Are Your Kid’s Lunchboxes Safe? What You Need to Know

As the back-to-school season approaches, many parents are focused on packing healthy lunches for their kids. But what if the lunchboxes themselves are making your child’s meal toxic? It’s a concern many don’t consider, but the reality is that many of the bright and colorful lunchboxes you find at big box stores are loaded with harmful substances that could be putting your child’s health at risk.

The Hidden Dangers in Most Lunchboxes

Most lunchboxes on store shelves are designed to catch your eye with vibrant colors and fun designs. However, these features often come with a hidden cost. The materials used in these lunchboxes, particularly the plastic covers and linings, can contain heavy metals and other harmful chemicals. When your child’s food comes into contact with these materials, they’re exposed to toxins that could affect their health over time.

The plastic doesn’t stop on the outside, either. Open up one of these lunch boxes, and you’ll typically find plastic water bottles and food containers inside. These containers are often made from plastics that contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA (bisphenol A) and BPS (bisphenol S). Even products labeled as “BPA-free” aren’t necessarily safe—BPS and other alternative chemicals used in these plastics can be just as harmful, if not more so.

And if you’re heating up your child’s food in these plastic containers? That’s a surefire way to increase the release of these toxic chemicals into their meal. The combination of heat and plastic can lead to more leaching of harmful substances, making what seemed like a healthy lunch into something far less so.

How to Pack a Non-Toxic Lunch

So, how do you ensure that your child’s lunch is sent to school in a non-toxic way? The key is to choose the right materials, and one of the best options is the PlanetBox lunch system.

PlanetBox is known for offering some of the most non-toxic lunch boxes available. Here’s why:

Stainless Steel Construction: PlanetBox’s water bottles, utensils, and food containers are made entirely of stainless steel. This durable material is free from the harmful chemicals in plastics, making it a safe choice for your child’s lunch.^[1]
Non-Toxic Lids: While newer versions of PlanetBox containers use silicone lids, the older versions feature stainless steel lids. If you’re concerned about silicone, it’s easy to swap out these lids or simply avoid putting hot foods in containers with silicone lids.^[1]
Safe Exterior Materials: The exterior of the PlanetBox lunchbox is made from polyester, but the company has confirmed that this outer layer uses toxin-free dyes and is both lead-free and BPA-free.^[1]

Parents who want to go the extra mile and eliminate plastic have additional options. You can build your child’s lunchbox using stainless steel containers such as LunchBots and pack it in 100% organic cotton bags. This way, your kiddo can enjoy a plastic-free lunch experience.

Why It Matters

We know how important it is to provide our children with nutritious meals that fuel their growth and learning. But it’s just as important to ensure that the lunchboxes, containers, and utensils we use to pack those meals are safe and non-toxic. By making a few mindful choices, like opting for stainless steel and organic materials, you can significantly reduce your child’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

Now that you’ve taken steps to make your child’s lunch non-toxic, the only thing left to add is a motivational note to brighten their day.

As we gear up for another school year, let’s commit to making healthy, non-toxic choices for our families. After all, what could be more important than their health and well-being?

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