Comparing Lunch Boxes

Comparing Lunch Boxes

Today I am comparing some of the most popular lunch boxes & how they stack up against one another!

Lunch boxes are an investment for us, the girls pack everyday & we use them in the car & for activities! It is also our part in cutting down on single use plastic every day. We have different boxes to have variety, & for different needs. & mostly because I didn't know what would be best! So hopefully this will save you from going out & buying several boxes trying to figure out which meets all for needs!

LOOKING FOR LUNCH IDEAS? 

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 I use this cart to keep all our lunches box on. It is right by the door when the girls come in, so they put there bentos in the sink & throw their bags under. & it makes it super easy for me in the morning to grab what I need.I keep my lunch planner right on the bottom!  On top is our "homework station" it houses Kennedy's planner that needs signed every day so it a central location, & it hold a bucket full of pencils, & another with erasers ect.

1. OmieBox

The OmieBox is nothing like the other boxes I am listing, as it has a insulated bowl in it! What's great is you can easily remove the bowl & use it put anything else in it!

Pros:

- Has option for a hot lunch

- Has deep compartments

- Can taken by itself, has handle right on box

- Is 2 in 1 box. No need for a thermos for a hot lunch

Cons:

- Not alot of compartments

- Divider moves often. I suggest always using muffin cups.

- Because it is wide, it is tall. Can be hard to find lunch bag to fit
-Doesn't hold a lot of food

Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 2.9 inches

Lunch bags we have tried that fit:

Pottery Barn COLD PACK

Yumbox Lunch Bag

2. Planet Box

Planet Box rings in as the biggest box not only in this line up, but I think for any on the market (that I could find) Planet box is known for it's great quality & I completely agree. This box is going to last you! I also feel the portion sizes could easily get your from kinder up through middle school, if not high school. I know some adults that use PB for their work lunches!

Planetbox Rover

Planetbox Rover

Pros:

-Stainless steel, no plastic!

- It's large {this feature goes in both pros & cons}

- Comes with dipper bowls with silicone tops for no spills

- Easy to wash

Cons:

- It's large. As mentioned this can be a pro, but because of the size-- lunch bag options are limited. From my research they only fit in Planet Box brand lunch boxes

- The latch can be hard from little ones to open

Dimensions:

Launch: 10 x 7.5 x 2 inches, 26 x 19.5 x 5 cm

Rover: 10 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches, 25 x 19 x 4 cm

Lunch bags we have tried that fit:

Planet Box Lunch Bag

3. Yum Box & Snack Box

This was our first box we have own! I love the fun colors & styles of trays! Quality is amazing. While, the pictures on the bottom of the trays have worn off, our first box bought 3 years ago still works great!

Mini Box: We are obsessed with the snack box.  I use it from when I send a hot lunch, like soup ect & want to send fruit or veggies too! It is great for taking a snack to school or sports after school. Or just taking it on the go! 

Pros:

- Easy to open

- Great portion sizes

- Fun colors

- Size is manageable

- Spill Proof {just no liquids}

Cons:

- Not very easy to wash in terms of crevasses once you take the trays out & flip them upside down

- It's plastic

- Not dishwasher safe, or at least for us it wore down the seals
- Will likely need bigger box, or upgrade to the bigger yumbox out of elementary

Dimensions:

8.7 x 6.1 x 2 inches

Mini:5.8 x 4 x 2 inches

Lunch bags we have tried that fit:

Pottery Barn COLD PACK

Yumbox Lunch Bag

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Lunch Box 101

Since Kennedy started Kinder this year, it means lunches away from home started happening. We decided that the girls would be packing their lunch for school. We wanted them to have healthy choices everyday. Brandon is pretty strict about what the girls eat, & I of course want them to be eating healthy as well; so this was the best option for our family!

Picking a lunch box is where we began. I spent hours looking for the right one. But it really came down to esthetics! ha! Getting a matching lunchbox to her backpack. But there was several options. I was between a Planet Box & Yumbox for her bento holder {more on planetbox later} & after looking at dimensions & the needs we wanted we went with the Pottery Barn Kids Cold Pack lunch box.

       
        

Fast forward to choosing our box..We went with the Yumbox. There was a few options & we went with the 6 compartment box & panino boxes. They fit perfectly in her lunchbox with room for silverware, drink & ice pack when closed. Other factors for choosing Yumbox first was they are much easier for younger children to open & it is leak proof! Score!

 Of course, one would suffice for anyone, I just wanted a opinion for some days when I didn't want to cut up the sandwich. If you want that option but more compartments and only buying one box, you can always use silicone baking cups to divide the larger part on days you aren't sending a full sandwich.

Vanilla yogurt, strawberries, cheese cubes, ham & cheese sandwich, carrots w/ranch, Annies cookie bites

I get that for some parents making lunch isn't a option & thats okay.

I also get that some people think this whole fancy lunch thing is non sense! Which is fine too :)

Here is what I love about it:

First, I get told all the time "I don't have time for that" & I promise you, this does NOT take a lot of time. Honest.

I went ahead & made two lunches & timed myself. One lunch putting each thing in sandwich baggies ect & the other in the yumbox, adding cutting out shapes ect. The yumbox lunch took at extra 68 seconds!  That isn't that bad, & its better for the environment without all the baggies!


yogurt, beef stick bites & cheese cubes, snap peas, sandwich, watermelon & blueberries

The "science" if you will, behind the bento box is to have a variety of things in smaller portions.

Right now we are trying to teach our girls a healthy eating style. & with partial picky eaters it can be a task. Putting smaller portions of food they don't normally like is less imitating. & they are more willing to try it.

adding sprinkles to plain yogurt is a fun treat

& I'll be honest I was skeptical, which is why I waited to post this. I was mostly in it for the cute lunches. {no shame} But we are over 4 weeks in & my child who did not eat ANY veggie {I'm serious} now requests carrots, cucumbers & snap peas, amoung other things as her snacks of choice outside of school; after putting them in her lunch. There has been plenty that come back in her lunch but she at least tried them. Now, she is requesting for MORE carrots to be in her lunch. & doesn't even use the ranch to "help" with taste!



 Sometimes it's hard to come up with things besides sandwiches. It's something I am Struggling with. I have tried meat roll ups, homemade lunch ables & chicken sald as substitutes & need to reel my brain for others.

boom chicka pop popcorn, crackers, yogurt, carrots, chicken salad

strawberries, apple sauce, home made "lunchables", veggie straws, cucumber, 2 hershey squares for a treat

ham roll ups, apple sauce, horizon cheese crackers, babybell cheese, oranges {this is the in full sandwich box!}

If you have a picky eater despite trying veggie for a week or so, think of muffin recpies with veggies in them! Here I sent zucchini bread!

The initial investment for your lunch box, bento & any accessories can be a little intimidating but in the long run is it is worth it & they last.

There is also so many budget friendly lunchbox options. If you go to your local grocery head to the lunchbox & Tupperware section. There is tons of bento style boxes or even just separate into smaller containers! You can get cookie cutters cheap & fun picks in the cake isle!

I labeled under some photo the food in our lunches to help if anyone needs ideas!

Have fun , remember everyday it doesn't have to be fun & pretty!

*this post contains affiliate links*



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YumBox Lunch Planner

Yumbox Lunch Planner

We are obsessed with our Yumboxes! We wanted to love other brands, but the leakproof seal at our girls' age nothing compares! To see my post on Lunch box 101 & more about the Yumbox, click HERE.

Sometimes in the morning, things can be crazy & I go to pack it, & I am like....what should I make? Or when I'm grocery shopping!

That's when I decided I needed to plan our lunches, just like I do for dinner. & now with two girls in school I will need it more than ever. So I made this little planner specifically for yumboxes! 

LOOKING FOR LUNCH IDEAS? 

Come join our Facebook group to share, and get idea from others!

JOIN HERE 

Brandon did the majority of lunches last year, & this really helped him on what to pack the girls because I had it all laid out for him! This could also be a big help with older kids making sure what they are packing isn't just junk! You can plan it out for them to pack themselves!

Print them below!

NOTE: The best way to print these is on a computer.

Mix of compartments:

Panino box:

Original yumbox:

Happy Lunch Planning!

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The June Clever of social media.

I recently saw a post on Facebook with mommas, mocking truly mocking very harshly, another momma on.. guys you won't believe this. But they were saying harsh, awful things about this woman, her life, her family & what type of mother she was not because of the neglect or abuse; all of which before seeing the post & only  reading comments you would think they were talking about; but they said them because of the way she made her childs LUNCH. Yes, her lunch.
No it wasn't that she had sent no lunch at all for her child. It wasn't that the lunch pail was full of candy & junk. No the lunch  was the cutest lunch I had ever seen. The sanwich was cut from a cut cookie cutter, there vegetables cut up as shapes, with matching fruit. a silly face on babybell cheese wrapping. THIS was what they were saying awful things about this woman. THIS.

 I have been criticized for the way I do things.
My decorations, parties, the way I dress my children.
All of it has caused other mother to look down on me!

Comments have made me to get anxious & feel bad & scurry for something to say to bring down something I had done.

Now most of this people judge me and other by what they see on their news feed.

One small square photo in a box of something fun. A outfit. A cake.
Is making you thinking horrible things about another.

Lets all remember that on social media  we share the good because we love the good.

We want to remember the good.
We share the good because it is, well; good.

What I don't get it? Why are some assuming that "good"coming up in our feed or in our coffee date/playdate/at preschool pickup; why do some "assume" this is for competition? Or because they are lacking in another?

Why can't a mom genuinely love over the top projects for their children? Why can't she hunt for fun activities to do around her town as a family? Make that fun holiday themed snack?  Have a awesome "pintrest" inspired party? & can't a momma post a elf on the shelf pic without come backlash?

How dare she do these things that YOU don't enjoy.
I get it, some just don't like it. Its not their "thing".

But some? believe it or not; thoroughly enjoy doing these things for their children & family.

I can bet you those moms? You won't find them posting the spoofs on any of the things I mentioned above, poking fun at another other mother for not doing those things. She isn't sharing a post about a mom not "making enough "magic" in childhood"

She isn't saying anything about you choosing not to make a homemade valentine, & picking up a box of adorable Strawberry Shortcake valentines at CVS.
No, she isn't.

& how dare ANY mother judge another for that?

If one mother does one thing, & another doesn't. doesn't make one right or wrong.

If your a happy person you wouldn't look at these things negatively.
Because something is going on in YOUR life, whatever big or little thing it maybe be. You feel the need to assume that because a mom is doing these things she has more time than you, or she doesn't spend enough time with her kids.
You thinking she is trying make YOU look bad!

It is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

STOP IT.

It scares me that the women of the world, putting down other mothers are raising the children of the world.

Each of us is a mother, each different but each just doing the best for their children.

Unless she is hurting her child, how dare we snarl up our lip at anything that is benefiting THEIR child. THEIR life. THEIR happiness.

What I am trying to get to here is, before you roll your eyes at the next picture in your feed or the momma at preschool pickup; maybe take a second.

 This mom is proud of her awesome lunchbox creation. She took special time to spell out things with
her daughters cheez-its. Bought a special bento thing for that holiday themed lunch. It brought her joy, did she do for the instagram pic? for on lookers comments? Maybe, but I can guarantee you the reason she does it & is so proud?

The reason she gets up extra early to do those things, isn't for those things.

 It is the look on her daughters face when she opens at lunch box at school today.

Isn't there enough horrible things happening to children in the world that we need not worry about the mommas that are doing their absolute best for their children everyday??

Be kind.
Lift each other up.
Be the parent you want your child to be.

& keep the elf on the shelf pics coming! ;)

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6 Things that Make Back-to-School Smooth + Back to School checklist  

As a seasoned Mom of a 5th and 7th grader, well as much as I can be, I feel like I really have a feel on what works & doesn't work through the past several years, to prepare for the back-to-school chaos & make it, maybe, a little less chaos-y. 

Here are some of my tips & suggestions that make every day go smoother throughout the school year & to get ready for the year ahead. Keep reading for a helpful printable check list!

Sigh, look at the young cuties. ;(

1. Have a "Drop Zone"

 This will look different for everyone's home. In my home we don't have a lot of storage so I have to get creative. This is the spot your children will "drop" everything as they get home. My girls are seasoned to this now & its second nature. But, it takes repetition. Having a drop zone keeps everything in one place so book bags, folders & papers don't go missing. Think of homework folders, planners that need to be signed ect.

 This will be their home.

Our zone is also our  "family command center"-- the side of the fridge & the coat closet right next to it. On the inside of the door, I have heavy-duty, XL 3m hooks for backpacks. Next, on the fridge, I have our calendar for quick glance dates, baskets that house the majority of their papers, with a small corkboard above for important papers & a place to display papers they are proud of. The basket gives me a place to go thru papers every night {when they were younger} & a couple times throughout the week as they are older, normally Wednesday & Friday.

I also keep a clipboard for homework & their chore checklists.

2. Have Clear Expectations After School

Whether it is for sports, chores, activities or none of the above having a routine after school. It's crucial you SHOW your kiddos how you want after school to go. Reminders will be needed for a while, so don't get discouraged. Sit down & talk about how you want homework to go. Will you have a snack before? After? During? What is your screen time rules for the school week? Do they have chores? Them knowing what to do & having a routine helps everyone with the rush from after school, dinner & bedtimes when everyone is tired after long days.

As an example, our schedule after school is: immediately go to drop zone, empty backpack, lunch boxes straight to sink & put away. I made these notepads myself to help with independence after school. Having a checklist has proven to be successful for us. At the end of the week, they can hand them in for allowance.

I made it on Canva & printed it on vista print as a notepad.

If you would like this as an editable printable, let me know!

3. What's for lunch?

If your kiddos are going to be packers, whether you are going to be doing the packing or themselves, having a home for everything will make the morning so much easier.

 Again, for every home this will look "different. It could be a drawer, cabinet etc. For us, it's a rolling cart just off the kitchen in the "laundry room". The cart houses pretty much everything we may need. The lunch containers, water bottles, lunch accessories & the lunch bags themselves. 

Looking for more lunch box inspo? Click HERE for a lunchbox planner & breakdown of popular lunch container brands.

4. Hair Caddy/ Station

Getting hair done in the morning can be chaos. With boys or girls. Where's that dang brush? 

I do less hair these days as my girls are experimenting doing their own hair. However, keeping hair supplies downstairs was THE hack for less chaos. 

I know for some that maybe sound crazy to keep it in the kitchen or somewhere downstairs, but I promise I makes it so much easier as you are trying to get out the door. 

Another tip I have is to have 2 of everything. The brush in your caddy for school STAYS there, then you have a separate brush for upstairs or elsewhere. That way your hair supply kit for school is always stays complete, nothing is missing because it was taken after bath time one night & now you can't find it!

I stock mine with a brush, comb, "smooth brush", gel, elastic hair ties, normal hair ties, elastic hair tie cutter & bobby pins.

5. Emergency Pouch

If you are a parent of young girl in 4th grade or higher, this one is for you. Assuming you have already had the talk on the in's and out's of whats to come. Make sure they are prepared. A little pouch for everything they need. I pack a extra pair of underwear, pads & hygeiene wipes.

6. Stay Organized with a Family Calendar

Find a calendar app you like for the whole family to use. We just use google calendar, which is the default calendar on iPhone. EVER.SINGLE.THING is put into the calendar then each family member is invited to that "event". Now that my oldest has a phone even she can input & get them synced to her calendar. Google makes it almost, too easy to keep track of all the activities. You can make a sport or likewise reoccur every week, certain days of the week, once a month, whatever is needed. It also syncs with our Alexa shows.

Other helpful things for Kinder students or new school students:

Do a trial run of car line is you are utilizing your schools instead of bus. Practice getting off their seat belts & exiting the car quickly. For kinder students, the weeks or weeks leading up to school practice lunch if packing. Pack a lunch and have them get used to opening their lunch boxes, opening their drinks etc. 

@mrsmumaw Back to school tips for starting off the year strong! 🍎 #backtoschool #organizedhome #organization #girlmom #momhack ♬ original sound - mrsmumaw

Back to School checklist

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Boden's Mickey Mouse First Birthday Day | Mickey Mouse Birthday Party | Simple Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

 Boden's Mickey Mouse First Birthday Day | Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

Well, the time has come. Bo is now ONE. I know every parent says it, but truly this was the fastest year of my life. I feel like it went by so much faster than it did with girls. When thinking about his first birthday, since he can't very well choose the theme himself, it was chosen for him very early on. This child came out of the womb loving Mickey Mouse. Listen, I don't know if it is in his blood but this child was OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse at just several weeks old! We had a Mickey Mouse that would hand from his activity mat & he became enamored with it. Thus started the obsession. So, it was a no-brainer Mickey Mouse that would be the theme of his first birthday!

December birthdays are rough & our schedule was to the MAX this December so we only invited a couple family members to his party. I hadn't bought a thing for the party til about a week beforehand. Besides ordering the cake & cookies. Somehow I totally pulled off a semi-awesome-looking party for to look back at fondly instead of the glaring 3rd-child-to-2-oldest-sisters-in-a lot-of-activities-with-holiday-events, first birthday! Ha!

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Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

Simple Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

Mickey Mouse Birthday Sources:

Cake: Cakes by Laurie

Cookies: Sweet Girly Cookies

Mickey Mouse Head: Vintage Lunch Box

Mickey Mouse Download to Print HERE

Bulk Mickey Mouse Ears HERE

Mickey Mouse Glove HERE

Mickey Mouse Chair HERE

Mickey Mouse Sweater Romper HERE

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

I really wanted to not go with the traditional Mickey Mouse Party color palette. Sometimes that can be overwhelming. I wanted it to be more of a simple, classy Mickey Mouse party if that makes sense? I Stuck with Red, Black & White colors & I think it came out so well! Continuing that with cake making it a "naked" cake with minimal decorations at all. Everything was instantly recognizable to him & it wasn't stimulation overload!

Mickey Mouse smash Cake

Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake

Mickey Mouse Birthday Cookies

Mickey Mouse Birthday Cookies

Simple Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

It's been the most amazing year with our sweet boy! I am glad we could celebrate his first year with the cutest party with a few close family members!

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