As summer winds down and the school year approaches, schedules can quickly become overwhelming. Between buying supplies, organizing schedules and signing kids up for activities, cooking often falls to the bottom of the list. That’s why having the right meal prep tools on hand makes mornings and packed lunches so much easier. Below are practical, time-saving back-to-school meal prep essentials you can find at Walmart, chosen to simplify prepping breakfasts, lunches, snacks and leftovers for busy weekdays.
Rather than scrambling each morning to assemble lunches, I prefer to prepare healthy meals ahead of time. Many meal prep recipes are ideal for weekday lunches and can be portioned and packed in advance. If you’re aiming to make the back-to-school transition smoother, these essential meal prep items will help you save time and reduce morning stress.
My Top Picks:
- Best Meal Prep Containers: Ello Glass Food Storage Meal Prep Container Set — $34.76 at Walmart
- Best Bento Box: Bentgo Leak-Proof Lunch Box — $19.98 at Walmart
- Best Soup Container: Thermos 16-oz Insulated Food Jar — $16.97 at Walmart
- Best Mason Jars: Ball Wide-Mouth Mason Jars — $15.44 at Walmart
- Best Storage Bags: Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bag — $12.99 at Walmart
Reviews of Back-to-School Meal Prep Essentials at Walmart
1. Best Meal Prep Containers: Ello Glass Food Storage Meal Prep Container Set
These reusable Ello glass containers are among the most reliable meal prep containers I’ve used. Geared toward older children and adults, the set includes multiple single-serving containers with thick glass bodies and colorful silicone sleeves that protect against bumps and improve grip. The lids match the containers, and because the containers are glass rather than plastic, they resist stains and lingering odors.
They’re dishwasher-safe and can be microwaved when the lid is removed, making reheating and cleanup straightforward.
2. Best Bento Box: Bentgo Leak-Proof Lunch Box
This Bentgo bento-style box is ideal for younger children or anyone who prefers several small portions instead of one large compartment. With five sections to keep foods separated, it’s recommended for ages 3 to 7 and is made from BPA-free plastic. Rubber seals in the lid prevent leaks, and the rubber-lined edges offer some drop protection. The removable tray is dishwasher-safe, and the box comes in fun colors and patterns that kids enjoy.
3. Best Soup Container: Thermos 16-oz Insulated Food Jar
For meal-prepped soups, stews or warm meals, a 16-ounce insulated Thermos keeps food at the desired temperature until lunch. This leak-proof jar holds a generous portion for older kids, keeping contents hot for several hours or cold even longer. It’s compact enough for a lunch bag and includes a folding spoon stored under the lid for convenience and fewer utensils to pack.
4. Best Mason Jars: Ball Wide-Mouth Mason Jars
While mason jars are traditionally for canning, they’re also extremely versatile for meal prep. Use them for overnight oats, salads in a jar or single-serve portions of chopped fruit and veggies. Wide-mouth jars make filling and eating easier, and larger sizes work well for layered meals like a Cobb salad in a jar. They’re sturdy, reusable and convenient to store in the fridge.
5. Best Storage Bags: Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bag
Reusable silicone bags cut down on single-use plastic and are great for sandwiches, snacks and chopped produce. Stasher bags come in multiple sizes, seal easily, and are dishwasher-safe for fast cleaning. I frequently use them for fruit slices, pretzels, and other grab-and-go items in lunches.
6. Best Mandoline Slicer: OXO Softworks V-Blade Mandoline Slicer
A reliable mandoline speeds up prep for salads, slaws and snacks. The OXO V-blade model offers straight and wavy blades plus julienne options for thin and thick cuts. Multiple thickness settings and a protective food holder make slicing efficient while keeping fingers safe.
7. Best Ice Pack: Your Zone Reusable Ice Pack
Affordable reusable ice packs are essential for keeping lunches cold and safe to eat. These slim packs contain non-toxic gel, freeze quickly and are light enough to tuck into a lunch box. Having several on hand means you can rotate them through the week with ease.
8. Best Dressing Containers: Ello Duraglass Condiment Containers
Small glass condiment jars are ideal for dressings, dips and spreads. These 4-ounce Ello containers come in a protective silicone sleeve and a set of three makes it easy to portion and store dressings ahead of time. Glass prevents flavor transfer and the containers are dishwasher-safe.
9. Best Vegetable Chopper: Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper
For recipes that call for a lot of chopping, a mini chopper saves time. This Cuisinart model functions like a compact food processor, quickly chopping vegetables, nuts or herbs and making dips, salsas and hummus simple to prepare. It holds about four cups and has separate controls for chopping and grinding.
10. Best Freezer Trays: Souper Cubes 1-Cup Silicone Freezing Tray
Freezing single portions of sauces, soups or grains in Souper Cubes makes reheating a breeze on hectic nights. Each compartment holds one cup and the lids make stacking in the freezer neat and spill-free. Just pop out a cube and microwave for an easy component to toss into a meal.
11. Best Muffin Tins: Wilton Bake It Better Non-Stick Muffin Pan
A good muffin pan is multipurpose: bake blueberry oatmeal muffins for breakfast, make egg muffins for an extra protein boost, or prepare high-protein egg white muffins to grab on the go. Muffin tins help you batch-cook individual portions that reheat quickly and travel well in lunch bags.
12. Best Sandwich Cutter: Ihvewuo Sandwich Cutter and Sealer
This simple sandwich cutter removes crusts and seals edges to create tidy, crust-free pockets perfect for younger kids. The tool includes two shapes—square and round—and presses closed to trim and seal, keeping fillings contained and making sandwiches more appealing to picky eaters.
13. Best Egg Cooker: MyMini Premium 7-Egg Cooker
Hard-boiled eggs are an easy, protein-rich snack to include in lunches. An electric egg cooker that prepares up to seven eggs at once reduces hands-on time and consistently delivers soft, medium or hard yolks. Many models also include accessories for poaching or making scrambled eggs.
About Me
I’m Gina, the author and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste. I create hundreds of healthy, family-friendly recipes and have learned practical ways to make back-to-school routines less stressful—meal prepping lunches for the family is one of the most effective strategies. Many of the items listed here are ones I use regularly; any I haven’t personally tried come highly recommended by fellow cooks and Walmart shoppers.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.