As a classroom teacher, I stay pretty busy during the school year.  In the past, I have struggled with finding the time for good self-care, especially where healthy lunches are concerned.  In my quest to find a way to eat better in less time, I have become a bit obsessed with meal prepping.  I especially like salads because they allow me to use up random vegetables and meat from the fridge.  I began trying different lunch containers in order to make eating healthy easier. In order to make this process easier, I identified my 10 best containers for packing healthy lunches.

Best Salad Containers

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Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Salad and Snack Combo Kit

The top container in the illustration above is perfect for packing salads.  I always put my greens in the lower part of the container.  The top part of the container is a divided tray that sits on top of the greens.  It is great for putting wet ingredients like tomatoes, meat, or any other ingredients that you want to mix in when you  are ready to eat.  It has a circle in the center where the salad dressing cup sits.

If I have something that I need to heat (such as leftover taco meat), I tend to pack it in a smaller container, such as these 1/2 cup mini containers.

When you microwave, you can heat without removing the lid as long as you open and raise the clips.  The containers have vents under the clips.  This prevents exploding food from making a mess in the microwave.  The manufacturer recommends microwaving 30 seconds at a time until hot.  When I warm this small container, 30 second is normally enough.

The Rubbermaid Brilliance salad container measures 7.88″ x 5.36″ x 3.39″.  It holds a total volume of 4.7 cups.  The removable tray that sits in the top takes up part of this space  when it is in use.  This container looked a bit small to me, but I have found that it holds plenty of salad for my lunch.

I also really like the snack container that is part of this set.  I generally pack mine with fresh fruit or other snack foods.  It has 2 half-sized trays that fit into the main container, which holds a total of 3.2 cups.  It can easily be used with or without the smaller trays.  The snack set measures 7.88″ x 5.36″ x 2.49″.  The lids fit the salad container and the snack container, which comes in handy at times.  They also stack really well in the fridge or lunch tote.  I also love that they don’t leak.  I haven’t had any mess in my lunch tote since I started using these.  In the picture below, I put in an OXO condiment keeper (under the cucumbers) for Greek yogurt ranch dip.

Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are dishwasher-safe, microwaveable, and freezer-safe.  Honestly, I want these to last a really long time, so I wash mine by hand.  I have also not yet tried using them in the freezer.

All of the Rubbermaid Brilliance pieces that I have bought so far have been plastic, but some sizes are also available in glass:

• 3.2-cup food containers with lids, 4-pack
• 4.7-cup food containers with lids, 3-pack
• 4-pack, 4.75 inches x 8 inches, 2 are 1.5 inches deep, 2 are 3 inches deep.

According to Rubbermaid, the glass containers are also safe to use in the oven up to 450 degrees.  They use the same lids as the comparable plastic containers, which makes it much easier to find a lid when you need one.

OXO Good Grips Salad Container

The Oxo Good Grips salad container is also an excellent choice for packing a healthy lunch.  It is made of good sturdy material and hasn’t leaked yet.  The green part of the lid is a gasket that helps the container seal well.  It features a lower compartment for greens and anything else you want to put there, and an upper plate that sits on top for ingredients that you want to keep separate until you are ready to eat.  I really love the salad dressing container.  It holds about 2 ounces.  Oxo also sells these condiment keepers separately in a 3-pack.

32 Ounce Wide Mouth Mason Jar

Mason jars are good for so many things, but they are especially good for making salads.  I normally make 3 or 4 salads at a time, and they keep well in the refrigerator. Some people put the dressing on the bottom, but I prefer to use one of my OXO condiment keepers tucked in right under the lid.  Aladdin makes a jar with a built-in dressing container, but they are very difficult to find.

I really prefer the plastic lids for my jars because they don’t rust. Amazon has these in white and in an assortment of colors.  The plastic lids wash up well on the top rack of the dishwasher.  If you need ideas for salads, check out Salad in a Jar:  68 Recipes for Salads and Dressings by Anna Helm Baxter.

Best Sandwich Containers

Rubbermaid Brilliance Sandwich and Snack Set

This sandwich set is also part of the Rubbermaid Brilliance line in plastic.  The sandwich container on the bottom has a small insert that sits to one side.  I typically use it for my lettuce and tomato.  I use the rest of the space for the sandwich itself.  This container would also work for any meal where you want to keep a few ingredients separate until you get ready to eat.  Like all of the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers, this one is microwave-safe with the lid on as long as you raise the clips to open the vents.  It can hold 3.2 cups.

The two top containers are intended for snacks.  One has two small inserts that divide it in half, and the other has a moveable divider.  The smaller containers holds 1.3 cups each.  These can be used with or without the inserts.

Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage / Meal Prep Containers

I bought this set because I am experimenting with meal prep, and I like the fact that they are microwave and freezer safe.  I have had one of the divided entree containers from this product line for quite a while, and it has held up really well.  The square containers (not divided) are great for sandwiches.  The lid snaps onto the base, and seals completely.  I usually put these in a lunch tote, and they are nice and light.  They are also available in blue.  I appreciate the fact that they don’t seem to absorb odors and wash well in the dishwasher.

Best Containers for Hot Foods

Zojirushi Stainless Ms. Bento Lunch Jar, 28.5-ounce

The Zojirushi Ms. Bento lunch jar is a terrific option when you want to carry warm foods for lunch.  It has a small container for soup, which sits at the bottom of the jar to help keep the soup warm.  The soup bowl holds 7 ounces.  The middle bowl holds 10 ounces and is intended to hold the main course.  It is also designed to keep foods hot.  The side bowl holds 11 ounces and sits under the lid.  It is best for things that are fine at room temperature.  I commonly eat lunch about 6 hours after packing my lunch, and I have not had any problems with the food staying hot.

When packing hot foods, first fill the lunch jar with hot water and let it sit a few minutes.  Then pour out the water and put in your containers.  This process pre-warms the jar and helps to keep everything hot.

By the way, if you want to pack all cold foods, this lunch jar works equally well at keeping food cold.  I haven’t tried filling the container with ice water, but I imagine that would do a good job at chilling the jar before food is added.

Ms. Bento is my top choice when I am going to be somewhere where a microwave or refrigerator may not be available.  It comes with a nice tote and a spork with a snap-on cover.

If you happen to be looking for something a bit larger, check out Zojirushi’s Mr. Bento Lunch Jar.  It comes with 4 containers, and holds 42 ounces.

Thermos Funtainer 10 Ounce Food Jar

I like the Thermos Funtainer whenever I just want to add soup to whatever meal I’ve packed.  The folding spoon goes inside the cap.  You have to press the button on the front to open the cap.   This works a lot like the Ms. Bento.  You pre-warm the container by filling it with hot water for a few minutes.  This container holds 10 ounces which is about right for me.  Thermos also makes a 16 ounce food jar if you want something a bit bigger.

The Funtainer comes in a huge variety of colors and sometimes Disney characters, etc.  It is quite kid-friendly and is a great way to send a hot meal to school with your child.

Best Bento Boxes

Bentgo Classic Stackable Bento Lunch Container

This bento box is made up of two containers with a divider between the two.  It closes with a nylon strap.  Both of the containers are microwave and dishwasher safe in the top rack.  The manufacturer states that the divider should not be washed in the dishwasher or microwave.

The bottom container does not have any dividers and holds 2 cups of food.  The top container is divided with each section holding 3/4 cup.  One of the advantages of bento boxes is the fact that they make portion control easier.

Bentgo Kids Bento Lunch Box

This bento box is an ideal size for younger kids.  It is built with rubber edges so that if a kid should drop it, it won’t break.  The ridges at the bottom of the lid fit over the openings to keep it from leaking.  The tray with the food comes out so that you can microwave it if needed.  It is also dishwasher safe.  These are available in a huge variety of colors, so your child can have a lunch container in colors that they really love. Bentgo also makes ultra-thin ice packs, even some shaped like dinosaurs, unicorns, rocket ships, and pineapples.

And something to carry them in…

Bentgo Deluxe Insulated Lunch Tote

An insulated tote is a must for most of the containers that I have listed here.  The Zojirushi Ms. Bento doesn’t need a tote because it comes with its own bag.  It’s hard for me to overstate how much I love the Bentgo lunch bag.  It’s fits all the Bentgo containers and even my OXO salad container, which can be hard to fit into a smaller tote.  It has a mesh pocket for an ice pack, and drinks can go in the upper compartment.  This bag is made of sturdy material, and has a regular handle and an adjustable shoulder strap.  It is available in in pink, blue, gray, and green.

These are my favorite ways to pack a healthy lunch.  I would love to see how you pack yours, and especially your best containers or totes.  If you happen to have something that is particularly kid-friendly, please mention that in the comments.