The $6.99 ALDI Find I'll Be Using for Years to Come

It comes in four pretty colors.

I'll never forget the look on my four-year-old daughter's face when I presented her with her own Thermos for taking a hot lunch with her to kindergarten. She beamed. It was such a big girl gift, along with her backpack and lunch box, that I could feel the excitement radiating from her.

I love sharing these moments with my kids and trying to do what I can to make them feel extra special. So when I saw that ALDI was carrying these cute insulated food containers in their back-to-school finds, I had to share in the excitement.

At just $6.99, the Crofton insulated container is a fraction of the price of big-name brands. I think I paid $20 (or more) for my daughter's child-size Thermos, so this find feels like hitting the lunchbox lottery.

Why I Love ALDI's Vacuum-Insulated Container

The 13.5-ounce capacity container comes in four pretty, child-friendly colors. Aside from the simple black option, ALDI has a range of trendy pastel options featuring a light purple, mauve, and blue base. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps food hot (or cold) for hours, and the durable stainless steel construction means it can handle being tossed around in a backpack.

My favorite features are the leak-proof lid and built-in foldable spoon—it has its own spoon cubby! My daughter's $20 Thermos didn't include any cutlery. Now, there's really no excuse for the utensils not to come home. Hooray!

How I Use ALDI's Vacuum-Insulated Container

While sandwiches and quesadillas make it into regular packed-lunch rotation, having a quality container has opened up a world of lunch possibilities. Some of our family favorites include homemade chicken or chickpea noodle soup, which stays hot in the vessel until lunchtime.

My daughter also loves a good breakfast-for-lunch (or dinner) situation and gets excited when I prepare overnight oats with fresh berries for her mid-day meal. It's a nutritious treat that feels like dessert. Cheesy tortellini casserole and gussied-up mac and cheese are always crowd-pleasers. I toss in some veggies for an extra nutritional boost. And these burritos, a great store-bought option, is ready in two minutes, and hold up very well as a packed lunch.

Having access to both hot and cold lunch options has made my daughter more excited about eating healthier, more varied lunches. And while they're not always a home run, she generally loves the novelty of opening up a warm meal in the middle of the school day.

For just $6.99, it's a small investment that will level up your kiddo’s lunch game (for the better) for a long, long time. It's cute, durable, handy, and incredibly cost-effective. Plus, it has that cute built-in spoon!

About ALDI Finds

This product is an ALDI Find, which are limited-time and inventory items that the store rotates onto its shelves every week. They come and go quickly—and sometimes return. Keep an eye out, but it's possible your local ALDI may have sold out or no longer carry the product.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.