School lunches

[Mother Goose]

So DD's school told the parents at the info night that the school recommends putting all food in containers for the kids to ease the transition - especially if they have trouble opening packets (like DD!). They said the school council had organised special prices with a tupperware fundraiser. Good in theory but the prices are no cheaper and tupperware is $$$$!

So, what do you do for your little one? Do you just send one lunch box? Do you send lunch in a cooler bag?

TIA

MG

[nothing2lose]

Personally, I would not buy tupperware for kids to use at school...they will get lost, stolen, etc.
You can get little clippo brand mini containers at Woolworths. They are good and you can fit a few in a cooler bag.

Most importantly - label everything!!!!!

[Rouge]

We purchase the little bento style lunch boxes... I think they are by decor. They are actually antipasto containers. But they have a small lunch box and 4 containers that fit in neatly that are removable. We have had naked lunches at our school since DD started prep (she's now in grade 4) and DS had it at kinder as well.

[RhiChiChi]

There is a brand in the supermarkets called Nude or Nudie & they are smallish containers aimed at school aged kids. Not sure of the prices but wouldn't be as expensive as Tupperware

[Ginger]

We have the nude food lovers ones and they are awesome. The kids love them!

[Liviam]

Kmart also have a great range of Nudie products. All come in different shapes and sizes. I would definitely put it in a cooler bag. And I completely agree with N2L label everything!

[Traveller]

I have a plastic tub from kmart that fits a small water bottle (that can be frozen so acts as a cooler). The bottle slots into the middle of the tub so the rest of the food can be nude without all mashing together. It was only about 5 dollars too. I've tried the fabric cooler bags but they tend to get messy and although they are wipe clean, the edges tear and then they get stinky.

[LimeSlice]

DD has a Nudie lunch box too, I bought it initially to save on plastic wrap waste. She has no problems using it.

I had a Japanese bento box I used for years after I bought it in Tokyo... fabulous things!

Probably wouldn't use Tupperware as such for kids for the reasons N2L raised. Then again, we had packets in our lunch boxes and we all coped just fine lol

[Mother Goose]

Thanks all! I have several million suitable containers here that will do nicely then! I think I have pretty much every brand on the market!!!!

Ls I think it's more about kids initially not being able to open up stuff and getting upset. My dd certainly will anyway! She couldn't do something in dance the other day, first time ever she couldn't do something, and just started crying in the middle of the floor. So just want to help with a smooth transition as much as possible.

[AnyDream]

Trav, my kids have insulated cooler bags, and I keep them nice by wiping them out a couple of times a week with that vanilla fridge spray. Works a treat.

I haven't seen the nudie boxes, will have to check them out.

[Traveller]

maybe it's just my kids then, but the cooler bags have always come apart at the seams so after a while just wiping them out doesn't work any more. Maybe they play football with them

[Mother Goose]

now there's a thought Trav! Although I used to use mine to sit on...

[Astrid]

Cooler bag here, with the small containers and a freezer block. Drink goes in a zip pocket on the side.

Have given up on labels, even the exxie ones just don't stick after awhile. Containers come home for now, lets hope that continues.

[Rouge]

When all else fails go the sharpie I vacuum out and wipe the kids cooler bags and they are fine. They have 1 that lasts a whole year.

[Mother Goose]

I love the Stuck on You labels and never had problems with them staying on when DD was a baby at creche (bottles) so was planning to get some. But I also love my Sharpie!!!!! Hmmmmmmm

[nothing2lose]

DD has a smash cooler. She has had it a couple of years now. I wash it (fully submerged) in hot soapy water. I do it once a week and it dries on the rack overnight.

ETA - yep. Sharpie all the way

[Astrid]

It is the stuck on you ones that are failing. School seems to be harder on them for some reason with us. Sometimes I can get one to stick for a couple of weeks, but other times, lucky if it lasts the day. I have actually scratched DD1's name into the paint on her drink bottle.

[Mother Goose]

hmmm interesting Astrid! How old are your labels? If they are new, I don't think I'll bother buying them!