• Easy to clean dishwasher safe

• Customizable with magnets with cute designs (Great for the little one personality)

• Five-year warranty

• Organize with different compartments

• Stainless Steel

Planet Box Shuttle

The shuttle is a great size for carrying small meals or snacks. I bought the shuttle for my youngest because I wanted to ensure he got the different food groups and balanced eating since he doesn’t have a big appetite. This shuttle is a good option for pre-schooled children and consists of two-compartment. It also comes with a tall dipper container perfect for holding dips or foods such as dry cranberries and nuts if your child isn’t too Allergic to them.

Planet Box Rover

The Rover is great for elementary school-aged children. The lunch box has five food compartments to offer various things that encourage healthy eating, especially for the picky eaters. The lunch box comes with a Little dipper container perfect for sauces and dips and a big dipper container ideal for packing messy food such as yogurt.

Planet Box Launch

The launch is an excellent transition to a more filling lunch; the launch box is great for older kids with a big appetite and adults who love to carry lunch to work. It has three compartments that keep food separate and comes with one leakproof tall round dipper container for sauce and dips. The launch is also compatible with a satellite dish microwavable -safe container for hot foods and is sold separately.

Sadly, the Planetbox lunch box is not insulated; therefore does not keep cold foods cold or hot foods hot. I’ll suggest packing hot foods at room temperature, and cold foods should be packed with an ice pack. The magnets should be removed before washing, and it is best to dry the lunch box immediately after washing to prevent water spots from appearing. It is also wise not to clean planet box lunch boxes with an abrasive sponge or brush to help minimize scratches.

Another favorite lunch box of ours is the LunchBots Bentos Boxes. It comes in multiple sizes and layouts to match your kid's appetites. The compartments are a bit larger and deeper compared to the planet box launch box. The containers come with stainless steel lid and a colorful cover as an optional add-on. It is designed to keep foods separate and mealtime easy.

Reasons I love LunchBots Bento Boxes

• Easy to clean

• Keep food separate

• Dishwasher safe.

• stainless steel

• non-toxic,

• organize with different large compartments perfect for a variety of foods

• Durable enough to last a lifetime

• All orders over $49 ship for FREE

To be transparent, I've only used the lunch bots large Cinco, so that is the one I’m going to write about from my experience. However, all of their lunchboxes are non-toxic and dishwasher safe. It's just a matter of choosing which size works for your family.

LunchBots Large Cinco

I have been using lunch bots large Cinco for over two years, and my oldest transition to middle school with it. The large Cinco has five compartments and a ton of space. I can make sure my children have a variety of items for lunch meat, fruit, veggie, condiment, and dessert. I love everything about this box. It is also lightweight, and the lids are easy to open.

Other LunchBots Options are:

Small Bento Boxes

• Small protein packer

• Small snack packer

  Medium Bento Boxes

• Medium Uno this one-compartment bento box and is ideal for sandwiches

• Medium Duo two-compartments bento box designed to hold a half sandwich plus one large side.

• Medium Trio three compartments are designed to hold half a sandwich and two small sides.

• Medium Quad four-compartment bento box designed to hold a variety of snack foods

  Large Bento Boxes

• Large Trio Three compartments are designed to fit a whole sandwich and two sides perfect for kindergarten to elementary school-age children.

*Note* Lunchbots are not insulated and are not leakproof. It is recommended for packing dry food.

However, the lunch bots thermos is an excellent alternative for packing hot food for school. It is leakproof and insulated.

I loved it when my kids come home from school each day and let me know how much they loved their lunch. I hope packing school lunches in these eco-friendly boxes encourage creative lunch ideas for your children. Happy Back to school!