The Lucky Lunchbox: Yumbox Review...

One of my goals this year for The Lucky Lunchbox is to do product reviews. So, to get 2014 started off with a bang, I've decided to do a review of one of my favorite products, the Yumbox. I love using the Yumbox lunchbox. It's getting increasingly more difficult each day to choose which of our lunch boxes I love the most. I love the Easy Lunch Boxes and the Munchkin Mealtime Bento, too. These lunch boxes all have their own unique features and are great for different reasons. Today, I'll be sharing with you which features of the Yumbox I love the most and which points to consider when deciding if the Yumbox is the right lunch box for your family.

I purchased the Yumbox at the beginning of the school year in late August. So, I've been using it now for 3 1/2 months. The Yumbox is a colorful, bento style lunch box that was designed to encourage healthy eating habits. It is designed with the child in mind. This fun and unique approach to eating lunch is bound to capture the attention of toddlers, preschoolers, and young children. Parents will like that there are no difficult lids to remove or to keep up with, and no baggies to unzip. But even bigger kids and adults can use the Yumbox. It's dimensions are 8x6x2, and it weighs about 1.5 pounds empty. It's lightweight and holds 2 1/2 cups of food total.The Yumbox is eco-friendly in that it is made of materials safe for the environment and our kids, and it comes in 2 great colors, green and pink.

One of the stand out features of the Yumbox that I love is that it has 5 individual compartments, each labeled with fun drawings showing a different food group- fruit, vegetables, grain, dairy, and protein. (See photo above.) There is even a smaller section in the middle that is meant to hold a small treat or dip of some kind. The five compartments each hold 1/2 cup portions which is something to keep in mind if you have children that are older with bigger appetites. This design really does encourage parents to pack healthier lunches. It's great for my little guy, too, as he prefers to have all his food separated and not touching.

Another feature of the Yumbox that I like is that the tray is removable. Both the lunch box and the tray are dishwasher safe, and the removable tray makes dish washing simple and effective. My blogging buddy at Ladybug Lunches pointed out this great feature...having a removable tray allows the Yumbox to be used as more than just a lunch box. It can also be used as a food tray or plate.The tray is small enough that it can be tucked inside a diaper bag, tote bag, or large purse and easily be taken on-the-go to a play date, restaurant, picnic, or on vacation.

Another great feature of the Yumbox is that the lid has silicone edges (see photo above) that make each of the 5 compartments leak proof, so packing foods like yogurt and applesauce are a cinch. (Both pieces of the Yumbox are dishwasher safe. However, I hand wash the outer box so as to preserve the leak proof seal.) This is great as my son would not be happy if his applesauce leaked onto his sandwich. The latch that opens and closes the lunchbox is very easy for small hands to work. My son is 6, and he has no problems opening or closing it. We have not found this to be so with some other popular lunch boxes, so this feature really works for us.

Overall, we really love using the Yumbox. Packing lunches in it is fun and simple. I can foresee many more fun and creative lunches for my son being packed in it.
Here is an overview of the features we love about the Yumbox and some of the points to keep in mind before purchasing.

Features we LOVE:

*Environmentally friendly- BPA and Phthalates free

*Leak proof lid, mess free

*Dishwasher safe

*Removable tray

*Compact, sturdy, easy to use

*Encourages portion control and healthy eating habits

*Portable

*Economical- no more baggies, plastic containers, or food waste

*Makes eating and packing lunch FUN!

Things to keep in mind before purchasing:
*Cost- The Yumbox sells for appx. $28. This does not include a carrying bag.
*Each of the 5 compartments only holds 1/2 cup of food, which may not be sufficient for a large appetite.
*Water tends to pool in the back of the Yumbox tray when placed in the dishwasher. The small crevices need to be wiped dry before putting the tray away. I'm not bothered by this, but some may find this to be a nuisance .
*The Yumbox is not insulated....use of an ice pack is needed.

Here are 2 Yumbox lunches that I made. Click on the link to see them.

Winter themed Yumbox