by Melissa Reiss, Purchasing Assistant
Have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share? A vegetable garden? Or maybe you are an avid shopper of farmer’s markets? This is the perfect time of the year to incorporate all those fresh veggies into lunches for work or school for you and the family.
The Co-op has a wide array of reusable containers to inspire you to bring your lunch with you and to avoid dumping single-use containers into the landfill.
Look forward to lunchtime with these highly functional, eco-friendly, portable food containers!
Black + Blum
You may have noticed this year for the back-to-school season we have introduced a new line of reusable containers. Black + Blum is an award-winning line of home goods founded in the UK by two designers who are “passionate about creating beautiful, original designs which are underpinned with functionality.” Their products have clever features packed into minimalist design.
Their lunch containers are made out of either stainless steel or food grade polypropylene and Tritan™, a premium co-polyester free from harmful leaching chemicals (BPA, BPS and phthalates).
The Food Flask is a high-quality stainless steel vacuum insulated food flask that keeps food hot for up to six hours or cold for up to eight hours. Includes a spoon.
Their Box Appetit and Bento Box are made from the #5 food grade polypropylene, are either square (Box Appetit) or rectangular (Bento Box), and have an adjustable divider, a lidded container ideal for dressings or dips, and a sauce well in the lid which is perfect for dipping sushi into soy sauce. Both of these lunch containers include a fork with a flat edge which helps to cut up food into smaller bites.
The Lunch Pot consists of two cylindrical pots which stack on top of each other, with a handy carrying strap and a spork. The Lunch Pot can withstand microwaving for a maximum of two minutes, so it’s perfect for soups and other foods that you’ll want to pop in the microwave right before eating.
U-Konserve
U-Konserve makes a variety of food containers with stainless steel bases and #5 plastic leak-resistant lids. Their Divided To-Go Large containers hold up to 50 ounces of food and have a removable divider. Also available are their Nesting Trios—three different sizes of containers.
Preserve
The sandwich container two-pack is a great value; you get two rectangle-ish shaped containers for less than $7. Made in the USA from BPA-free #5 plastic which has already been recycled, you can recycle these again if you wish, though they are very sturdy and will last quite some time. They are dishwasher-safe and microwave-durable. Also check out their round food containers with secure, screw-top lids!
Klean Kanteen
When it comes to portable drinkware, Klean Kanteen has got you covered, whether you’re in need of a new water bottle or hot beverage mug. Made from stainless steel and a wide selection of colors, these bottles have a patented Climate Lock™ vacuum insulation for keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours on end. Different cap styles for every need—classic loop, sporty caps, coffee lid, and more—all interchangeable based on bottle style.
We even have a Willy Street Co-op insulated tumbler for proudly showing off your Co-op pride!
Reusable Straws
According to the Be Straw Free Campaign launched by the National Park Service, Americans use 500 million straws each day. You can help cut down on that number by selecting a multi-use straw and packing it along with your lunch. Reusable straws are gaining in popularity, so consider trying them out. At the Co-op, we have a few options including these bright rainbow straws from Harold Imports. Made from stainless steel, these are not for use with hot drinks, however, they won’t rust, corrode, break, stain, absorb or transfer food flavors or odors. This four-pack of straws are angled like a bendy straw and come with a cleaning brush. Wash in warm, soapy water and scrub the interior with the cleaning brush then rinse well; also dishwasher safe.