At work, plastics and microwaving lunch

[kdabbler]

The plastics thread has my head spinning. Dd#2 uses Avent bottles at daycare. Both dd#1 and #2 use plastic containers for their lunches. And here I am at work looking at my leftover ravioli and tomato sauce sitting in a re-used container from some long forgotten take out. (#5 pp plastic if you're wondering)

I'm wondering what can I do to reduce my microwaving in plastics at work and maybe at my girls' daycare.

Dd#2's bottle days at daycare are numbered. She'll be switching over to sippys once she's moved into the toddler room. Another 1 - 3 months is not worth chucking everything if I've been using them up to now IMHO.

But what can I do about my lunch for example? How do I heat it up at work? How do I transport it? Suggestions? Ideas?

[Spastica]

You don't have many options to reheat since all you have is a microwave at work usually. There are tiffin carriers made of stainless steel that you can use, but those are not microwavable.

High plastic grades are fine for use. It's the cheap plastic that is NOT meant for heating or dishwashing that causes problems. For example, don't reuse your margarine tubs, TV dinner trays, or water bottles or something and heat it up or put it through the dishwasher. That degrades the cheap, temporary use plastic.

Use well known brands of plastic containers that are meant for food storage, heating, and dishwashing.

[shelley4]

is it possible to keep a few bowls/plates at work, so you can transport your food in the plastic, but reheat in a bowl?

that's what i get hubby to do.. he's allowed a bit of shelf space in the kitchen area of his work.

[nextcommercial]

Is glass o.k? (I am going to search for the plastics thread)

One of my daycare boys uses glass Pyrex bowels with rubbery lids. He uses them even if it doesn't need to be heated.

I am still learning, and have no idea if the Pyrex is a no-no, but with my limited knowledge, I will say "Go to Wal Mart and buy the Pyrex".

[avendesora]

I'm a fan of Pyrex. It won't likely break on your way to work, but it is a bit heavier. If the weight is an issue, as a PP said, you could leave some bowls at work to microwave in.

Pyrex has a variety of options like this and this. I think I have the second set, and I like it. The bowls don't lie nicely in the dishwasher though.

Aven

[kaydee]

Another Pyrex fan here. They come in lots of different sizes, too.

[hubris]

Crate and Barrel has several glass options. We own these:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=850&f=9430
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=850&f=204

We also have a round version of the rectangular ones - four bowls with lids - the bowls nest inside each other in the cabinet. The lids are plastic and can be removed before heating if you wish.

I love the rectangular and nesting round ones. I'm not crazy about the second ones I linked - the lids warp in the dishwasher and the glass is not as sturdy. Any of the others are awesome for storing at home and taking on the road or to work.

[Kewpie]

Ditto the Pyrex and Crate and Barrel recs. Pyrex is great for adult lunches, too big for little kids though. The C&B dishes are PERFECT for little ones though. We had 4 in our rotation when DD was in daycare, worked really well.

I'd ditch the sippys and use either Sigg or the Klean Kanteen version of a sippy.

[kdabbler]

ohhhhhh. Pyrex. And I have a casserole set too. Never occured to me! I am not sure if they would be an acceptable option for the kids since they might be considered breakable and hazardous. (I've had enough grief about my EBM in sippys from there anyways ).

Has anyone had experience with Pyrex breaking? I've had them chip, but I can't recall any ever breaking in my recent memory.

As for the plate in the office, I do have a good sized office. I'm sure I could keep a plate here too. Thanks.

[EnviroBecca]

Pyrex or Corningware (durable ceramic) . Not only do they not leach chemicals, but they're much easier to clean after tomato sauce, cheese, or other messy food. I have never managed to break one and have only had one chip, which happened when the freshly washed dish slipped from my hand, spun thru the air about 8 feet, and smacked into the corner of the refrigerator! These materials are intended for baking, so they're safe in the microwave.

[sweetpeas]

Another fan of Pyrex, also for small servings of things, I've got canning jars that are, I think 6oz wide mouth, they're like little bowls. I also have some 4 oz ones, that I'll put a little yogurt or applesauce or something in for the kids when we take a lunch somewhere.

I wasn't anti-plastics when I was still WAH (pre-kids) but even so, I went to TJMaxx or similar & got a nice big ceramic soup bowl that I could heat things up in, it was nice cuz I could keep cans of ready to heat soup & such in my desk & heat them up in that. I would've kept a Corelle plate there too except my office provided nice sturdy paper plates for us to use, so I just used those if I wanted to heat something other than the bowl.

[PikkuMyy]

I also use glass "tupperware' with plastic or rubber lids. Much easier to clean than plastic.

I say don't go to Walmart but do get them!

[Mommay]

.

[hubris]

Does the preschool definitely need to heat food? If not, you could use small metal containers. I've seen them somewhere, maybe on the Laptop Lunches website, or on the Vegan Lunch Box blog?

[kdabbler]

Originally Posted by hubris

Does the preschool definitely need to heat food? If not, you could use small metal containers. I've seen them somewhere, maybe on the Laptop Lunches website, or on the Vegan Lunch Box blog?

Reusablebags.com has them.

[CarrieMF]

Dh takes corningwear to work.

Pyrex can break, if it does it is because of extreme temp changes.

[Mommay]

Thanks kdabbler and hubris. I should think about packing him non-reheatable lunches. I better put my thinking cap on. He doesn't like sandwiches. I usually do a rice or a rice pasta dish. I have to think on it. But thanks for the link.

[artemis33]

When I was still working before DD I also used small glass containers with plastic lids. I hate microwaves too though so I usually tried to find alternatives to that as well.

How about a small thermos to pack something hot that you can heat quickly in the AM at home - then have the rest of the lunch be cold. You could pack soup - but also pasta or rice dishes would be fine as well if the mouth is wide enough to get them in. It can be dumped into a different container to eat but you could bypass the heating issue all together.

I did that sometimes cause I liked to walk to the park to eat- used the thermos for something hot if I wanted.

I also sometimes bought "instant" beans (black, pinto, lentils) from my health food coop bulk section then just had to add hot water. At my workplace there was a hot water spout on the coffee machine so this was easy. Or you could microwave a cup of water and dump it over the food.

Then of course there is the idea of just packing things that don't require heating, like you mentioned.

I liked:
sandwiches - but maybe if he doesn't you could just have "cold cuts" not on bread - like chunks of roasted chicken and cheese that he could eat with his fingers
cheese and crackers
apple and celery with PB or almond butter
fruit
veggie sticks - sometimes with dip
tortilla chips with the instant beans mentioned above and a little container of salsa
tortilla spread with cream cheese and topped with some veggies and turkey if you want, rolled up - sort of different than a regular sandwich
cherry tomatoes
salads

[Mommay]

.

[gret the great]

Mommay- my DD loves a nibble tray- I have a 3 section plastic plate with a lid. I put different things in each section
Last week she loved:
Hummus, Crackers & Carrot sticks
I have also done
Bits of turkey, cold pasta, leftover steamed veggies. She likes them cold.

She's not big on sandwhiches & her preschool doesn't reheat.