The secret to a healthier, lower tox food container is to avoid plastic. Food containers come into direct contact with food ( unlike- say- a lunch box) which is why - if you can only choose one plastic free, low tox item for school- THIS should be it. It is that easy.

Personally I recomend avoiding ALL plastics because just about all plastics have been found to have the potential for estrogenic activity (ie: they can mimic the hormone estrogen and lead to issues with your endocrine system and beyond).

Additionally, plastic food containers just don’t last long. You often have to replace them yearly (or more often) and then they end up in the garbage for hundreds of years without biodegrading. UGH

Better options? For kid’s school lunches I like stainless steel and silicone.

Stainless steel Bento Liunch boxes are a great alternative - sometimes they require smaller containers to avoid spillage and food mixing (this is the case for Planet Box) and other times they are sealed and thus there is no need to buy additional containers ( this is the case of Good Kiind lunch boxes)

Some of my favorite food containers are:

• Ahimsa : (discount code: AIDASPICKS for 15% off) They give a fun spin on stainless steel containers with some color. These bowls are Made SAfe Certified.

• The Good Kiind: in addition to their ss bento style leak proof lunch boxes they also have containers in many different convenient shape and size.

• Planet Box in addition to their ss bento lunch boxes they also have containers in many different convenient shape and size.

• Lunchbots: we have had some Lunchbot snack containers for 13 years! Yes they last!

Stainless Steel Trio snack container

Stainless Steel Large 5 Container

Thermal 12 oz Insulated container

Thermal 16oz stainless steel insulated container

• Stasher bags : silicone baggies come in different sizes. These are platinum grade silicone and are great for more solid snacks! Available on Amazon and more models/ styles on their website

• S’well has stainless steel salad bowls (with an inner glass bowl and a seperate compartment to add, for example, nuts that you dont want to get soggy, and smaller stainless steel canisters

• Black +Blum stainless steel containers: I like that they come with their own ss cutlery and the inside of the lid is all stainless steel

• Busy Benny Leakproof lunchbox: (website discount code: AIDASPICKS) All stainless steel and comes with two inner smaller stainless steel container. You can use it as a divided bento style lunchbox or remove the divider and use it as one large box (ie large sandwhich or pasta dish etc Their snack version is similar and just a bit smaller in size (which could be perfect for a younger child)

IKEA LÄTTUGGAD from $6.99. a bit heavy for little kids, but perfect for older ones… slightly larger in size than most ‘small’ food containers

CUTTLERY

The Good Kiind Spork, $14.99

IKEA FINSKUREN $5.99 (larger size for older kids, not young ones)

Sugarbooger Silverware Set, $21/90 : these are perfect size for younger kids and have a cute mermaid (or other options available too) design on the handles. Isla The Mermaid (Pack of 2)

Ahimsa Stainless steel cutlery set (discount code: AIDASPICKS for 15% off)

For more back to school (or work!) lunch ideas visit my “ Back to School Shop” on Amazon or read my post “ Low Tox Lunchboxes”