Lunch Boxes

[Ginger]

hello there, ds1 starts prep in 18 days (eek) and i have yet to find a lunchbox that is:
a) big enough to fit the amount of food he consumes
b) has different compartments so the bread doesnt get soaked by the watermelon etc.
c) he can open easily

i have tried nudie and sistema (sp?- any ideas???

[Cally]

We use a bag with containers in it. We have one by 4MyEarth - it is made of wetsuit material and can be put in the wash if it gets dirty. It's also quite large, ones we've had previously have struggled to fit everything in. Also has a little pocket that you can put an ice brick in so you don't get condensation through everything, but I've always just chucked the ice brick in with everything else.

They we have a range of containers that we use inside. I use the Tupperware sandwich ones, then Sistema ones (although I find they're not completely water tight) for other stuff (ie cut up fruit, salad, quiche etc). Then you can put a little yogurt container or cheese stick too.

[jackrose]

I can recommend the laptop lunch box which comes with a recipe book that has heaps of good ideas for lunches too.
different compartments: check
Easily open: check
Big enough to fit his food needs… depends on how much he eats!!

I have seen the goodbyn lunch boxes and like the look of them too but have no need for it with the laptop lunch box.

[Starfish]

The Tupperware range is great. There is the sandwich keeper, which fits a standard sandwich, and the sandwich keeper plus, which has different compartments. The other good thing about them is that it is really good plastic, so the food stays fresh for hours. You can't lose the lids either, as they are attached. It's a bit pricey, but IMO it's worth it.

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Does Tupperware have a bag to store it in to keep it cool?

[Starfish]

sweetpeajan - yes they do. Do a google search and have a look at their online catalogue.

[~me~]

I buy the smash lunch box(carrier) and use nude food containers for everything. The smash range of containers for sandwhiches and snacks is easy for the kids to open themselves and so far hasn't leaked.
Then you can add an ice disc if you need to on the hotter days.

Our school is nude food only outside, had to search for easy to open containers. I found the tupperware containers were difficult for my boys to open without help.

[AnyDream]

We just bought an insulated lunch bag which was a good shape for her bag. We will continue using a variety of smaller containers inside, depending on what we're packing for that day. In the past I've found it too much of a PITA to have a single lunch box because there will always be something that doesn't quite fit, whether it's an oversized apple or whatever. It also means that during winter I can pack some hot food inside a thermos and it will still go in the same lunch bag.

ETA - ease of closing again is just as important as ease of opening.

[LuluHB]

My kids have insulated lunch bags from Stuck on You (which I really wouldn't recommend, but Miss I had a cheap Big W one for kindy and its the same size and about a tenth of the price) and then I've got a drawer full of smash, sistema and tupperware containers that I use with it. I tend to stick with the sistema where I can because they're really cheap and easy for the kids to use

A typical lunch box for us would be a sistema sandwich container, two of the small rectangular sistema containers, a deeper rectangular sistema container with cut up fruit in it, and then also something like a banana thrown in too. There is then usually room for a little bag of popcorn or similar too. Then to top it all off is a cold brick.

I haven't had any leakage issues with the sistema, but given that both my girls don't see anything wrong with putting their drink bottles into their bags upside down with the valves open, a little bit more liquid isn't going to be noticed!

[Astrid]

We just bought an insulated lunch bag which was a good shape for her bag. We will continue using a variety of smaller containers inside, depending on what we're packing for that day. In the past I've found it too much of a PITA to have a single lunch box because there will always be something that doesn't quite fit, whether it's an oversized apple or whatever. It also means that during winter I can pack some hot food inside a thermos and it will still go in the same lunch bag.

We do the same. Means lots of little containers, but it then DD1 is able to just take out what she wants at each meal time. I don't want her dragging out her whole lunch to just get to brain food. Would rather the main lunch stays in the cold bag until needed.

[~me~]

I couldn't think of the word at the time...Smash insulated lunch box

[Freya]

Everything gets put in containers and then they go in a little esky with built in ice block so everything stays cold but dry (we live in the tropics).

[Trillian]

I use the smash ones with the older kids that have the two compartments, but for A this year I got a cool stephen josepf one - still has the two compartments. I just use small systema or tupperware containers with them.

[Ginger]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like one big lunch box is not the go. He has a tinyme insulated lunch bag, but I just find its not very big, doesn't seem to fit too much in it. Maybe he eats too much? ( like me) lol

[Trillian]

yeah, those one's aren't real big. A had a penny scallan one for preschool and it was too small (looks like the same size as the tinyme one?) - once he started needing containers of fruit for crunch and sip at the end of term, it wouldn't fit in the lunchbox, so it just had to sit in his bag. the one I've got for him will be way bigger. Even the smash ones I've been using for the older kids are plenty big enough for them.

[Katters]

I've used one big lunch box since prep! It actually is her dads old black rectangle work lunchbox. It's man sized and it fits everything. I use those cylinder tube containers that you can stack onto each end. She gets 2 a day. One tube with rounded lid has sloppy stuff, (tinned spag, yoghurt, leftovers etc) another has snacky stuff (nuts n bolts, shapes, chips from a bigger packet, anything loose in the cupboard that's savory and carbs) then she has 2 packaged items (muesli bar and dried aldi monster noodles are the favourite choices) 2 types of fruit (normally bunch grapes/halved kiwifruit with spoon and a precut apple) and a sandwich placed on top of everything. She's 7 :P she eats alot! Man sized lunchbox works perfectly in our house and it's insulated as well- no ice pack needed as her bread in sandwich is made from frozen anyway.

[Katters]

Oh and I didn't mention the daily cheese stick and salami. If I pack less than that she is whinging in the car for something to eat on the way home! Hollow legs I think!

[Ginger]

Where do you get these man sized ones from?