Product Review: Bentgo Kids Lunchbox

Now that I’m a mom of a 4 and 2 year old, I know the importance of getting my kids out of the house. Active kids demand a lot of stimulation and ways to burn energy. So, to say that weekends (and sometimes weekdays and evenings) are chock full of trying to pack in as much fun as we can is an understatement.

I also live in the Midwest, which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “winter is coming.” More often than not, we will be housebound once the holidays hit until about March or April. Getting in the car and going on an adventure isn’t always feasible when there’s a snowstorm or subzero temps and icy roads.

Whether it’s going to the zoo, the children’s museum, pumpkin patches, visiting friends in the city or meeting them in towns that are not close to where we live, we are on the go as much as we can be. And this summer, I started getting so very sick of hitting the McDonald’s drive-thru or other on-the-go food options for my kids.

Try as I might, I want my kids to view fast food as a big treat—not something we have every day or even every week. I’m not opposed to the convenience and crowd-pleasing Happy Meal when we are trying to pack in the fun.

I started brainstorming ways I could pack food for my kids without having to worry about how I’m going to carry it with me, along with all the other crap in my bag (diaper pad, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, extra clothes, water bottles, bricks, etc.). That’s when I discovered Bentgo Kids bento lunchboxes.

The $9.99-$27.99 lunchbox has five compartments available for well-rounded, on-the-go, environmentally friendly meals. I’ve even started sending my son’s preschool lunch in them, and have had the teachers stop and ask where I bought it. I’ve even had a parent call me to ask where I found it as well.

This is the mom equivalent to being Regina George and having the football team carry you around the field. Cue hair flip.

I love mixing up the week’s offerings and packing options for my kids that I can feel good about when we are on the go. It’s cost effective and gives me hope that I’m also teaching them how to eat right. For the entrée compartment, I’ll serve items like a small sandwich on French bread, a cold chicken tender, tortilla chips (with a Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie pack single serve taped to the top), or turkey pepperoni slices with cheese and crackers. I’ll also fill the other compartments with fruit, veggie chips or straws, string cheese, pickle spears, goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, cookies. You can also add peanut butter or ranch dressing to the middle compartment for apple slices or raw veggies.

The portion sizes are just right for little ones and I am no longer hearing the begs for a Happy Meal from the backseat as soon as I pull out of the driveway.