This week I had the privilege of co-teaching a meal planning class in the community. It was so much fun engaging around nutrition in very practical ways. One gentleman stated “I’m a bus driver, this container will help me set it up at night and take it with me for my route in the morning”. EUREKA! That is the same sentiment that helped my journey as well. It was such a pleasure being in the group and learning together!
The Case for Meal Planning and Prepping
I’ll keep this simple as I know sometimes I tend to over-research lol….
- Meal planning was associated with a healthier diet and less obesity. (National Library Medicine)
- Meal prepping at home is associated with eating higher quality food, consumeing less calories, spending less money, and having less weight gain over time than those who dine out and eat prepared foods on a regular basis (National Library of Medicine)
Sunday funday are my meal prep days! I truly enjoy eating whole foods and nourishing my body. Sunday prep day helps me make good choices as often as possible by having prepped boxes ready to go wherever the week takes me. I do recommend setting aside at least 1 hour or 2 if you plan to prep in large quantities. In this post I want to show how simple and easy it can be if you want it to as most examples don’t require a ton of cooking.
I’m not perfect by any means, so there are definitely days I have no meals or snacks prepped and I’m much much more likely to make food choices I do not prefer. However, because I’ve built a habit, when the habit slips I gently nudge myself rather than be punitive. It works most of the time ;).
5 Fabs!
Below are 5 food storage prep containers I’ve personally used and had a good experience with. This is not a paid promo, or anything of that nature, I simply enjoy sharing hacks that have worked in my life that may work for others. For food safety, please be sure to read the containers instructions, and when to pair with a cooler.
1. Mainstays Food Storage Container, Rectangle Blue $2.47
This bin made the list as number one based on price and how well it’s held up in day-to-day routines. I would recommend checking your lunch box size before purchasing. It’s a great size, but can be clunky to place into for some lunch bags. Also, food will move around, I recommend placing flat when on the go.
2. UTBJUDA Stackable lunch box for dry food, light grey-beige. $4.99
This was a recent purchase while gathering ideas at Ikea on another project. The snap closures seem well made, and I enjoy the muted color. The sizing is a bit easier to sit snugly into a lunch bag and the double stack allows some separation between wet and dry food, OR cold and hot. I highly recommend reading the instructions on microwaving as it seems to have some unevenness when heating.
3. Bento snack box divided compartments $5.00
This is my favorite! The clear lid allows me to see what’s packed inside and choose based on what I’m in the mood for. The lids exterior has some flexibility which makes it easier to pack down when filling it up. I love the 4 individual compartments! They allow me to portion control goodies I may place inside between wet and dry (the occasional dark chocolate makes it’s way inside….). Finally, the size fits my lunch bag well due to it being square with rounded corners. The only downside is that Target stock is very low and they have not stated whether or not they will carry it again.
4. Crock pot Electric Lunch Box, Portable Food Warmer $26.36
So this little guy is AWESOME! I’ve used it for road trip travel. At times, I arrive at a hotel don’t feel like leaving again or ordering in a delivery that may take another 30-50 min. However, I have packed this container with soup or leftovers from home, and plugged in while unpacking from the trip. It’s so nifty that within that few min my food is ready to go! A quick clean out and it’s packed up and back in its case for the next trip. This hack has really kept me on track during travel. A future post will be dedicated to traveling and eating more healthy. Those learning have been priceless.
5. S’well Stainless Steel Salad Bowl Kit – $40.00
So for the price, this item is last on the list. The description states there is some insulation, however have not found it possible to take on the go alone without an insulated lunch bag in order for my food to stay cold. It’s design is really great for salads as the best feature is the ability to “shake it up” after I pair all the wet and dry food. I did give a couple of these out as Christmas gifts and the recipients found them very useful. Overall, would recommend if you enjoy taking salads on the go with lots of room for both wet and dry fixins (I’m from the midwest and we use the word “fixins lol”).
I hope these containers assist you as well as they’ve assisted me on this journey. I have tried many, many other containers, but have not found them to be as helpful.
Links to purchase:
2. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/utbjuda-stackable-lunch-box-for-dry-food-light-grey-beige-00518658/
3. https://www.target.com/p/bento-snack-box-4-divided-compartments-green-figmint-8482/-/A-88450212
Be well,
J