My boyfriend and I are really into meal prepping. One night a week our kitchen absolutely explodes. We spend an hour or two running into each other, making a mess of the stove, setting the fire alarms off at least once, and using every pot, pan, and sheet we’ve got.
And it’s so worth it. It saves us hundreds each month, and loads of time each week. Not to mention it keeps our healthy eating habits in check. We’d be lost without it.
To be fair, when we first started meal prepping we were pretty unorganized. We tried to make huge batch meals and put them in large plastic storage containers. It didn’t look appetizing, and it definitely wasn’t the way we liked to eat. Personally, I am a finger food addict. Appetizers are my thing. So when we finally started meal planning for foods we wanted to eat, in reusable lunchable containers that kept them fresh and ready to go, we became way more successful at it.
Along the way, we tried a ton of different containers, including quite a few cheap options that ended up costing us in the long run. In an effort to learn from my mistakes, I’ve put together a list of the 6 must-have reusable lunchable containers we keep in our kitchen.
Table of Contents
Six Must-Have Reusable Lunchable Containers
Bento Box Lunch Containers
We use these more than any other reusable containers! The Bento brand is a go-to for us, their containers last through thick and thin, go through the dishwasher without warping, and keep our food fresh for the entire week. With 3 separate spaces in each box, they are good for every meal you can imagine. The bright colors might be a little much for work, but we use them like mad for our meals around the house. And if you’re prepping for kids, the colors are fun enough to keep them reaching for those healthy meals. Microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, as well as BPA free.
Bento Heaven Leakproof Bento Box
A little higher on the price range, but this is another Bento favorite of ours. We use this for all of our work lunches. It’s stylish, a nice tidy size, and holds your silverware, including chopsticks! We love being able to come home, toss it all straight into the dishwasher, and not have to give it a second thought. It has two separate containers, with a divider in one allowing for three separate compartments. The higher cost is the only thing keeping us from piling these high in our kitchen. It comes in two color options, is microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, as well as BPA free.
Sistema Klip It Multi-Use Food Storage Container
These excellent easy locking clip storage containers are microwave and dishwasher safe, as well as BPA free. We love that the locks let you know the lids are on correctly, so you’ll never open your lunch at the end of the week and find it stale. They only have two compartments, which means if you’d like a third option in your meal, you have to be creative with cupcake liners or other separators. Microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, as well as BPA free.
OXO Good Grips On-the-Go Silicone Squeeze Bottle
Not a lunchable storage container, but definitely reusable, and absolutely a must-have for all meal prep fanatics. We. Love. Them. Open the container drawer in our kitchen and you’ll find about a billion of these little guys. If you’re a huge salad eater, or you like to have sauce on your sandwiches but don’t want soggy bread, you need these. They hold 1-2 servings of dressing, are leak-proof, and easily squeezable. We can’t even remember how we prepped our meals before we found these. Dishwasher safe and BPA free.
Stainless Steel Bento Box Lunch Box
That’s right – another Bento go-to of ours. We are big campers, and this is our pick for the road. Three separate sections let us have healthy, planned-out meals for all of our trips, and the locks keep them secure under a lot of extra movement. We toss ours without fear into the cooler, and we know they will be as fresh as when we first made them. It is stainless steel – so don’t put it in your microwave. It’s also not considered leak-proof- although we have never had a problem with ice from the coolers seeping into them ever, but you’ll have to bring your thermos for that soup. Thankfully for the cleaning part, it is dishwasher safe and BPA free.
BlenderBottle GoStak Twist n’ Lock Storage Jars
I’m a big smoothie maker, and these are the greatest for planning them out. I have one for every day of the week and I love all the different colors they come in. I throw my protein powder, fruits and veggies, juices and extras each in their own container. As the week goes on I can toss in the blender and go. We also use these for road trip snacking. They sit nicely in your cup holder and provide an ever-changing option for snacks without letting you overeat your way through the trip. Not for the microwave, but it is odor resistant (which I love) and dishwasher and freezer safe, as well as BPA free.
Good food storage is worth the investment. In the beginning of my meal prep journey, I got carried away trying to find cheap options to store my meals for the week. I ended up spending a lot more money throwing out broken, warped, stained containers and food that clearly hadn’t kept well. I’ve since found that efficient meal prepping starts with the proper supplies. Whether you’re trying to save money, or calories, or both – these tried and true reusable lunchable containers are sure to keep your food fresh, and your belly happy.
Tell us what you think! Do you have your own favorites for reusable lunchable containers? Comment below with your go-to’s, and let us know exactly what you love about them.