I'd seen the Easy Lunchboxes on other blogs, and wrote to the company to ask if I might try them out, and have a giveaway (coming soon!), and Kelly was more than generous in providing me a system to try out - and she'll send one to one of my lucky readers, too!
Kelly sent me a container set and a cooler bag (and one of you will get the same thing). The bag can fit three containers snugly, or two with an ice pack. It's very slick. It could also be used for other lunches, and it's got plenty of room.
The lids on the containers are meant to be easy for kids to remove. This means that they aren't always entirely snug on their own, but I found that elastic headbands work great to keep it closed, and the girl will be able to open it without a problem. The lids don't fall off, but one corner is generally a little loose. They are designed that way.
I wouldn't pack anything very wet in the containers, unless you use something like Press-n-Seal. I haven't used the stuff, but I see a lot of people who love it. The compartments are pretty well separated by the lid, but I haven't yet seen them at lunch time (after packing at night) to see how well this actually separates it. I will update this review when I see.
There is plenty of room in them for lunches, adult or child. They are much sturdier than I expected them to be, and much sturdier than Ziploc or Gladware containers. They are microwavable and dishwasher safe. That's pretty awesome. My other containers are not. Big bonus.
(The cooler bag will be wonderful when we are out together! I'm chaperoning a field trip on Tuesday, and we can pack both of our lunches in the same bag! That's pretty slick.)
For the girl's lunches, I will likely keep using my current bento boxes most of the time, because they are so cute. However, I will use the Easy LunchBoxes more or less interchangeably, and will use the Easy LunchBoxes for my lunch and daddy's lunch a lot of the time.
Since my online source for cheap bento boxes (Ichiban Kan) closed up it's online shop, it's a whole lot easier to get Easy Lunchboxes than the containers I have. If you are just starting out packing lunches, they would be a great place to start!
Here's the fun part! Right on the heels of my last giveaway - here's another one!
Kelly at Easy Lunchboxes has agreed to provide one lucky reader with a set of containers (a 4-pack), and a cooler bag (your choice of color). For a chance to win, just leave a comment with the color bag you would like, and some ideas to pack in the containers. You can just leave the color, but isn't it more fun if you get a little creative? Good luck! Remember, I'll need a way to reach you, so if you have a blog, I can leave a message on a recent posting, or you can leave an email address (with spaces if you like).
I will pick a winner on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, at approximately 10 AM, EST, via Random.org.
A note from EasyLunchboxes
We prefer to offer the giveaway for US & Canadian customers only, in order to keep our shipping costs down.
We have the right to disqualify a winner if they have won or received free product from us within the past 3 months.
Disclaimer: I received the cooler box and the container set to review free of charge. Other than that, I have received no compensation for this review & giveaway.
I was looking at these same products on another lunch blog and am probably going to order them anyway, but free is even better. Green or blue is the cooler color of choice.
ReplyDeleteOMgosh I was just looking into these. I LOVE making my daughter bento's and these would be SO AWESOME and easy and quick to clean up. I {heart} them.
ReplyDeleteI asked my daughter and she said she loved the purple one.. funny because she usually goes for the red.
Man we could do so much with these. Summer picnics would be a cinch with these. So cool!
Very cool!
ReplyDeleteYou could pack: A cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, kale chips, and a yummy fruit medly!!! Simple and yummy!
I love that it comes with a cooler and you can pack two of them in along with the ice packs!!! I would love to have a purple one!!!
I think purple is awesome. I do lots of nuts/seeds and raw veggies for my kids. Love the one with the hard boiled egg too.
ReplyDeletePurple is my color choice!
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I'd go for purple, but my daughter would love the red.
ReplyDeleteI want to try cutting my daughter's sandwiches in cute shapes with cookie cutters. She'd love it. These would be so fun for picnics at the park!
Definitely purple for my girlie girls!! We love crackers and cheese, fruits and veggies, nuts, and a little treat!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is PURPLE!!! I just ordered egg molds to shape hard boiled eggs for my little one's lunches. She loves to have her meats and cheeses cut in fun shapes with cookie cutters too. I love that I could put everything in one container instead of 3-4. No more having to somehow fit them into her lunchbox!
ReplyDeleteOk, so I am going to reply. I will have 4 kids in school next fall, and I have agreed to start packing their lunches. I have recently started looking through your blog, and I love all the ideas that you have. We could absolutely use these boxes! Oh, and blue or green is the preferred choice around here with all the boys in this house! My youngest will love his pb&j sushi rolls!
ReplyDelete:oP
In the fall I will have to pack 2 lunches for my little sweeties. They love sandwiches on the round sandwich thins (me too actually). Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletecarissahall at yahoo dot com
I like the green bag for my hubby who has to eat on the road! The lunches in your pics look great!
ReplyDeleteI like the purple bag!!
ReplyDeleteI'm just giving up on all the lovely unusual boxes I see on other bento blogs, I just can't get them in the UK *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIf I was lucky enough to be chosen though red would be cool!
Ah, but now I notice I'm disqualified as I'm in the UK. *even bigger sigh of disgust*
I just found your blog. LOVE your lunch ideas!! I'd like the blue bag. I used your string cheese and ham on skewers idea for my daughter's lunch today and she ate it up! Lunch wasn't a problem at all today.....thanks!!
ReplyDeleteTrying to find healthier choices for my 4 kids in school next year. These would be awesome. Purple would be the choice in our house.
ReplyDeleteSandwich, chips, salsa, fruits, cheeses, veggies, the ideas are endless.
Heidi hmbjv at yahoo dot com
Purple!
ReplyDeleteIDK I just discovered this and would love to get my whole family on board! No more waste. We are in the process of converting to all organic, no more processed food. This would help us along the way!
Jennifer A. Robertson
My son would like the red one. He loves when I pack fresh fruits and veggies with something for dipping in his lunch.
ReplyDeleteThis would be great for next year when DS starts 1st grade! He'd have to have the blue bag, since that's his favorite color.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the RED bag!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to bento boxes but i would do lunches for my hubby when he goes to work.
I am trying to do more bento-style lunches for my almost 3 year old, since he is very picky and giving him interesting lunches encourages him to eat more. I have had a difficult time finding inexpensive lunch boxes, which is a must since I never know what condition I may get something back in (spending $30+ on a single lunch box is just out of the question right now).
ReplyDeleteIf I were to win, I would prefer the aqua cooler bag.
krgoodman at gmail dot com
My sweet baby will be going to school in the fall. She would loves tohse in PINK
ReplyDeleteRed, would be my color of choice. This would be so great for my son's lunch. I try to send most of his lunch in containers, to cut down on trash and these are great!
ReplyDeleteI would choose the olive or aqua color.
ReplyDeleteI would pick the Olive color because then my son and stepdaughter could both use it. Plus it's too cute. These are an awesome thing for us because I have been really trying to think of ways to make eating healthier fun and my son would get a kick out of these.
ReplyDeletecarrieramsey at cox dot net
i like the olive green one. I'm so boring with lunches so maybe this system would help me branch out. my kids love hummus so i'd definitely send some hummus and veggies, cut up fruit and i love your sandwich rolls. where did you get those darling little purple containers? do they sell boy ones? 53shopping@charter.net
ReplyDeleteLove these! We're not particular about colors but I know my daughter's favorite color is blue. Right now she's loving hard boiled eggs, edamame and chicken fried rice in her lunches!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see nifty containers or lunchboxes, I'm so tempted... I use several small Glad containers in my kids' lunchboxes, but the EasyLunchBox looks great! We'd pick the aqua cooler...maybe pack it with sunflower butter and jelly on pita bread, carrots/grape tomatoes/red pepper, and apple slices.
ReplyDeleteelaine r miller at gmail dot com
Blue, so my son and I can share.
ReplyDeleteMy son told me this morning that he wants me to pack a sandwich as follows: english muffin with scrambled egg (in an egg ring if you have one), and some smoked salmon.
Sounds lovely!
kdraney@berkeley.edu
I love the teal one!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what I'd pack. For myself I normally do a basic sandwich and sides or leftovers. I'm going to start bentoing for my 4yo when she starts K in the fall. She's gotten picky as of late so I'll have to get creative!
I would like the purple one. I am trying to find other systems to test out too. Thanks for giving one away. My blog is mylovehatewithpackinglunches@blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHow fun! My daughter has food allergies, so we pack a lunch every day, and these would be a great help. The purple one is pretty!!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely go with the green one! I would pack fruit, crackers and a pita sandwich. Pretty much what my kids love to have for lunch!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for something like this for quite awhile. My daughter has food allergies and this would work out great this summer. I think the black cooler would be perfect! We would pack fruit, crackers and soy cheese, hardboiled eggs, hummus and veggies.
ReplyDeletePurple for sure! Right now everything I put in Alicia's lunchbox gets all over everything else and it gets quite nasty (she has trouble opening tupperware without help still) so this would be pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteGreen one for us!! My son said these are the coolest momma! I will be packing two lunches to school in the fall so this will be absolutly perfect timing for me!!
ReplyDeleteWe'd pack ham and cheese rollups, hardboiled eggs, apple slices with some honey sweetend greek yogurt. Oh yumm! I'm hungry now!! lol
Great Giveaway! I'd love to have the purple cooler! I'd also pack a roastbeef and cheese sandwich wrap some strawberries and potato salad and then a fortune cookie for inspiration
ReplyDeletegoldengoddiss09(at)gmail(dot)com
Im a total foodie and love to carry lunches around!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd love ur pretty ideas , i m in loveeeeeeeeeeeeee with the red one sweety......
Thanxx a ton for this pretty giveaway pal!!!
And warm weekend to u...
Blue is my choice. This is such a practical idea. I like the easy to open even if it prohibits liquids. It is horrid when kids can't open something as important as a lunch container.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so this is awesome! As a new mommy I am already starting to find new ways to be quick in the AM and eat on the go. The hardest part is being able to bring a good meal and not just sandwiches every time. If I got to choose a color, I would go with Bblack or turquoise. I would love making different pasta salads to put in them and probably homemade baby foods for my lil' Sophie. Crossing my fingers! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win the purple one for my daughter who is off to Grade 1 in the fall! I think her fist lunch could be a fruit salad, mini bagel with cream cheese and jam and crackers and cheese, not overly creative but she is a PICKY eater!
ReplyDeleteGreen would be my choice! I'd pack teh boys pizza, fruit and a muffin.
ReplyDeleteI like the green and the red. I would love to have one of these to try to get my 4 yr old to eat . All I can get him to eat at this point is string cheese and peanut butter sandwiches.Maybe if I put his food in one of these, he would eat! Keeping my fingers crossed!
ReplyDeletelanzaelizabeth77@gmail.com