Why I'm digging stainless steel containers of late
If you've been reading my blog for long, you know that I have a serious thing for glass containers. One of the reasons I adore them so much: you can see what they hold.
Being able to view the contents of a container is at least half the battle when it comes to avoiding food waste.
So, glass is king at my house for food storage.
But, as you all know, Joshua started college classes this semester, which means that he's regularly packing lunches for the first time in his life.
While Mr. FG has a locker and a fridge for the food he brings to work, Joshua has to carry his food with him from one side of campus to the other, which means that a bunch of heavy glass containers aren't the best idea in the world.
Enter stainless steel! Stainless steel is lightweight and drop-proof, and since lunches are eaten the same day they're made, the opacity of the container is no problem at all.
I already owned a stainless steel tiffin (I found it at Goodwill a few years back!) and luckily, I'd gotten two stainless steel containers in a previous month's Mighty Fix delivery, so Joshua's been good to go.
I might be a little bit proud that he's packing his lunches in reusable containers. That's my boy! 😉
What's The Mighty Fix?
I've written before about the Mighty Fix service that I'm subscribed to, but just to review:
For $10 a month, Mighty Nest ships you an eco-friendly item that's always worth more than $10. There are no shipping charges for your Mighty Fix....just the $10 flat rate.
Plus, you can add anything else to your Mighty Fix each month (Mighty Nest carries lots of great eco-friendly items) and pay no extra shipping for the items you purchase.
I've been subscribed since this past fall, and in my fixes I've gotten stainless steel containers, a glass water bottle, a set of organic dishcloths, a set of produce bags, a set of Lunchskins (the little bags in the bottom left of the photo), a set of organic wool dryer balls, and more.
Oh, and one recent fix contained these cool stretchy silicone storage tops, which you can use to cover jars or containers, or even to cover round produce.
They are pretty awesome.
Since eco-friendly items help reduce waste, they generally are also items that will save you money.
For instance....
- Dishcloths are cheaper than paper towels.
- A refillable water bottle is cheaper than bottled water.
- Dryer balls reduce energy use in the dryer.
- Reusable storage containers reduce the need to buy disposable containers.
Isn't it grand, the way that green living often intersects with frugal living? I love it.
Get your own container set for $5!
Now, Mighty Nest emailed a month or two ago to see if I'd like to run a special sign-up offer just for Frugal Girl readers, and I said yes, but none of the special offers they had seemed just perfect for you guys.
So, I asked if we could run a stainless steel container special, and after some emailing back and forth, we made it happen!
Here's the deal:
Click here to sign up as a new Mighty Fix subscriber, and you'll get your first fix, a set of two stainless steel containers with leakproof lids for only $5 instead of the usual $10.
These are a $15 value, so $5 is an awesome price!
You are not obligated to continue as a Mighty Fix subscriber after the first month, and you can cancel at any time.
(Though if you need to add reusable items to your household, staying subscribed is a handy and affordable way to do that! Plus, getting a delivery each month is awfully fun.)
Usually the Mighty Fix is a mystery delivery, but for your first fix, you'll get the exact same two containers pictured above, in the exact same colors. So, you know precisely what you'll be getting for your $5 Fix.
Schweet.
These are great for holding fruits, nuts, or crackers on the go, AND since they have leak-proof lids, you can also fill them with things like yogurt, dipping sauces, salad dressings, and other items that could drip.
Again, here's the link to sign up as a new Mighty Fix subscriber, and just in case you need the promo code (you shouldn't need it), it's FRUGALCONTAINERSFIX.
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I'd love to hear how you pack lunches without waste. Do you use stainless steel? Glass? Silicone? Or are there other products that you use in lieu of disposables?
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Disclosure: I signed up for the Mighty Fix of my own accord and have paid for it every month with my own money. The links in this post are referral links, which means that purchases made through them help keep the lights on around here at NO extra cost to you. All content and opinions in this post are my own, and I only recommend companies and products that I use and love, and that I think will be helpful for you!
My husband's current job necessitated disposable baggies because of security. He's down to 7 more work days before he transfers federal agencies for his dream job though. I may just have to do some fun container research today. Do you have a good lunch bag or box recommendation as well?
Mr. FG's current lunchbox is from Target, and it's going on 4 years of use (5 days a week!). So, we bought Joshua's from Target as well (it's the one you see in the photos in this post).
Both lunchbags are the type with a wipeable plasticky inside and a canvas-like outside. My experience is that these do eventually wear out, but they tend to last for a good 5 years or more.
Hi, Amanda -
We have an amazing selection of durable and SAFE food containers plus lunch bags here at MightyNest. here is the link: http://mightynest.com/shop/lunch-gear
Thanks!
The built lunch bags are made from neoprene and they're really sturdy.
Joined! Been thinking about it for a long time. My husband & I are restaurant owners & the operating Chefs, so we work all the time- 14 hour days, 6 days a week. We are now moving into our own 2 BR place with a beautiful fresh start and I am ready to gear up my house with no hassle to me through Mighty Nest. Thank you Kinsey
Are the plastic lids for the stainless steel containers lead and BPA free?
I have a combination of glass and plastic I use for my lunches. As the plastic bites the dust I'm replacing with sturdier materials. I'll usually put a possibly leaky container in a repurposed plastic bulk-section bag in case it leaks or pops open.
My current favorite option for packing my lunch is packing enough of the main item for the whole week and portioning out meals as I go. I pack the snacks everyday but those take less time.
Of course this only works if you have a fridge, microwave and someplace to keep and clean eating utensils and a bowl or plate but I really like it.
Yes, and stainless steel is obviously no good for microwaving! Ha. Mr. FG does have access to a microwave, so I'm more prone to using glass in his lunches. Joshua's just packing cold foods, though, so stainless steel is perfect for him.
You can micrwave ss as long as there are no jagged edges. It will absorb a lot of energy so be careful, it gets hot fast.
Love those containers.. would love to get from might nest, however I signed up at the last $5.00 for the glass water bottle! 🙁
Aww, well, the water bottle WAS a great deal to sign up for! I use mine all the time.
I too signed up for mighty nest for the $5 glass water bottle, and I LOVE it! I use it every day. Glass just seems much nicer to drink out of than plastic!
I've been debating signing up since the last time you posted about Mighty Fix - I ended up not going through with it, but I did buy a glass water bottle that I adore, because of that last post and I would love to get some stainless steel containers to use. I'm still stuck in gladware mode - but I figure plastic reusable is better than plastic disposable; at least until I replace with glass/stainless steel.
Many thanks for sharing this offer. I just signed up! Your blog is on my daily reading each morning. I very much enjoy what you write. Thanks ~ Dianna
Ziploc used to make these 3-sectioned lunch containers that were leak proof. We bought some awhile back, and I've been lucky enough to find some at thrift stores. They are the perfect thing for kid lunches. We have yet to find a stainless steel or even plastic alternatives that are the perfect size for a sandwich/bagel, fruit, and veg. All the SS ones are too small in the sections and aren't leak proof. I just wish Ziploc still made the ones we use, so I don't have to scour Goodwill for new to us ones.
Have you tried contacting Ziploc directly? Sometimes they can sell you items directly. A number of years ago I contacted Ziploc to say how sad I was that they were no longer making a certain type of produce bag. Ziploc responded that they could sell me some, as long as I wanted them in multiples of 12 boxes (a case).
They stopped making them about 2 years ago, so not sure if they still have any, but I will definitely give it a shot! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Try these- http://www.easylunchboxes.com/
Very similar to the ziploc version and so far they have lasted thru three elementary grades. VERY happy with them.
Forgot to mention that we send cloth napkins and real silverware when needed. Even though our kiddos are young (5+7), they've never accidentally thrown anything out. In fact, they tend to bring home any rare trash in their lunch. I think they are so programmed to NOT throw things out that the accidents don't happen.
Also, our school asks kids to have snacks in disposable bags. I've always sent our boys with the reusable Blue Avocado snack bags, and teachers have never complained about it. I also always chaperone field trips so they don't have to bring the disposable lunch containers and drink containers. I just wish the cafeteria would start using reusable trays over styrofoam and plastic everything. I hate seeing all the waste that is created in just one day :/
I always send real silverware too. I hate, hate, hate using disposable silverware because it's just so annoying to use!
Mr. FG and Joshua always bring their silverware back, but if people are nervous about that, I've read about people buying loose silverware at Goodwill and sending that. That way you don't care quite as much if one is accidentally lost or forgotten.
fyi, those ziploc containers are back.
Ziploc is now making them again! I bought 5 when I saw them in Target a few months ago 🙂
I use TellFresh, a type of plastic container. Long lasting, sturdy, leak proof, efficient users of space, machine washable, unbreakable, available in many sizes (although I use only a few sizes). Mine have lasted 12(?) years so far and nary a break. Only downside is that it can be hard to get grease out of them.
That IS hard with plastic containers. I run into that with the lids for my glass and stainless steel containers sometimes.
Do your TellFresh containers stain like regular plastic?
To some extent, yes, but I don't care about that.
Stained plastic is easily fixed by putting the item outside in the sun for a day! We have Pyrex containers with heavy white plastic lids that can discolor. Sun - who knew?
Are the stainless steel containers dishwasher safe or hand wash only?
I wash the containers themselves in the dishwasher, but I hand wash the lids. I've had trouble with other plastic lids cracking after lots of dishwasher sessions, so I just err on the safe side and always hand wash them.
Sadly, I do use some things like sandwich bags/foil/cling wrap. However, I do reuse them whenever I can. I sent some chips with my daughter in a zip lock bag that I will probably reuse tomorrow. I also use disposable flatware but I usually use and wash them several times before discarding. If we go to a drive-thru I always save the extra napkins to send in my child's lunch box. I was sending reusable contigo cups with my child to school but I got a little lazy on that..It seems every time toward the end of my kids school year I get lazy and burnt out on packing lunches.Anyway, I just need to try a little harder I guess.
I use some ziploc bags too, and I reuse them as well. Sometimes a ziploc is all that will do! Luckily, if they've just had something dry in them, it's as simple as shaking out the crumbs and using the bag again later.
I noticed you mentioned that if you add extra items to your monthly item that it will not add shipping, will that work on the first box with the containers too? I'm really excited about this service!
You know, I'm not sure! I'll let my Mighty Fix contact know about your question and hopefully she'll be by here shortly to answer.
Hi, Ashley R!
YES, that's correct - you can add to any MightyFix and take advantage of FREE shipping, including your first box. Welcome to the MightyFix!
I love Kid Konserve containers. I bought one last fall from Amazon cause I needed something leak proof for my son's lunch. They work great, no more yogurt or applesauce all over his lunch bag. Also, I joined the Mighty Fix when you had the last deal, and have been happy with the items I've gotten. It was the water bottle (I was really in need of a new one), reusable plastic wrap (which I don't use very often) and dish towels (which I love and use all the time cause I don't use paper towels).
Yay! So glad that you've been enjoying your fixes!
Are the items in Mighty Fix geared towards children/adults who pack lunches? We're retired so packing lunches is not a thing for us. I would like to replace plastic with glass containers but not sure if a subscription service is the way to go.
Not always. For instance, I've gotten wool dryer balls, steel containers, dishcloths, a soy candle, and produce bags in some of my Fixes.
So, most of what I've gotten has not been lunch-packing oriented, but rather green-living oriented.
Pictou, Mighty Fix has bath and body, children's toys, cooking pots, baking dishes, laundry supplies, vitamins -- they have a huge selection. Take a look, it's big.
In my kids lunches I use plastic containers. I think they are made by Rubbermaid and have green lids. They come in various shapes which works nice for fitting them in their lunch boxes. My son has had his for 3 years now and they are still looking good as new (even the lids are holding up nicely). They also use plastic water bottles. My husband uses a mish mash of Gladware and Ziploc containers. Surprisingly, my kids have never lost a container, but my husband frequently does for some unknown reason. Part of me would like to switch to glass/stainless, but the practical part of me thinks I should just stick with what I have and is currently working for me.
I joined Mighty Fix at the last offer. I really like it. I've ordered things on my own and get them shipped for free with my subscription. My latest purchase was a composter bucket, which I really like. I also bought gifts for my grandkids -- my oldest granddaughter loved the lip balm DIY kit. Members get sale prices, so I always order when the items go on sale.
I still use plastic containers, but I'm starting to go to steel or glass as the plastic dies or gets lost. I use stainless steel water bottles for water and iced tea, and soups get packed in mason jars. By the way, Ball sells plastic caps for mason jars that are good for freezing and storage. At my work, I'm able to keep a few dishes and silverware in a bottom drawer (all from Goodwill) which I can use to heat things in -- I made sure the dishes were all microwave safe when buying. I even found a vintage Fire King mug for my hot tea that really takes me back. At home I still use some disposables, but I mainly use Bee's Wrap and washable containers for leftovers and such. I don't own plastic wrap or paper towels. I use some foil, some parchment paper for making cakes, freezer bags and natural waxed paper. It lasts a long time and I wash and reuse anything I can, especially freezer bags. I remember my sister's next door neighbor used to wash her foil and hang it on the line to dry outside! Oh, and a friend of mine had an aunt who lived on a farm. A lot of their feed sacks came with that string-sewn top; she saved all that string and crocheted simply lovely pot holders and hot pads out of it. My friend said her aunt wasted nothing.
I agree with you 100% that glass is much more effective when it comes to using up leftovers from the fridge because you can see what's in them. We most often use glass, mainly because I love mason jars and we both love salad in a jar recipes because they are quick and easy. But, those stainless steel would be great for our bike trips, thanks for the tip. 🙂 Lori
I have considered purchasing a glass water bottle but I imagine that the outside will be difficult to keep clean because of all the crevices that can hold dirt & grime.
What has your experience been?
Does the plastic come off for washing?
The sleeve can come off easily for washing if you want, although it's perfectly safe to send it through the dishwasher without taking the sleeve off.
Thus far, I haven't had any issues with keeping mine clean.
We bought a Planetbox (www.planetbox.com) for our son when he started Grade 1. It's a stainless steel, divided lunchbox (5 compartments) with an insulated carry-bag, and some small stainless steel containers for dip or yogurt, etc that fit inside or in the pockets of the carry-bag. Kids can choose fun magnets to decorate the outside and make it a "fresh" design each year, and it's now nearly finished Grade 3 with him and looks brand new. Every night I just open it up flat and put it in the dishwasher like a plate.
We added a different model for my husband, who has access to a microwave. That version has a removable glass dish (with lid) so you can heat foods up at the office, and the compartments are deeper so it holds more food.
They're heavier than plastic lunchboxes, I suppose, but even my 3 year old loves carrying his own Planetbox and often asks me to pack him one to eat at lunchtime even though he doesn't go to school 🙂
I carry my lunch to work and I love my stainless steel containers. I have two sizes of LunchBots bento boxes (a Trio and a Cinco), plus the little bots which are perfect for sauces, dressings, etc. The smallest Kid Containers (like in this offer) fit in the Bento Cinco, allowing me to carry wet stuff (today I have sauerkraut in one and tomatoes and avocados in the other). I also have a wide mouthed thermos for hot soups and stews or cold smoothies.
I do have access to a fridge, microwave, and kitchen sink at work, so I keep a set of dishes and silverware in the office for food I want to heat up and eat on a real dish. But it's easy to carry and manage the lunches with my Bentos, which I can prepare the night before for grab and go in the morning. My high school daughter has a LunchBots Uno which is the perfect size for a sandwich and side, and I found a cute Neoprene tote for $6 at Ross for her to carry it to school. It's lightweight for easy carrying in her backpack and holding up very well. I can throw it in the washing machine when needed. And I keep cloth napkins and placemats in my office because I have no choice but to eat at my desk.
I've had the Bento Trio for 3 years of use several times a week, and it's still in perfect condition. The initial purchase was expensive, but it has more than paid for itself. This deal is really good because I paid quite a bit more for my Kids Containers.
I also use glass canning jars to store leftovers at home--sometimes the easiest thing to do is grab a jar of leftovers or soup and heat it up in the office. I knit tubes that fit around the jars to keep them from knocking into things in my lunch bag (I knitted and hand felted the lunch bag, BTW).
I do carry a set of bamboo utensils. The set comes with a fork, knife, spoon, and set of chopsticks all made of bamboo in a little case with a belt clip. This comes in handy when we are out and about or on a trip and I need to carry my lunch (special diet). The bamboo utensils look a little like something the Flintstones would use because the fork and knife are awkward-looking but they work fine. I bet you could even carry them on a plane and have no issues with TSA.
My favorite to pack a lunch that needs to be warmed-up is a glass container. Otherwise, I don't mind using plastic containers. And I have a soft spot for bento boxes!
Ah boo! I JUST signed my sister up for Mighty Fix--wish I'd waited! I signed up at your last offer and our favorite so far is those same dish cloths. I hope I get some stainless steel containers for lunch too!
Hi Kristen! Thanks so much for arranging this super offer!! I just ordered my subscription. I can't wait to get the stainless steel containers 🙂 I pack my 8 year-old's and my lunch everyday using reusable food storage bags, somewhat similar to the Lunch Skins you have. I also use a glass bowl for my meal, but that's because I have a safe place to store my lunch. My quandry is how to get my 14 and 16 year-olds to use lunch containers that are more eco-friendly. It seems reusable containers are not "cool" to carry around after lunch in the middle and high schools. Thanks again for the great Mighty Fix!
I'm starting to acquire more glass dishes with lids, but I have a ton of plastic such as old sour cream containers that I store leftovers in. We definitely do not reheat in these but they are good for cold foods and I write on the lid with a Sharpie so it doesn't get lost in the fridge. I eventually recycle them after they get worn out. I also give a bunch to my mom to use for her garden seedlings. What does everyone do with these disposable containers? I cannot seem to get away from a few of these types of food purchases and I hate the wasted plastic. Also, thanks for the great deal today! I'm checking it out.
I just recycle things like sour cream containers. Even with a Sharpie label, I cannot be trusted with opaque containers! Ha.
I signed up the last time you did this, I got the glass bottle. It was very small, much smaller than I thought.
I'm sorry it was smaller than you expected! I hope you still felt like it was a great value for $5.
I bought some reusable plastic freezer bags and they're just ok. They are super hard for me to get open and closed and they're hard to dry after washing. I wish they had zippers. But I'm going to use them since I've paid for them. Looking for alternatives to foil. I roast a lot of veggies and even with spray they stick to my sheet pan.
Have you tried a SilPat silicone baking mat? I love mine!! Nothing sticks!
I just signed up! I passed on the water bottle offer before since I'm really happy with my Klean Kanteen, but I'm excited to try out the stainless steel containers. No one in our house has to pack a lunch, but I think they'll be great to carry snacks around in the diaper bag or in my purse.
Every member of our family carries a Klean Kanteen water bottle, so that's five. I actually have 2- one for water and one insulated for other things. We don't go anywhere without our water. My kids all know to fill 'em up on the way out the door. Several of them have been dropped, dented, and damaged but are still fully functional.
I've been slowly converting to glass for home and freezer use and stainless for lunch boxes and packing snacks or picnics. I use the Easy Lunchboxes that someone else suggested on here for now. However, after one year of use, several of the lids have split. Trying to find the right fit/leakproof replacements for the kids. I did just sign up for the Mighty Fix and am looking forward to the new containers.
I am also a lover of mason jars. I was using them long before they were trendy. Drinking, storing, canning, and cleaning out paint brushes. Can't have enough in the house!
I have been sending plastic utensils with my children to school (age 10,8,5) but will be looking for some thrift alternatives. Thanks for the suggestions.
Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) has metal and plastic reusable "sporks". The back flat end is spreader, the front has a spoon basin with short teeth that can be used if a spoon or fork is needed. I think the plastic was $7.50 and the metal one $12.50. We each have one in our desks, car glove box and the kids take them with lunch. Saved a lot of wasted cutlery for us.
Wondering if anyone who has done this mighty fix has canceled their subscription. Is it easy to do?
I always hesitate to sign up for commitments like this because I don't want a big hassle if I need to cancel (like a long time on hold, card being charged even though I had already tried to cancel, etc).
I haven't cancelled my own subscription, but I really do not think that Mighty Nest is going to treat you poorly. They're a small company with great customer service.
If you run into any problems when you want to cancel, just send me an email and I'll get you in touch with my contact. But, I highly doubt that'll happen...they're going to take care of you. 🙂
Hey! This post is dated 4/13. I signed up on 4/15. Unfortunately, my first package was a beeswax item (order created on 4/16) not the cute metal containers 🙁 I've emailed Mighty Nest to hopefully sub my next month's item for the containers if possible, but I wanted to make you aware of the situation as well.
I do appreciate you sharing your experience with Mighty Nest. I love how they give back to schools.
IDK, go $10 a month, and I could go months without ordering, it's too steep for me. I could be wasted cash. The "gotta spend to save" gig.
*FOR $10 a month, I meant...
Good thinking
This doesn't have much to do with this post, but I have a question about woolen dryer balls. My daughter and I are allergic to raw wool and lanolin. Does anyone know if this product would bother our skin?
I don't know, but I made cotton dryer balls that work well. That could be an option for you.
Wondering if you can bake in the stainless steel containers??
I'm not sure-I just use them for food storage purposes.
I'm glad to her you've had better luck with their products than I have. Dishcloths discolored and look nasty; 3 dryer balls is supposed to be more than $10?????
When I complained, customer service told me I didn't have to renew it when it's up in a year. Duh, that's a given. Only 10 months to go.
So, this is a 12 month commitment? I thought I read that you can unsubscribe any time. And, is it exactly $10 or like every other company, there is a tax or a shipping feeor...
Do they really send you something every month?
It's exactly $10! And yep, you get something every month. You can cancel at any time.
I’m looking for a link to the silicone stretchy lids i the pictures above. Do you have a link?
Here you go! https://mightynest.com/shop/kitchen/food-storage/silicone-stretch-storage-top-3-pack
I have a lunch bag recommendation! Planet Boxes are amazing. All metal (no breakage), separated compartments and so easy to clean. They even have a great carrying bag and spot for a reusable water bottle (you can grab one of those there too and they are great). It is a big initial cost but I see most parents buying new every year and then buying baggies to fill them. No plastic in our lunches. My oldest is going into fourth grade (we bought in K) and hers still looks great (the bag too!) I have other friends who also love them. A great environmental product!
We reuse leftover cereal bags for sandwiches and mason jars for meals that need to be heated in the microwave. We send cloth napkins along with whole fruit that doesn't need a container.
Hi! This looks like a great deal! Do you happen to know the ounces of the two containers? I would like to get some for my toddler’s lunch and maybe for mine too
We mainly use glass containers for food storage in and out if the fridge and also for my husband's lunches. I've been known to buy small items just because I thought the glass container would be handy later. 😉
I just signed up for mighty fix and I'm excited to get those stainless containers!