Litterless Lunches For Back-To-School

After a year of waste-free lunches we've built up pretty nice stockpile of plastic-free food containers to transport lunches to and from school. Last year we actually used less a dozen plastic baggies throughout the entire school year which is kind of awesome! When you pack lunches on-the-go in reusable containers with reusable utensils it's surprising how easy it is to reduce your pile in the landfill to only a handful of garbage.

This year we're adding a few new items to our litterless lunchbox collection, but for the most part we're happy that we invested in quality products last year that even with daily use will probably last a lifetime.

I've featured our favorite and most used lunchboxes and accessories here for anyone who is interested in making this the year you stop using disposables and start living a little more green.

To-Go Ware 3-tier & 2-tier Snack Stack



To-Go Ware 2-tier Snack Stack & 3-tier Carry Bag

Bambu Spork



To-Go Ware stainless steel stackable tiffins are amazing! They are exremely durable, easy to pack and damn sexy too, (in a crunchy kinda way). Of course, we were ecstatic when they released the new 2-tier Snack Stack earlier this year. It's freakin' adorable, but more importantly, it's perfectly sized for smaller lunches and it fits in the 3-tier cloth carry bag that we already have! The individual containers in the Snack Stack are just about the same size as the 3-tier, but it's a few inches shorter in height, so without the extra tier we have a little extra room in the bag for an ice pack or piece of fruit like a whole apple or banana. The top container on To-Go Ware tiffins can also be used on thier own which makes them even more versatile. My only concern with buying the To-Go Ware tiffins for school lunches is that the latches can be a little hard to open, especially for young children. Otherwise, they rock! We have several sizes and use them for picnics and take-out too.

LunchBots stainless steel food containers are also fantastic. They come in an assortment of sizes and some have built-in dividers which make them perfectly suited for bento-style lunches. The lids are much easier to open than the To-Go Ware tiffins, so they are a great choice for pre-school children, but don't let my kid-friendly recommendation fool you...LunchBots are strong, sturdy and simply designed which also makes them pretty badass if you ask me!

ECOLunchboxes are nifty because they come in sets that can be stacked and latched together, but the top container can also be used on it's own. The rectangle set is very petite and probably best for those with a smaller appetite. Small lunch kits come in handy and don't take up much room in your pack. My teenage daughter loves this one!

Klean Kanteen is the only water bottle that we currently use because we know it's a brand that can be trusted to be completely safe and free of  BPA. I love that they even have a stainless steel replacement lid, so you have the option to not have any plastic come in contact with your beverage. They come in an assortment of spiffy colors and sizes, so it's easy to find one that fits your needs. Yes, they are a bit on the expensive side, but totally worth the investment! I even been lucky enough to score a few at a local thrift store (DI) for a buck or two.

Condiment and dip containers are a big part of our lunch packing routine. They are a lifesaver when it comes to transporting salad dressing, toppings and even small portions of side dishes and desserts. Our favorite small-sized lunchbox containers are definitely the To-Go Ware Sidekicks because of their simple design and the fact that they come in two awesome sizes. Hummus, anyone?

With the exception of the water bottles, all of the products featured here are dishwasher safe! Don't you just love stainless steel? Having a nice organized cupboard, free of plastic clutter and junk has made my mornings so much easier and knowing that we will never outgrow our lunchboxes means that we'll end up buying less in future years.



Use my personal referral code rc4bvha on any of the reusable lunchboxes featured in this post at reuseit.com and save $5 on your first order of $50 or more.