After a two-week break, it’s back to school/kinder for our kids tomorrow.  That brings up the old question: what should I pack for school lunch?  Ideally, something healthy and nutritious, easy to eat, quick to prepare and, very important, something that kids will eat.  Does such food exist ?

Well, some kids are easier to prepare food for than the other.  We have both ends of the spectrum:  our son’s choice of sandwich fillings ends with number 3, while our daughter is rather a gourmet eater.  But thanks to the Funtainer my life got easier in the last several months!

For quite a while I was looking for a stainless steel food container that looks like a food jar or bowl with wide opening.  All I could find in the shops was either a narrow thermos for liquids or plastic jar containers.  The latter ones  were out of question because of potentially containing Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical present in some food and drink containers, that can leak into the food and drinks, especially when food is hot or heated (I’ll write about this issue more).  Anyway, I turned to online shopping and found Funtainer.  Our US readers are spoiled for choice, while in Australia Target and Kmart started to stock them recently.

During the past winter our 8yo tested the food jar and like it very much.  He finds Funtainer easy to open and close and not heavy or bulky.  He had many warm, delicious lunches like pasta, soups, casseroles etc., a refreshing change in between sandwiches.

Why do we like Funtainer food jar:

• It’s stainless steel!
• Easy to use
• Keeps food warm for up to 5 hours (cold up to 7 hours)
• Leak proof – important
• Easy to fill and eat from
• Light (312g / .69 lbs)
• Cool to touch outside
• Easy to clean
• Unbreakable
• Looks cool
• Just the right size (12cm x 8.5cm / 4.73in x 3.35) and capacity (290ml / 10.35fl oz) for kids – the measurements are for model we have
• Stable, doesn’t tip over or slip easily.

The drawbacks:

• Inside of the lid is plastic, but BPA free.
• The price (food jar should last though)
• Not widely available in Australia

To keep food warmer for longer, pour some hot water into the food thermos and let it stand for a while.  Pour the water out and immediately put hot food inside and close the lid.  For cold food, put the Funtainer in the fridge (empty or with the food) the night before.