Colorful Bento-ware Lunches End Plastic Baggie Waste

Do you tire of packing your child’s lunch, and feeling like you are wasting an average of 2-4 plastic baggies per day?  I do.  I own a variety of storage containers, and use them occasionally.  But they are typically too bulky or misshaped to be able to use to pack my daughter’s entire lunch.  So at best, we had been using a combination.  But still so wasteful.  Enter the colorful Bento-ware Laptop Lunches as a fun and effective solution!

We recently tried out a Bento lunch box (laptop lunch) and a Bento Buddies set.  Here’s what we thought of how these fun, creative, and effective products helped solved our problem.

Bento Lunchbox and Bento Buddies

I fell in love with these the second I read about them online.  My daughter already eats in compartmentalized fashion, and I knew a Bento lunch box, or “Laptop Lunch”, could put a stop to our daily packaging waste problem.

You can purchase Bento-ware laptop lunches by either customizing which containers you’d like, purchasing them as a Bento Buddies set, or as a Bento laptop lunchbox set.

We’ve only owned them for one month so I can’t truly speak to longevity, but they seem to be of a very high quality.  The plastic is thick, and vibrantly colored.  The lids completely seal (liquid proof), and are easy to use – my 2nd grader can remove and replace them at school during her lunch.

Bento Lunch Box

A Bento Lunch Box, or “Laptop lunch”, is a self-contained, reusable container for your meal.  It comes with a variety of container sizes to store your various foods – 3 of them sealed, 2 of them unsealed.   They offer them in a great variety of colors, for $23.99.

I love this concept, and feel like it aids us in packing healthy lunches.  Different sections, different food groups!  It even prompts you with cute fruit and veggie designs on the lids.

“Put some veggies in this one, mom…”,  “And now some fruit goes in here…” and so on.  There’s even a tiny container with a lid to use for dips, dressings, or peanut butter.

Here are some of the lunch combinations we’ve come up with.  You’ll notice there is an open strip along the edge for silverware (or string cheese, or a granola bar).

 

Note once the laptop lunch is closed – there is no handle.  And because it is so compact and streamlined in shape, there’s not really a way to include an ice pack inside the laptop lunch.  This is by design, and the intent is that you place it inside one of their carriers.

They have some cute options for carriers, totes, and sleeves.  But I do wish they had a few more styles of carriers to choose from.  They run around $18.95-19.95, and they offer some insulation and a place to slide in an ice pack.  You can also fit a water bottle along the side pocket or even inside, depending on the size you choose.  And you get a much-needed handle to carry your lunch with!

We didn’t have a carrier, so for now I went with a cheap insulated tote from a discount store for $2.95.  We slide in the Laptop Lunch, add an ice pack and her water bottle, and can zip the whole thing up and carry it with the tote handles.  I’d say it works sufficiently well.  We may look at investing in a Bento carrier down the road.

4/9/12 UPDATE:  We have recently been experiencing a minor problem with the outer Bento-ware Laptop Lunch case.  After 2 months of use, the clasp does not appear to be grabbing as tightly as it initially did, and does not always keep the laptop lunch closed.  I have contacted the company inquiring about this.  I have not heard back, but will update you with any feedback they provide about this issue.

Bento Buddies

If you don’t think the laptop lunch size or shape will suit your needs, or if you would just prefer 4 small containers that are each sealed with a lid – take a look at the Bento Buddies.  I’ve been using these to pack my lunch at work, and really like them.  I do feel like they are encouraging me to eat better, by just quickly slicing up some fresh veggies to take along.

These also come in a variety of festive color combinations, and in some ways are even more versatile than the laptop lunch.  Although admittedly perhaps not quite as fun.  🙂

Bento Buddies are available online for $15 per set.

Bento Lunchbox & Buddies – Quality and Longevity

Ok, I’ve just had to update this post with the following information.  This morning I’ve already had several moms express interest in the Bento lunchbox and buddies, but they also want to know:  Just how long they will truly last?

Since this post went live, I have received some feedback from moms who currently use the Bento lunch line of products.  One left a comment (you can read it in it’s entirety below) and has had good success:

“I’m a LLB user and have been for 7, going on 8 years with the original one…I’m still using the original [Bento Laptop Lunch] system and my kids are rough on lunchboxes…I can honestly say that I love and would recommend this product 365 days a year, for the last 7 years.“

Laptop Lunches Bento-Ware Review

I think this is a great product line.  I love anything that is environmentally friendly and helps prevent wastefulness.  They are good quality, easy and fun to use, and our family will be using ours daily for a long time to come.

The only slight downside is the upfront investment cost.  If you purchased a kit with a laptop lunch plus nice handled carrier, it is around $38-39.  Spendier than the average lunchbox.  I wish I knew how long the carriers (zippers, etc) really last… since with my daughter, it seems she wears a typical zippered lunch carrier out each school year.  If the carrier lasts longer than that, I’d say it’s worth it.  (UPDATE:  Per the mom feedback I just added above in the new “Quality & Longevity” section, I’m now convinced it’s worth it!) The Bento-ware containers themselves will definitely last longer than one school year.

So I do I think the Bento-ware containers are a great investment.  You’ll just need to figure out the best way for your family to utilize them, while also being able to carry and chill the contents (if needed).

I was thrilled to find these!  I know you will enjoy them, too.

Laptop Lunches Bento-ware Giveaway

Laptop lunches has agreed to give one of my readers their choice of either a Bento lunchbox or Bento Buddies set.

Open to US Residents.  Enter using the form below.

Note for the first required entry:  Laptop Lunches wants you to check out their lunch ideas in their Menu Library, and leave a comment below telling them… “Which one or two menus would you pack in your new lunchbox if you won, and why?”

 

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I received the two products described in this article from Laptop Lunches at no cost, for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are my own.

 

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