OmieLife OmieBox Hot & Cold Bento Box Meadow

1 review for OmieLife OmieBox Hot & Cold Bento Box Meadow

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Practical Magic – June 19, 2017

   The Wish List
   With my daughter starting kindergarten in September, I have been on the hunt for a bento style lunchbox which has multiple compartments which are spill-proof; is one container with a single lid; is easy for her to open herself; durable; and is appropriate for hot and cold food.

   Unboxing: First Impressions
   It’s a great looking product which was well conceived and executed with attention to detail. My 5 year old can open the OmieBox and the insulated container on her own with no issues. This is the first insulated container that we have found that she can open on her own. The fold down handle on the lid is such a smart feature. Closing was a little more challenging than opening but fine after a couple of tries. You have to press firmly down on the lunchbox lid to snap it closed and the lid of the insulated container needs to be positioned correctly in order to twist it closed properly. It has a handle for easy transportation outside of a lunch tote. The insulated container is shallow and has a wide mouth which makes eating out of it easy. It can be removed completely to make room for a sandwich or other cold lunch option. A movable divider for use in the cold food sections was included too. This product has great versatility.

   The Test Drive
   I did 3 test runs with food re-heated in the microwave as this is what I plan to do once school starts and I served my daughter the results of each test case as dinner to obtain her feedback. Overall, I think the OmieBox is an ambitious product and one that the makers can be proud of. While I think that the insulated container could definitely use some improvement, I am quite pleased with the product especially in light of the fact that while I found the temperature of the “hot” meals to be cooler than I would have liked, my daughter was happy; enjoyed her meals; said that the food was warm enough for her; and that she gives it two thumbs up.

   A Few Things to Consider
   1) Washing up: while it is top-rack dishwasher safe, the company recommends that you take it out before the drying cycle or hand wash it. They also recommend that the insulated container be hand washed. To keep it hygienic, the seals should be removed for cleaning with warm soapy water and then rinsed and dried thoroughly. This is not difficult but it is a bit finicky and takes some extra time.
   2) Expectations: the cold food sections are double walled with air insulation in between so food will not be kept cold but will stay quite cool and fresh. An ice pack helps. It is leak‐proof on the outside and in between compartments but should only be used for wet food and not liquids. Use the insulated container for soups and other liquids. The square compartment (which houses the insulated container) is not leak proof.
   3) Weight: some may find it on the heavier side but they would have probably had to sacrifice quality to make it lighter.
   4) It is not microwave or freezer safe.
   5) Appetite: the insulated container holds just under a cup (250 ml) of food, which is enough for my 5 year old daughter when eaten with the other items in the box. It may not be enough for an older child or one with a heartier appetite.
   6) When the insulated container is removed, if the lid is not sitting straight up, the lunch box can tip backwards as the lid becomes heavier than the bottom. This is not a big deal, just a side note.

   For a more detailed review and pictures, visit http://www.practicalmagic.blog