Welcome to the Lunch Gear Cheat Sheet! Choosing a lunch system for your kids isn’t always easy. But I’ve hopefully taken some of the legwork out of it for you. Not a ton has changed from last year but I added and removed a few. All lunch gear listed below are free of BPA, PVC, Phthalates and either claims to be lead-free or meets CPSIA testing standards for lead*. I’ve noted which brands claim “lead free” and which will only commit to “lead safe”. All of our picks are also free of Microban.
Last Updated Aug 4, 2016
Lunch Boxes, Bags and Lunch Systems
- Dabbawalla Lunch bags (lead free)
- Beatrix NY Lunch Boxes (lead free)
- BlueAvocado (lead free)
- Built NY (meets lead req)
- PlanetBox (lead free)
- Beatrix Lunch Boxes (lead free)
- Crocodile Creek Lunch Boxes (meets lead req)
- ECOlunchboxes (lead free)
- Go Green Lunch Boxes (lead free)
- EasyLunchBoxes.com (lead free)
- Fluf Organics Lunch Bags (lead free)
- FourPeas Insulated Lunch Bags (lead free)
- Kids Konserve (lead free)
- Laptop Lunches / Bento-ware (lead free)
- Lunchsense (lead free)
- PackIt Insulated Lunch Coolers (lead free)
- PlanetWise Lunch Bags (lead free)
- Reusit (lead free)
- So Young Insulated Cooler Bags / Lunch Bags (lead free)
- To-Go Wear Stainless Food Carriers (lead free)
- ThinkBaby (lead free)
- U-Konserve Insulated Lunch Tote (lead free)
- WildKin Lunch Boxes and Bags (
lead freelead safe)
Lunch / Food Storage Containers
- ECOlunchbox Stainless Food Storage (lead free)
- Greentainers Stainless Steel food containers
- Hydro Flask Food Flasks (lead free)
- LunchBots Stainless Food Containers (lead free)
- Kids Konserve Containers (lead free)
- Innobaby Keepin’ Fresh Glass and Plastic food storage
- Onxy Stainless Steel Sanwich Boxes
- Thermos Stainless Food Jars and FUNtainers
- To-Go-Ware Stainless Food Containers
- Fresh Snack Pack (lead free)
- Wean Green Glass Sandwich and Snack Bowls (lead free)
- Kleen Kanteen Insulated Food Storage (lead free)
Snack & Sandwich Bags
- Bee’s Wrap (lead free) Great alternative to plastic wrap!
- PlanetWise Zipper Bags (lead free)
- Lunchskins Reusable Sandwich & Snack Bags (SafeMama Fave)
- Bumkins Reusable Snack and Sandwich Bags (lead free. with easy to open zippers)
- Itzy Ritzy Snack Bags (lead safe – Amazon lists as lead free)
- Fluf Organic Cotton Snack Packs
- SnackTAXI reusable snack and sandwich bags (lead free) (Another SM fave!)
- ReUsies Sandwich and Snack Bags
- Semilla Snack Bags
- Colibri Reusable Sandwich Bags (lead free)
I also encourage you to download the CHEJ 2013 Back to School PVC Free School Supplies (PDF) shopping guide and the EWG Back to School Guide for more ideas on having a less toxic school year.
*CPSIA put a limit on lead in children’s products and as of August 14, 2009, products designed or intended primarily for children 12 and younger cannot contain more than 300 ppm of lead. SO on each product I noted whether the company says their product is lead FREE or lead SAFE. Usually lead SAFE means it tests below the legal limit for lead. The limit went down to 100 ppm after August 14, 2011.
Now that you got the lunch gear – find a safe backpack to put it in! Visit SafeMama’s Safer Backpacks Cheat Sheet!