The Very Best Lunch Boxes
Nice-looking and easy-to-use bento boxes, insulated bags, and thermoses for kid of all ages.
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The best lunch boxes make packing a midday meal — and cleaning up after it — easy and straightforward. But the exact best lunch box for you will depend on the age of your kid(s), the type of food you typically pack, and whether you prefer packing that food in plastic,silicone, orstainless steel. It’ll also need to be appealing and easy to use for the kid who will be toting it to school every day. Because it’s rare for schools to offer refrigeration for student lunches, a lunch box with reliable insulation, or aninsulated bagthat your lunch box fits into, is essential to making sure that everything from tuna salad to yogurt stays fresh and appetizing for at least a few hours.
To help you find the best lunch box for you and your family, I talked to teachers, parents, and nutritionists about the lunch boxes andcontainersthey recommend. I also tested several of the options on this list and collected opinions from other Strategist parents who own or have tested them as well. While some of the products below are best for kids in a certain age range, many of them can be used by kids of any age, from preschool to high school — and even adults, too.
Updated on April 21, 2026
I added theLalo bento boxas my pick for best (less expensive) stainless-steel bento box. I also confirmed that all of the products we recommend are in stock and that prices are up to date.
Our top picks
Whatwe’relookingfor
Type of lunch box
In this guide I’m focusing on three categories of lunch-packing gear: bento box, insulated lunch bag, and thermos. Bento boxes have multiple compartments that keep different foods and snacks separate, eliminating the need for plastic bags or individual containers. Insulated lunch bags can be used alone, or as a way to add insulation to a bento box or other containers; they are typically soft-sided and often have additional pockets for ice packs, awater bottle, andutensils. Thermoses are insulated to keep food hot or cold and usually made of stainless steel.
Size, capacity, and compatibility
Your child’s age and appetite should determine the size of their lunch box — the older they are and the more they tend to eat, the more space you’ll need. There isn’t a standard size for any given age group; as kids get older and hungrier, and develop stronger preferences, the options are all over the map (Lululemon reusable totes are popular among teens, for example).
If you’re planning to use a bento box within an insulated lunch bag, check the dimensions of each to be sure they actually work as a pair. And even if you’re not planning on nesting two products together, you should have a clear idea of your top priorities before you start shopping, like whether you want a product with room to accommodate a water bottle, ice pack, and utensils.
Material
The safest materials to eat off of are glass, stainless steel, food-grade silicone, andplastics that are BPA-, phthalate-, and PVC-free. Glass is conveniently see-through and easy to clean but can be heavy and more fragile, which is why it’s not often used to pack kids’ lunches. Stainless steel is also easy to clean, as well as incredibly durable. Silicone and food-safe plastics are lightweight, durable, and convenient, but instructions will vary on whether you can put them in the dishwasher or microwave. Many of the parents I spoke to preferstainless-steel lunch containersover silicone or plastic because they are less likely to retain food odors or a soapy taste. And amid growingconcerns about microplastics, many parents are opting out of plastic altogether.
Temperature regulation
Anything insulated will help food hold its temperature, whether hot or cold. If your kid prefers chilled veggies or piping-hot macaroni and cheese, look for features like built-in ice-packs, double-walled stainless-steel thermoses, or extra space to include something of the sort.
Leakproof vs. not
Some but not all lunch boxes have silicone seals and locking lids to keep wet foods from seeping into your kid’s backpack. Others are better suited for more un-spillable items like PB&J sandwiches and carrot sticks. Many insulated lunch bags have water-resistant linings to make them easier to clean, and most bento boxes have securely latching lids. But neither of those features on their own will make a lunch bag or lunch box totally water tight. If there are no leakproof properties mentioned on the label, it’s safe to assume you’ll need to pack only “dry” foods or incorporate additional containers or sandwich bags.
Cleaning
Spills and stains are inevitable, so take note of how easy the lunch box or food container will be to clean, and whether or not it is dishwasher-safe. Many containers, bento boxes, and lunch bags will require hand washing or spot-cleaning of at least some components, often to help preserve their leakproof qualities.
Extra details
Lunch boxes with bright colors and fun illustrations are especially appealing to little kids who are still learning how to socialize and might legitimately make a lifelong friend based on a common love of unicorns. And while they are not always obvious in online product photos, small details like mesh inner pockets, carrying straps with buckles, stretchy side pockets for water bottles, dedicated space for ice packs, and removable dividers can dramatically improve the user experience of a lunch box or bag.
Best lunch box overall
Size/capacity:Three sizes |Material:Stainless steel |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Some models and accessories have a leakproof silicone lid; otherwise not leakproof |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
PlanetBox stainless-steel lunch boxes were the ones I heard about most from parents with elementary- and middle-school-aged kids. The brand makes three different single-layer clamshellbento boxes: the five-compartmentRover, the two-compartmentShuttle, and the three-compartmentLaunch. There is also theVoyager, a four-compartment bento box with a silicone lid; it’s PlanetBox’s newest release and the first of its single-layer lunch boxes that is leakproof.
Of the four designs, the Shuttle is the smallest. Both it and the Rover are designed for children 3 years old and up; the Launch is the largest and designed for children 10 years old and up; the Voyager is in between the Rover and the Shuttle in size and designed for children 8 years old and up.The first three have the same easy-to-open latch system and durable hinge and can be used with or without a variety ofdecorative-patterned magnet decals, one of which has space to write your kid’s name.The Voyager lid comes in one color, teal, and clips onto the stainless-steel base to create a seal that prevents leaks and food mixing. This new addition to the PlanetBox lineup is something that parents who love the brand have been wanting for a while, and it has helped assure me that PlanetBox products deserve to keep their long-held spot at the top of this list.
Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang has used the PlanetBox Rover with her now-10-year-old daughter for over six years and notes that, despite it being dropped on the ground and crammed into a backpack day after day, it still looks as good as new. And based on Yang’s recommendation, I bought a Rover to use for day trips and shared park lunches with my 3-year-old son. For those trips, I pack a sandwich, cut-up fruit like apples or strawberries, cucumber or carrot sticks, and a string cheese; then I fill the little circle spot with hummus, a couple goldfish, or two grapes. I don’t send him to school with the Rover, however, because it’s not leakproof and difficult for his small hands to open.
Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro has also used the Rover with her kids; she bought it about four years ago and for awhile, she used it daily with her now-7-year-old son. But she eventually switched him to the smaller PlanetBox Shuttle because he said the Rover felt too babyish, despite their similar looks.
If you buy them directly from PlanetBox, both the Rover and the Shuttle come with either one or two silicone-lidded stainless-steel containers that fit inside the bento box to store wet foods. And while the prices may seem high for a lunch box, they are basically indestructible and come with a five-year warranty, plus they’re versatile enough to be used by the same kid for several years. I have not yet tested the Voyager with its silicone lid. But according to the brand, both parts are dishwasher safe, and because the lid is removable, it’s easier to put the stainless-steel tray in the bottom of the dishwasher and the lid on the top rack.
Overall I gave the top spot on this list to PlanetBox lunch boxes because they are mostly made ofstainless steel, can be put in the dishwasher without worry, and have a reliably long lifespan. You can even extend that lifespan, if needed, by repairing worn-out hinge pins or latches withreplacementssold on the brand’s site.Just take note that while the Shuttle, which measures 7.8 by 5.2 by 2 inches, is small enough to fit inside several of the insulated lunch bags we recommend below, the Rover and theLaunchare too big, meaning your best option is to buy one ofPlanetBox’s own insulated bags.
Read more:Welcome to Plastic-Free Kitchen Week
Best (less expensive) lunch box overall
Size/capacity:Multiple sizes |Material:BPA-free plastic and silicone |Temperature regulation:Some models have a built-in ice pack; otherwise not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Food tray is top-rack dishwasher- and microwave-safe
Bento boxes from Bentgo are among the most popular options for preschool and elementary-school kids because they are available in a variety of sizes and designs, easy to pack and open, and not too much of a pain to clean. While many parents prefer using stainless steel, Bentgo’s lunch boxes have the added benefit of a leakproof silicone seal, so you can use them to pack wet foods.Theclassic five-compartment modelholds about 2.5 cups of food, an appropriate amount for preschoolers and kindergartners. It also allows you to pack a larger variety of foods, which can help with picky eaters. But for older kids, like Yang’s 10-year-old daughter, theBentgo Freshmodel can hold more food and has a removable divider that allows you to pack food into either three or four compartments — a level of flexibility Ro wishes existed for the PlanetBox Shuttle. In contrast to the Rover and some of Bentgo’s other bento boxes, the Bentgo Fresh doesn’t have the tiny round compartment that can only hold about ten M&Ms or a small amount of dipping sauce.
On hot days, or when she doesn’t want to pack a separate ice pack, Milk Teeth co-founder Rebecca Calavan uses a Bentgo Chill bento box that comes with a built-in ice pack. It’s the same Bentgo lunch box that Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio has been using daily with both of her daughters, now ages 8 and 10, for the past four years; Trolio prefers thefour-compartment Bentgo Chillover thefive-compartment designsince the fifth compartment in the latter is so small.Jessica Garza, a kindergarten teacher in Katy, Texas, who runs the blogThe Primary Parade, also uses the Bentgo Chill for her kindergartner and praises how easy it is for kids to open and close on their own.Bentgo recently also released larger and smaller versions of the Bentgo Chill, theChill Maxand theChill Mini. The Chill Max has one removable divider so that you can have three or four compartments, and while it is bigger (and heavier) than the standard-size Chill, it still fits in the insulated lunch bags we recommend below, so it’s a nice option for hungrier kids.
Bentgo’s bento boxes are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, though technically that’s only true for the inner food tray and only on the top rack of the dishwasher. To preserve the silicone seal, the brand recommends hand-washing the clamshell-esque outer casing.
Best bento boxes
Best bento box overall
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Planetbox’s stainless-steel bento boxes are our pick for the best lunch box overall.Read our full review above.
Best (less expensive) bento box overall
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Bentgo’s bento boxes are our pick for the best less expensive lunch box overall.Read our full review above.
Best (less expensive) stainless-steel bento box
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Size/capacity: 9 x 6.5 x 2.1 inches |Material:Stainless steel and silicone |Temperature regulation: Not insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Top-rack dishwasher-safe
Since gettingLalo’s nice-looking stainless-steel bento boxabout a year ago, I’ve used it for preschool (and office) lunches, on weekend trips to the Prospect Park Zoo and Transit Museum, and to pack food for picnics and long car rides. The “squoval” container comes with a stainless-steel food tray, a silicone lid, a removable nonslip silicone base, and a silicone cup for dips, sauces, or dressing. It is similar in size to the Bentgo Fresh bento box (though it’s not as reliably leakproof) and holds just the right amount of food for my 3-year-old: a sandwich or serving of pasta, a handful of broccoli florets or apple slices, and several hard pretzels or crackers with cheese.
Instead of using latches like the other stainless-steel bento boxes I have tried — the PlanetBox Rover or Bentgo stainless-steel bento box — Lalo’s bento box has a thick but flexible silicone lid that hugs the edges of the stainless-steel food tray and is easier for my son to open on his own. The seal is not as tight as the one on Bentgo’s stainless-steel bento box, but it’s good enough for me as I mostly give him dry lunches with the wettest foods being about as moist as pasta sauce. I also like the size and the way it looks better than the Bentgo stainless-steel bento box. It fits easily inside my son’ssmall insulated lunch bagand could easily be mistaken for something you’d find at the MoMA Design Store next to some stripe-y Dusen Dusen towels. It comes in eight colors total, including five two-tone options. Lastly, I love how easy it is to clean; all of the parts are dishwasher safe and there aren’t any sharp corners in the food compartments to trap bits of nut butter or cheese.
Read more:My Toddler and I Share This Nice-Looking Stainless-Steel Bento Box
Best bento box for hot lunch
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Omie OmieBox
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Size/capacity:Multiple sizes |Material:BPA-free plastic and silicone with a removable stainless-steel thermos |Temperature regulation:Partially insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Hand-wash only
Ro’s 4-year-old mostly uses his older brother’s old PlanetBox Rover for school lunches. But when she’s packing hot foods or anything very wet, Ro sends him to preschool with the Omiebox Bento Box. Omie also comes recommended bypediatric nutritionist Nicole Silber of FoodieKid because it can hold foods of multiple temperatures at the same time. The box is made of BPA-free plastic but also comes with a removable stainless-steel thermos that is leakproof, easy for kids to open, and fits snugly into one of the compartments. Garza also appreciates this feature and adds that, thanks to the bright but not babyish colors, she is able to use OmieBox lunch boxes for both her kindergartner and her tween, packing everything from mac ’n’ cheese to soup. Trolio, meanwhile, has theOmieBox UP, which is designed to hold more food for older kids, and though it’s not the lunch box she uses every day, it comes in handy in the winter when she sends more warm food or when her kids are particularly excited about a “best served warm” leftover like pasta and meatballs.
Best leakproof stainless-steel bento box
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Size/capacity:9.8 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches, 5 cups |Material:Stainless steel and silicone |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Hand-wash to protect seal
If your top priority is finding a bento box that’s 100 percent leakproof, Bentgo’s stainless-steel lunch box is your best bet.It uses a silicone inner lid to seal each compartment when closed, so that wet foods can sit next to dry without mixing, and sauces or dressings won’t stain your kid’s backpack. It is very close in size, weight, and capacity to the PlanetBox Rover and therefore fits easily into PlanetBox insulated lunch bags, as well as the biggerBentgo insulated lunch bag, but is too big for many “standard” lunch bags.I tested it with juicy fruit salad, yogurt, and messy pasta to check the seal and even after turning it upside down and shaking it, nothing leaked out.I still prefer Lalo’sless-expensive (and slightly less leakproof) stainless-steel bento box, but for older, hungrier kids this lets you pack more food. Compared to the Planetbox Rover and Lalo stainless-steel bento boxes, it has roomier compartments; it also comes with a rectangular removable silicone cup for added flexibility. That said, it is not as durable as the Rover, which has a longer warranty and is easier to repair if the hinge or the latch breaks. It’s also higher maintenance, cleaning wise, as the silicone-lined lid should be hand washed to protect the seal. But if you are looking for a mostly stainless-steel bento box that is reliably leakproof, it is a solid choice.
Best insulated lunch bags
Best insulated lunch bag overall
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Size:Two sizes |Material:Recycled polyester |Temperature regulation:Insulated; some models also include a cold pack |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Spot clean only
Elementary-school kids love to express their personal style through their school gear, and for kids who embrace a “more is more” aesthetic, Pottery Barn Kids has acolorful patterned lunch box(and usually acoordinating backpack) to match just about every interest. A few years ago, when we surveyed kids of all ages about theirback-to-school shopping habits, multiple elementary-school kids and their parents mentioned the fun designs; you can even add your child’s name or initials for an extra $17.
The lunch bags come in two styles/sizes: classic, which measures 7.5 by 4 by 8.5 inches, and “cold pack,” which measures 9.25 by 3.75 by 7.75 inches and comes with an ice pack that functions as a removable divider.The classic is big enough to hold a smaller bento box, a compact thermos, or a couple of smallfood-storage containers. The cold-pack design is bigger and more easily fits a variety of bento boxes if you move the cold-pack divider accordingly; just be warned that it still isn’t big enough to fit a PlanetBox Rover or stainless-steel Bentgo lunch box. Some designs are also available in an “adaptive” version, which modifies the cold-pack style to add looped zipper pulls; Trolio found these especially convenient to use. She was also impressed by finishing details like a removable, adjustable shoulder strap with notably high-quality hardware, an outer flat zipper pocket, an easy-to-clean interior, and a stretchy mesh side pocket that can hold a small water bottle.
Best (less expensive) insulated lunch bags
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Size:7.28 x 10.43 x 3.35 inches |Material:Coated cotton |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Wipe or spot clean
State backpacks and lunch bags are popular among elementary-school kids because of the huge variety of designs, from glittery gold to sport themes and licensed characters and brands likeLoveShackFancy,Barbie, andHot Wheels. This Rodgers lunch bag, for example, comes in over two dozen different patterns and colors, all of which match the brand’s backpacks.But it’s also easy to wipe clean and has a buckle strap, a removable divider, and two inner pockets: one that’s mesh for utensils and one that holds a Post-it size note or a name tag. You can also get a three-letter monogram embroidered on the side panel for an extra $20. Trolio has tested the State Rodgers Lunch Box with her daughters and reports that while the Bentgo stainless-steel lunch box doesn’t fit inside, both the standard and large sizes of the Bentgo Chill do. She likes how the buckle handle is easy to clip to the the outside of an overstuffed backpack, and her younger daughter especially appreciates how it matches her State backpack and dance bag.
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Size:9.5 x 7 x 3.75 inches |Material:Nylon packcloth outer and BPA- and PVC-free lining |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Wipe or spot clean only
When Yang’s daughter aged out of her Pottery Barn Kids lunch bag, complaining that it was too babyish, she swapped it for this slightly less-expensive insulated lunch box from L.L.Bean. It doesn’t fit the PlanetBox Rover, so Yang packs it with an assortment of containers:stainless-steel ones from U Konserveor plastic ones from Rubbermaid for most items, and sometimes a thermos for hot pasta or soup. It comes in ten colors, has an inner mesh pocket and a front zipper pocket, and — as with other L.L.Bean bags — you can add a monogram for free.
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Size/capacity:|Material:|Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Wipe or spot clean only
I have been using this Bentgo insulated lunch tote on a daily basis for over a year and I couldn’t be happier with it. I pack it with the Lalo stainless-steel bento box reviewed above, or aB.box mini lunch boxto provide insulation during preschool or day camp.It does its job well and I like that it has two outer pockets: a stretchy mesh one for my son’s water bottle that’s similar to the one on the Pottery Barn Kids lunch bag and easily fits hisinsulated B.box water bottle, and a zipper one that I use for utensils. The bag also has enough room to add a small snack like carrot sticks or pretzels separately from his lunch box. My son is a car and truck fanatic, but I didn’t necessarily want all of his school bags to be covered in vehicles, so I was happy to find the Bentgo shark pattern that I like just as much as he does. Like the State lunch bag above, the strap of the Bentgo has a buckle that allows me to attach it to a backpack or the side of ourstroller. I have also machine-washed it many times, air-drying it in the sun, and no matter how dirty it gets, it always comes out clean.
Best large insulated lunch bag
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Size:12.4 x 10.98 x 6.22 inches |Material:100 percent recycled polyester |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Wipe or spot clean only
Of course not all kids have the same opinion about what looks babyish or what size lunch bag they want to use. But at a certain point, most kids grow out of cute prints and smaller-sized lunch bags. This extra-spacious, lightweight lunch bag by tween and teen favorite Hydro Flask has plenty of space to fit a variety of lunch containers, drinks, and extra snacks. The bag also has an interior zipper pouch that can hold utensils or other small items and two sturdy handles — one on the top and one on the side. The abrasion- and water-resistant fabric is especially durable and a breeze to clean. And as with other Hydro Flask products, it comes in a bunch of trendy solid colors that older kids will like.
Best (less expensive) large insulated lunch box
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Size/capacity:7 x 8.5 x 6.25 inches |Material:Recycled nylon and recycled polyfill |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:No |Cleaning:Wipe orspot clean only |
The larger size and cute but cool designs of Baggu’s puffy lunch bag make it a great option for high-schoolers or for adults and caregivers who are packing lunch for a day out with several kids. It is insulated, very lightweight, and can be flattened when not in use. The interior will snugly fit a six-pack of seltzer; or, a kids’ straw cup, an apple, a yogurt cup, and a large sandwich bag or a small stacking bento box.I have used it for everything from car trips to picnics to trips to the zoo. It’s a bit bulky for my son to carry, but Baggu makes asmaller, flatter versionof this bag that Ro has used with the Bentgo classic bento box and that I have seen many of my son’s preschool classmates toting to school.Just note that it doesn’t have any handy extra features, like other lunch bags on on this list: no buckle on the handle or removable strap, and no additional pockets inside or out.
Best thermos
Best thermos overall
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Size/capacity:3.5 x 5 inches, 12 ounces |Material:Stainless steel and silicone |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
I have loved everyHydroflask productI have ever tried and as with all of their other bottles and containers, this brightly colored 12-ounce insulated food jar is as functional as it is stylish. It keeps food cold or hot for hours and fits easily into most tote bags or backpacks, eliminating the need for an insulated lunch bag. It is dishwasher-safe and has a protective silicone bumper on the bottom to keep it from denting if bumped or dropped. To boost its insulating powers, fill it with hot water and let it sit for a few minutes before packing it with warm food, or pop it in the freezer for a spell if you want it to stay cold longer.
Best (less expensive) thermos
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Size/capacity: 3.6 x 4.8 inches,11 ounces |Material:Stainless steel |Temperature regulation:Insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
If you have a little kid, though, I recommend this Bentgo stainless steel food jar that is less expensive than the Hydro Flask and just as good at keeping food fresh, hot or cold. It also has a silicone bumper on the bottom to keep it from getting dented when my son inevitably drops it, and the lid is easier than the Hydro Flask for him to open. We typically use it to pack oatmeal or yogurt and fruit in the morning so that when we are in a rush, I can feed it to him on the way to school. But I also like to use it for myself; the other day I filled it with some fruit salad from the refrigerator and three hours later it was still almost too cold. We have it in the same shark print as his lunch bag. And because it has rounded edges and no seams inside, it’s super easy to clean.
Best reusable food containers
Best stainless-steel food containers
Size/capacity:Three sizes |Material:Stainless steel with silicone lids |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
Both Yang and Ro regularly pack food for their kids’ lunches in U Konserve stainless-steel containers. The round containers they prefer are available in three sizes: five, nine, and 16 ounces. Yang has owned all three sizes since 2018 and still uses them on a regular basis. She has a similar set from another brand, but says the U Konserve containers are better quality with more snugly fitting lids. She also likes that they are compact to store and easy to clean — she puts the stainless-steel parts in the dishwasher and usually washes the lids by hand.
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Black+Blum Small Box Set (600 mL)
Size/capacity:Six sizes |Material:Stainless steel with plastic and silicone lids |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
Black+Blum’s stainless-steelandmicrowaveable food-storage containers were the clear winner in Strategist writer Dominique Pariso’s hunt fornon-plastic food storage to replace her beloved deli containers. Of all the products she tested, they checked the most boxes: lightweight, leakproof, microwaveable, and easy to store in a small space. The containers aren’t cheap, but they are sturdy enough to last a very long time. They also come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, the smallest of which measures 6.8 by 5 by 2.5 inches and will fit in any of our favorite insulated lunch bags.
Best reusable sandwich bags
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Stasher Silicone Reusable Sandwich Storage Bag
Size/capacity:Multiple sizes |Material:Silicone |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Dishwasher-safe
If you’re trying to reduce the number of single-use plastic sandwich bags you go through, Stasher bags are often recommended as a reusable alternative. They’re resealable and dishwasher-, freezer-, and even oven-safe, so they can be used for cooking and storage beyond packing lunches. Theycome in a huge range of colors and sizes, from small snack bags to ones that would fit a whole sandwich to ones that can store dry goods in the pantry. I have Stasher bags in three different sizes:pocket sizefor apple or cucumber slices, asandwich sizefor storing cheese or packing a PB&J, and themedium-size stand-up bagfor freezing fruit or storing extra pasta. I bought them because I wanted to curb my plastic use. But I also love the colors and how easy and satisfying they are to open and close compared to a Ziploc bag. The seal is impressive, and it’s fun to smoosh the two top edges together. Silber notes that while Stashers might seem a little pricey, they are actually a great investment that last a long time.
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Compostic 100 Percent Compostable Sandwich Bags
Size/capacity:6 x 3.5 inches, 9.5 ounces |Material:Corn starch biopolymer |Temperature regulation:Not insulated |Leakproof:Yes |Cleaning:Hand-wash and air-dry
During ourplastic-free kitchen week, Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens wrote about theceramic nonstick waffle-makershe uses to make breakfast for her 3-year-old daughter. Kitchens usually makes waffles on weekends and always prepares extra so that she can freeze them for her daughter to eat during the week; she stores them in the gallon size of these Compostic compostablestorage bagsthat you can wash, dry, and reuse. I was surprised to realize they weren’t single use, so I bought a box and have been loving them. They’re perfect for anyone who is trying to cut down on conventional Ziploc bags but doesn’t want to pay the steep price of Stasher bags. Since they are compostable and affordable, I am less concerned if my son or husband loses or tosses one.
Our experts:
•Lauren Antonucci, nutritionist and mom of three
•Stacie BillisandMeghan Splawn, co-hosts of the family-focused food podcastDidn’t I Just Feed You
•Rebecca Calavan, co-founder of kid’s clothing store Milk Teeth
•Irin Carmon,New Yorkfeatures writer and parent
•Jill Castle, childhood nutrition and feeding expert
•Jessica Garza, kindergarten teacher who runs the blogThe Primary Parade
• Emily Gerbracht, marketing consultant and parent
•Simone Kitchens, Strategist deputy editor
• Andrea Mathis, nutritionist and founder ofLittle Eats & Things
• Latifah Miles, senior commerce editor atBabylistand parent
•Lauren Ro, Strategist seniorwriter and parent
•Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and parent
•Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor and parent
•Ilona Zeltser, site director of theJCC Brooklyn Windsor Terrace
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