The Best Meal Prep Containers out there! The best for Lunch, Snacks & Dinner Prep

Are you all-in on prepping healthy foods for you and your family, but struggling with how to keep your food fresh? I’ve got the Best Meal Prep Containers for taking your lunch to work and prepping healthy dinner ingredients. Included are some great tips, recipes and healthy meal prep ideas for staying organized and efficient!

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Also note, this post is strictly my recommendations, opinions and thoughts on what containers have worked best for me and my family. This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts, opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Best Meal Prep Containers

Meal prepping has been a part of my healthy living lifestyle for several years now. Through my 100 lb. weight loss journey, I’ve discovered that if I have healthy meal options ALREADY MADE and ready when I need them, it makes it MUCH easier to make healthy choices.

Having go-to recipes and the best meal prep containers at the ready is my way of staying organized and ahead of the game when it comes to healthy eating.

If weight loss is your goal, or maybe you’re just looking to be more mindful of healthy eating, meal prepping your food is a great way to go. Meal prepping provides numerous benefits, but the primary purpose is to have healthy, pre-portioned options ready to go when you need them.

This takes the guess-work out of what to have for breakfast or lunch. It also helps eliminate impulse food choices like fast food and pre-packaged processed food.

Here are my favorites for the Best Meal Prep Containers to keep you organized and healthy:

3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers

My favorite are these Prep Naturals 3 Compartment 34 oz. Meal Prep Containers. They are made of sturdy, thick glass, with a sealing plastic lid, with vent. They are freezer, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. (The plastic lids are not oven safe.) Because of the sealing lid, I’ve never had an issue with these leaking.

Best Used For: I love these for packing and prepping meals that I want to keep somewhat separate. For example, I’ll often add things like crackers, in one area, fruit in another, and cheese in another. This way, the crackers still stay crisp, and separated from the moisture of the fruit & cheese.

Advantages: durable construction. Sealing lid – I’ve never had an issue with these leaking. Ability to reheat food in the container.
Disadvantages: Heavy. Because of the glass, it makes is rather heavy, especially if you are transporting/carrying these to work with you in a lunch bag.
Pricing: Moderate. Given the construction, I think they’re relatively affordable and will withstand the test of time. A good buy! You can get a 4-pack of these Prep Naturals 3-Compartment Meal Prep Containers from Amazon here.

2 Compartment Meal Prep Containers

Again, Prep Naturals has my heart! These 2-Compartment 29 oz. Prep Naturals Meal Prep Containers are fantastic. They are constructed of thick, sturdy glass that is dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe. The lid is latch-sealing (made of plastic) that is not oven safe.

Best Used For: I will often use these for an entree and side. Pictured above is my Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice along side some fresh veggies. This 2 compartment meal prep container helps keep the food separate and as fresh as possible. For reheating, I will simply remove the cucumbers & broccoli and reheat the fried rice directly in the container.

Advantages: Portion Control – Measure out your portion once, and you’ll know exactly how much to add to each compartment every time you use this container. Virtually spill and leak-proof!
Disadvantages: Heavy. Because of the glass, it makes is rather heavy, especially if you are transporting/carrying these to work with you in a lunch bag.
Pricing: Moderate. Given the construction, I think they’re relatively affordable and will withstand the test of time. A good buy! You can get a 5-pack of these 2-Compartment 29 oz. Prep Naturals Meal Prep Containers from Amazon here.

Single Compartment Meal Prep Containers

Definitely my favorite of all three Prep Naturals containers! These Single-Compartment 30-oz. Prep Natural Meal Prep Containers are fantastic. They are constructed of thick, durable glass with a tight-fitting clamp-seal lid.

Best Used For: These containers are my favorite for salads and entrees. I will often build my salads on a Sunday night and the food keep well and un-wilted through the week. It is not uncommon for me to make a salad on a Sunday night, and by Friday afternoon the food is still fresh and ready to eat. The salads I featured above are my Italian Chopped Salad topped with my Italian Grilled Chicken (top left), and my Healthy Salmon Cobb Salad (bottom right).

For dressing, I will fill a separate cup or small jar with my 2 Tablespoon portion. I will do this when I’m preparing the salad so it is ready to go (and portioned out!) right when I need it.

Any entree that doesn’t require separating the food, I will use these single-compartment containers. My Easy Vegetable Beef Stir Fry (top right) and my Sheet Pan Sweet & Sour Shrimp (bottom left) are fantastic in these containers.

Advantages: Very versatile use! Great for both salads and entrees. Will keep salads crisp for at least 5 days!
Disadvantages: If you don’t like your food touching, this container isn’t for you. You would probably prefer a 2 or 3 compartment container. The glass material, although very durable, can be heavy. When taking your lunch to work, your lunch bag will quickly become heavy to carry.
Pricing: Moderate. Given the construction, I think they’re relatively affordable and will withstand the test of time. A good buy! You can get a 5 pack of these Single-Compartment 30-oz. Prep Naturals Meal Prep Containers from Amazon here.

Refrigerator Storage Containers

There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t use my refrigerator storage containers. I use them on a constant rotation for things like sliced watermelon, pre-washed and cut veggies, lettuce and more. I’ve discovered that having the right size of containers is critical. I’ve found that rectangular and square containers trump round containers. Square and rectangular containers get the most use out of refrigerator space, have the best footprint and are most easily stack-able.

The brand that I really love for these is Sistema Klip-It Collection. These come in a multitude of sizes and are Phthalate & BPA Free. They are clear, on both the tops and sides, so you can easily see what is inside the container without having to open it. (No more hunting for what you are trying to find in the refrigerator.)

Best Used For:

Advantages: Come in a wide array of sizes. The side-clip seals are great for making sure the container is shut properly. Easy enough for kids to open and close. Clear on both the tops and sides, so you can easily see what is in the container.
Disadvantages: Not many. Plastic tends to come out of the dishwasher still wet, so sometimes they require towel-drying if you’re in a hurry to use. The larger sizes may not fit in all dishwashers (although, it fits in mine), which will require hand-washing.
Pricing: Low to moderate. Given the construction and design, these are a great buy. Here are the Amazon links to the three sizes that I use and love. Pictured below:
- (Small) Sistema 1700 Klip-It Collection 2L/67.6 oz
- (Medium) Sistema 1830 Klip-It Collection 3L/101 oz.
- (Large) Sistema 1830 Klip-It Collection 3L/101 oz.

Lunchbox Containers

Sistema containers are hands-down my favorite for packing items in my kids lunch box. They come in multiple sizes – I prefer square and rectangular sizes, but they offer circular sizes as well. I love these because they are durable, easy to clean and the latching lids seal well. The side-handle latches are also easy for kids to open and close without assistance.

I also love these because you can purchase them individually or as sets. There are snack sets, lunch sets and even larger food storage container sets. The design of these containers are unmatched. I personally love the two-compartment containers and the snack & dip containers. Great for veggies with dip or peanut butter or a multitude of other combinations.

Best Used For:

Advantages: The most durable plastic container I’ve found! These come in a multitude of sizes and fit will in almost all kids lunchboxes. They are also very easy for little hands to open with the side-latches. BPA-free.
Disadvantages: Not many. Because they are plastic, I don’t recommend reheating food in the microwave in these. (I don’t recommend reheating any type of plastic in the microwave.)
Pricing: Pretty affordable for their good construction and quality. Here are the containers I have pictured above:
- Sistema Single-Sided Snack Storage Container 11.8 oz.
- Sistema Split (2-side) Snack Storage Container 11.8 oz (pictured on the right)
- Sistema Snack Attack – Snack & Dip Container (middle of both photos)
- Sistema Lunch Bento Box (comes in multiple colors!)

PS – I’ve you’re looking for some great kids lunchbox ideas, especially if your kids aren’t into sandwiches, check out this post by Cupcakes and Kale Chips on 35+ Easy Lunch Ideas for Kids!

Best Mason Jars for Meal Prep

Hands-down, the unsung hero of meal prep containers. Mason jars are fantastic! They come in multiple sizes, are inexpensive and easy to store in your fridge or lunch bag. You can pack vertically anything in a jar!

Best Used For: Jars are definitely best for foods that are more liquid. Perfect for storing single servings of overnight oats, like my Strawberry Chia Seed Protein Pudding, blueberry overnight oats, pumpkin slow cooker steel cut oats, chia pudding, Raspberry Overnight Oats, and Strawberry Chia Seed Protein Pudding.

Jars work well because of their tight-fitting lids & seals. I’ve had many containers of soup topple over in the refrigerator, only to spill everywhere. When in a jar, I’ve never had a spill happen.

What size of mason jar is best for making & refrigerating salads?

Jars are also great if you want to make a salad WITH the dressing already in the container. Simply add the dressing to the bottom of the jar with the protein on top of it. Layer the other ingredients over the top. See my recipe & post for Kale Apple Salad and my Chicken Taco Salad Recipe for how I do this.

Advantages: Relatively spill-proof. Great for packing foods to take & transport to work in a lunch bag. Dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe. (Lids/seals and rings not recommend for the oven.)
Disadvantages: Probably not the best for kids lunchboxes. Somewhat difficult for little hands to open. Breakable – if dropped they will break.
Pricing: Relatively inexpensive. Mason jars come in a multitude of sizes, and are priced accordingly. Here’s what I have & love:
- Quart Ball Mason Jar – Quart size (set of 4)
- Ball Mason Jar – Pint size – wide mouth (set of 4)
- Ball Mason Jar – 4 oz. (set of 4) good for dressings & sauces

I hope these meal prep containers offer you some solutions to keep you healthy and organized. I know meal prep can often be overwhelming. Having the right tools in place takes much of the guess-work out of the process. Having the right containers and tools also helps keep you organized and well on your way to looking and feeling your best!