https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Jul 2026 06:49:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2820697 Sun, 06 May 2018 22:53:46 +0000 PinkElephant 2820697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the Sugar Booger bento-style boxes. They're not leak-proof compartments, so if you put applesauce in one and tip the box upside down, it would leak to the next compartment. But for me, it's a little simpler (and cheaper to get started) than some of the fancier bentos like YumBox. I absolutely don't use ziplock bags for school lunches/snacks, and we don't do individually packed snacks (like mini bags of goldfish), but I do use yogurt/applesauce pouches/cups. My daughter's enrichment program recycles; I'll have to ask what they do in the cafeteria for lunch beginning next year in first grade. I do send disposable spoons when they're needed, in case they accidentally get tossed, but my kids always bring them home. :)</p> <p>My 4 and 6 year olds know how to recycle because they do it at home, so if the opportunity is there at school, I know they'll do it. I understand why it might be too much work at school, but I guess I'm a little surprised they don't at least try! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2820694 Sun, 06 May 2018 22:21:18 +0000 Iced Tea 2820694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use:<br /> 6 small sistema containers (usually for snacks)<br /> 3 medium sistema containers<br /> 2 2-compartment sistema containers<br /> 2 reusable squeezies<br /> 2 reusable snack bags<br /> 1 small thermos<br /> 5 small cloth napkins<br /> Bunch of small utensils<br /> Bunch of camelbak kids water bottles<br /> 2 washable lunch bags </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2820692 Sun, 06 May 2018 21:54:57 +0000 imadreamer 2820692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is so helpful! My new daycare doesn’t offer breakfast and they encouraged parents to pack breakfast so I ordered a yumbox for both girls. I will have to order additional inserts. We also have two foogo containers, Itzy Ritzy snack (4) and sandwich bags (2). We use the Itzy ritzy bags every day for snack.</p> <p>I also ordered cloth napkins off amazon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818149 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:11:19 +0000 looch 2818149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRoo: I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I was really surprised at what went on when I went to observe the lunch service one day (to help launch a school wide food composting program). The custodians are the ones that basically control the flow, so I would start with what you are sending and see what you can eliminate up front.</p> <p>An example is applesauce in single serve containers. If you have the time, you can buy a big jar and decant it into a container, but I know myself and sometimes I just don't have the time to do all that prep, so the little cups win. Those cups end up in the trash, as there is literally no separate recycling at lunch at my son's school, it all goes in one huge bin. You kind of have to decide what you're willing to live with and what you're willing to do in terms of work. It's really tough, I wasn't prepared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818148 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:06:57 +0000 yin 2818148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use a Yumbox Panino for my preschooler (4) and a PlanetBox Rover for my 1st grader (7). They both have a Foogo water bottle. I put the Yumbox in a PackIt freezable lunch bag. I also bought the lunch box that comes with the PlantBox and add ice packs to keep the food cold. My kids don't mind that their food is not warm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818079 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 20:05:57 +0000 SweetCaroline 2818079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 4 yumboxes for one kid. It's overkill, but we both WOH FT and it allows us a lot of room for error. We rarely more than 3 in use at a time.</p> <p>ETA: we also have an insulated thermos for oatmeal, mac n cheese, pasta, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818054 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:45:57 +0000 MrsRoo 2818054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>awesome suggestions, thank you all!! </p> <p>@looch: yea, I’m sure it’s pretty wasteful. We are by no means a zero (or even close to zero ) waste household. But I have been trying to make better decisions and set better examples for my girls. This transition to taking her own packed lunch seems like a good opportunity for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818052 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:36:21 +0000 mediagirl 2818052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use a yumbox (one exterior box, two inserts) and put it, plus a water bottle, in a lands end lunchbox. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818020 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:16:48 +0000 looch 2818020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I discovered Sistema's Bento Boxes via Amazon and we just use one of those for room temperature items. It goes inside his Cars insulated tote. If I am sending something warm, we use a foogo jar. My son is really good about bringing everything home, so I will send him a metal spoon (not one of my good set, but a spare).</p> <p>You may need to mentally prepare yourself for the waste that happens in school lunch rooms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818019 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:14:30 +0000 misolee 2818019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for yumbox. We also have a small thermos for hot stuff like pasta. I also have small plastic containers (I think it’s the target brand) for fruit. We hardly have any trash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818017 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:55:25 +0000 gingerbebe 2818017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my kids have a Yumbox and a snack size Yumbox, but honestly, lately, our go-to has been the 3 compartment plastic containers from Target - like their in-house Up and Up brand one. Its better than Glad or Ziploc or any of the other brand name ones I've used. They are cheap, come in a pack of 2 or 3 (can't remember), they don't leak, and compared to the Yumbox, they are light. They have a main compartment that's big enough for a sandwich and a cheese stick and then there are 2 other compartments with one being slightly bigger than the other. I usually use the bigger of the two for fruit and the smallest one for a veggie. </p> <p>A typical lunch for my 3.5 year old is a PBJ with a string cheese in the main compartment, 3-4 baby carrots or a Persian cucumber in the small compartment, and a fistful of blueberries or a clementine in the larger compartment. Then he gets a Foogo of milk or a Contigo straw cup of water. If we're sending a hot lunch of leftovers, then he gets it in a Thermos Funtainer. Lately the only time I use a Ziploc bag is if I'm adding some extra dry food, like pretzels or Cheetos (his favorite treat) because he's going through a growth spurt or something. His teachers usually send the Ziploc back in his bag to reuse, so I imagine you can try to train your child to do the same. We also have reusable snack sacks, but I just don't need them often enough to recommend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818014 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:44:12 +0000 Mama Bird 2818014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tupperware + lunch box to hold the Tupperware, a drink, and sanitizer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818013 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:35:39 +0000 Rocker2014 2818013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a bunch of different sized plastic containers, and each day's lunch gets a selection of them depending on what she's getting. LO hates food hot and prefers most things cold so I just use them in an insulated bag and that works well for us. The containers also help the food not get squished by her heavy water bottle! </p> <p>I will occasionally use a ziploc bag when something doesn't fit well in one of my plastic containers, though I can't think of an example right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818010 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:15:47 +0000 Mrs D 2818010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just saw your question about how many do we have on hand. For DD1 (I have two DDs I'll be packing for come fall...so really multiply by two) I plan to have the following:<br /> -1 small lunchbot<br /> -1 planet box shuttle<br /> -1 large lunchbot<br /> -2 foogo jars<br /> -2 sandwich bags (itzy ritzy)<br /> -4 snack bags (itzy ritzy)</p> <p>I generally get stuff cleaned up at night but DH and I both WOH and can have crazy schedules so I am in general more of a have more than you need type person just "in case". I also may adopt more of a plan ahead process with her (depending on how packing all this food goes) in which case I'd need multiples to pack at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818009 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:14:35 +0000 bhbee 2818009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also use yumbox. I have one exterior for each kid and 5 interiors (one kid eats 5 days and one eats 2) - for one kid I think 3 would be enough. Since the exterior shell doesn’t get too dirty I wipe it out most days and deep clean once a week or as needed. The interiors I throw in the dishwasher and occasionally end up with all 5 in the dishwasher just depending on what’s happening that week, but usually would not use them all before cleaning. I give my kinder girl a real fork since she’s very detail oriented but my other kid would probably throw that away so not sure what we’ll do for him!<br /> I also really love the bag we have - saw it recommended on hb I think! She hates things being too warm by lunch. Comes in lots of patterns and you just freeze it when you empty it so no separate ice packs. </p> <p>PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag with Zip Closure, Watermelon Party <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N232ZJA?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N232ZJA?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf</a></p> <p>ETA the bag fits the yumbox and a couple small snacks if needed but I pack her foogo water bottle separately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818006 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:10:05 +0000 Mrs D 2818006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 is starting K in the fall - I have committed to using as little waste as possible. Here is what I have purchased to try out:</p> <p>-Lunchbots (love the smaller size - but also planning to get a bigger one for days when the meal is all contained in the Lunchbot.<br /> -Planet Box - I started with the Shuttle...I love it. Like I think I like it better than the Lunchbot but its so heavy. I'm worried how heavy the bigger one will be. Plus it doesnt fit in her lunch box so I dont have options to keep it cold. It came with a nice little dip container.<br /> -Itzy Ritzy reusable snack and sandwich bags (2 sandwich size, 4 snack size)<br /> -Foogo Food Jar - I bought 2 of these. So far I have used them for chili, chicken n dumplings and pizza muffins. It does a great job of keeping things warm (I fill it with boiling water in the AM (6am) then make the food, and put it in the container warm (after drying the container) and it seems to stay warm til 11am-noon when they eat.<br /> -Silicon Muffin Liners for separating things in the Lunchbot and Shuttle.</p> <p>We only just started easing DD into packed lunches, since her DC provides all meals. I resolved to be waste free from the beginning so its the only norm I know. I also wanted to give DD a chance to get used to packed lunches! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2818003 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:57:20 +0000 KT326 2818003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use a Yumbox. We have a couple that we've been using since preschool. He loves it and they are spill proof.</p> <p>ETA: He doesn't eat lunch from home every day, we look at the hot lunch menu and he will have hot lunch 1-2 days a week. Right now we only have 2 yumboxes that I rotate, I might add one or two more when they go on sale. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2817999 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:44:55 +0000 lioneyes 2817999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pack DS lunch for camp, I use small tupperware for everything (sandwich, fruit, pretzels/goldfish) and an insulated lunch bag, and they throw the empty containers back in his bag and he brings it home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elementary-lunches-using-less-waste#post-2817998 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:31:49 +0000 MrsRoo 2817998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are registering DD1 for K in 2 weeks and she’s already so excited to pick out her back pack and lunch box for “big school”. Which got me thinking.... how do you pack your kids lunches with out all the trash? Bees wax wrappers? Reusable baggies? Something else? And how many of whatever you use do you have on hand? </p>