- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 2
-
Sparkle (0)
Ever had your brown-bagged organic peanut butter & jelly sandwich get flattened into a mushy pancake? Then it's time to get a pretty reusable lunch carrier. Those disposable brown bag lunches, after all, are a constant, trash-creating money drain -- and don't look particularly stylish or cute, either. Thus -- My five favorite lunch boxes and carriers:
Japanese Bento Box made of Cedar. Though the cedar doesn't appear to be FSC-certified, this gorgeous bento box, coated with urushi coating, seems like a pretty alternative to plasticky stuff. The one downside is that the box isn't dishwasher or microwave safe -- but the box is really too pretty to be used in these machines anyway. The product's made in China and Japan and available at Life Without Plastic for $59.95.
Built NY Fugu Insulated Lunch Tote. I own and love this lunch tote -- but don't use it much now since I work at home. If you already have plenty of good reusable containers and just need a bag to carry it in, this stretchy neoprene tote's perfect -- since a side pocket fits your reusable mug too. Get it at Reusable Bags for $19.95 -- or at Sur La Table and some Whole Foods.
Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar. If you need to keep food hot or cold, Zojirushi lunch boxes are cute and handy and come in many different sizes. Yes, there's some plastic in these -- but apparently the containers are BPA-free. My mom used to pack my lunches in these when I was a kid. Best part: They come with a pair 'o reusable chopsticks! Amazon has this model for $36.
Laptop Lunch Bento System 2.0. Made blog-famous by Vegan Lunch Box, this cute system comes with everything you need: a carrying case, reusable water bottle, stainless steel utensils, and a user's guide. The downside is that the system is very plasticky, but all surfaces are safe from lead, BPA and phthalates. Plus, the outer material's made of 100% recycled polypropylene fabric. Get it at Laptop Lunches for $39.99.
To-Go Ware Lunch Kit. This cute stainless steel kit comes with 2 food containers that snap together, a removable plate, plus a set of sustainably-harvested bamboo utensils -- all totable in a carrycase handmade in Thailand by a Fair Trade women's cooperative. Get the whole kit at Reusable Bags for $39.95, or bits and pieces of the kit for less at both Reusable Bags or Life Without Plastic. To-Go Ware also comes in 1 or 3-tier sizes.
As for reusable utensils: Of course a nice eco-nomical option's simply to tote the silverware you've already got at home. In addition, some of the lunch boxes and totes above already come with their own forks and spoons and chopsticks -- most of which you can buy separately too.
For the most compact fork-knife-spoon set, try Sigg's portable stainless steel cutler set (above, $24.95). Bamboo fans can also opt for a more compact bamboo utensil set from To-Go Ware, which comes in a holder made of recycled PET plastic (below, $9.95).
If you only need chopsticks -- or simply want a more compact pair to tote around with you all the time so you never have to use those disposable pairs at sushi restaurants -- L.A.'s Japanese American National Museum offers a collapsible stainless steel pair ($10), as does REI (with recycled birch wood from old baseball bats! $29.95). Enjoy your zero-waste lunch!
___
BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel plans to make an organic tofu stir fry for lunch today. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.
