Family lunch containers?

[mysticmomma]

As the weather is getting warmer here, we'll be spending more time out. We've been spending way too much money out on food, so I am looking for something to take with us that is compact, bpa/lead/etc free and not fragile, but also won't squish the food. My kids aren't really sandwich eaters, so it would probably be fruit, nuts/seeds, crackers and meat roll ups. I was thinking I could just pack a thermos of ice water and a few cups. I like the idea behind laptop lunches, but don't want to carry around 3-4 of those things. I wish they made a family sized one. What do you guys do?

[Ellien C]

Nothing that fancy. I take water bottles for me and the kid, rather than individual cups. And then I use my regular containers - either the tupperware kind or the glasslock kind and I put it all in a re-usable grocery bag. If I'm in a hurry, I don't "decant" anything. Just grab the box of cereal or the container of fruit and go.

[EarthyMamaofDaisy]

http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Tier-Stai...8571374&sr=8-4


http://www.amazon.com/New-Wave-Envir...ref=pd_sim_k_2

http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Uno-...ef=pd_sim_sg_3

Here are some ideas.

[annethcz]

I do many of the things Ellien mentioned. If we're going to be eating our own lunches, I pack lunches in Tupperward Lunch N Things lunchboxes.

If we're going out as a family and I want to keep it easy, I just throw things into a cloth grocery bag and away we go. I have 4 kids, so I usually pack two big water bottles. If we're eating sandwiches, I'll just pack the sandwiches together in a bread bag. I'll throw in a hunk of cheese (and knife to cut it), a sleeve of crackers, and a bunch of fruit... and we're set.

[zoebird]

we are in the process of picking up from the indian importer tiffin stackable lunch boxes that are made of metal. they are free of X, Y, and Z.

they come in lots of sizes (that is, the round bowls come in various diameters and depths) and they clamp together to form one large lunch box. things like you are talking about don't get smashed because each one has it's own section.

getting them directly from the importer cost us a lot less than any online ordering sites. seriously, the largest box was over $200 on line (plus shipping), and we are getting the same size from the importer, made of stainless steel, for $25.

I opted to buy three sizes for $8, 15, and 25 so that we can have it as a family, pack a smaller one for snacks or the medium one for an individual.

it clamps tightly closed, can carry liquids as well as solids, and easily fits into our back pack that we take to work or out and about.

so, if you can find them via an indian market, that would be the least expensive way to go.

[zoebird]

also, we each have our own SS water bottle that i fill before we head out. if we are only going out for a short time, i'll just fill one; we we are all going out for a long time, i'll fill two or three. it's a lot of water.

[luv-my-boys]

I have a rectangular container that is divided up (tupperware) is a bit larger that we do exactly that with. I load it up with cheese wedges/meat roll ups/crackers and what not and take with us so the kids can munch on the go. Because its rectangular it fits easily in a lunch cooler with a freezer pack (we have very hot days so keeping refrig. is important here) I also have those sandwich shaped containers (also tupperware) that I make individual "lunches" for the boys. This keeps down the "x ate all the crackers" or whatnot that way each boys has their lunch plus sometimes one wnats one thing and everybody else something else...plus its easier to hand them out then to share 1 larger container.