I have long been on a quest to eliminate zip-top plastic bags from my house. They are wasteful. While I admit to rinsing out lightly used bags for reuse, for the most part the bags are used once and land straight in the trash. We have plenty of reusable plastic containers, but frankly, I’m more than a little concerned about the safety of putting our food in plastic. Waxed paper bags work in some instances, but they’re just not as tidy as zip-top bags. My kids are willing to forgo the plastic baggies, but there’s still the constant struggle to figure out how to package their lunch without compromising on their health or the environment.
When I mentioned this to my friend Jennifer Margulis who blogs for Mothering, she pointed me to PlanetBox. Made of stainless steel, the hinged lunch box opens to reveal five individual compartments of various sizes. It kind of resembles an institutional food tray (or, to date myself, one of those old fashioned TV dinners!). The raised compartments in the lid allow you to fill the bottom tray generously and still close the lid. When closed, each food is sealed into its separate compartment (keeping the sandwich from touching the fruit for finicky eaters). The one drawback to the compartments is that the space where a sandwich would fit is pretty small. The grainy bread we eat comes in slices too large to fit in there.
Slip the latched PlanetBox into an insulated carrying bag and kids are all set for a healthy, environmentally sound lunch break. The carrying bag has two pockets – one will fit a water bottle and the other has a flap that closes with velcro. Extra containers called Big and Little Dippers hold messier dishes like yogurt or pasta salad and fit neatly within the PlanetBox, as shown in the photo. And for a fun touch? Each PlanetBox comes with a set of magnets to personalize it.
The PlanetBox alone retails for $34.95. The PlanetBox Complete set comes with a Big and Little Dipper and a carrying bag for $59.95. The PlanetBox comes with a five-year warranty and its simple styling will last a kid through years of school lunches without becoming dated. Of course, you might want to switch up the magnets from year to year!
Sounds like a cool idea. However, I have to ask – is this a review or an ad? The only product image I see here of it in action is from the manufacturer’s website. The yogurt & dressing don’t look like they’ve been carried around sideways by a child for 4 hours, and I am curious as to how the PlanetBox would hold up in that situation. The website gives some information, but it’s always preferable to have feedback from an actual user.
I hope you don’t mind the small criticism. I love the Geekmom website and read it every day via my Google reader feed. I just always find hands-on reviews more helpful when they include pictures of the item in actual use (when appropriate!). Thanks.
Not an ad, but you’re right. The photos are from the company’s website. I never trust my own photography skills to do a decent job, but perhaps that’s a skill I should work on! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you’re enjoying GeekMom.
Sounds like a cool idea. However, I have to ask – is this a review or an ad? The only product image I see here of it in action is from the manufacturer’s website. The yogurt & dressing don’t look like they’ve been carried around sideways by a child for 4 hours, and I am curious as to how the PlanetBox would hold up in that situation. The website gives some information, but it’s always preferable to have feedback from an actual user.
I hope you don’t mind the small criticism. I love the Geekmom website and read it every day via my Google reader feed. I just always find hands-on reviews more helpful when they include pictures of the item in actual use (when appropriate!). Thanks.
Not an ad, but you’re right. The photos are from the company’s website. I never trust my own photography skills to do a decent job, but perhaps that’s a skill I should work on! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you’re enjoying GeekMom.
I have to question the cost on this one. $60 for a lunch box? I supposed it would last awhile though but it is much easier and cheaper to buy one at Target, though I see your point about the plastic baggies and plastic storage containers.
I have to question the cost on this one. $60 for a lunch box? I supposed it would last awhile though but it is much easier and cheaper to buy one at Target, though I see your point about the plastic baggies and plastic storage containers.