Back to school means lots of things—back to routine, back to homework, and, for the parents out there, back to packing lunches. Perhaps as important as the backpack is the lunch box; unless your kids are only buying lunches, a lunch box is something they’ll use almost every day, so it better hold up to daily wear and tear.
Beyond the lunch box, you also need to think about how your child will transport the food inside. Will you pack everything in baggies and toss those in the lunch box? (If so, we have you covered.) Or, perhaps you want to avoid the waste and handle their need for separated food with an insulated bento box. Whether your kids are 5 or 15, we’ve identified a lunchtime solution. Read on for our top picks for lunch boxes, food storage containers, and related accessories to ensure that school mealtime is a really good time.
Our favorite lunch boxes and containers
The most durable: Yeti Daytrip 3L Lunch Box
Cute yet functional: PackIt Cool Freezable Friends Lunch Box
The smartest bento of all: OmieBox Up
It’s probably no surprise that Yeti tops the list in terms of durability. This lunch box is almost like a piece of travel-ready luggage; it cushions the items inside the compartment, so you won’t end up with smashed sandwiches if you’re not using additional containers. (It’s worth noting, though, that Yeti has a nice selection of compatible containers, including one of the best insulated food jars I’ve used.) Its construction does make the Daytrip bulky, so it might not fit in the smaller backpacks early elementary school kids sometimes carry. Also, the lunch box doesn’t expand much, so if you’re packing a bento or containers, you’ll have to find snacks that fit in the bag’s extra-slim interior pouch.
On par with the bag’s top-notch durability is its insulation. Yeti is known for keeping food and drinks well chilled throughout the day, and the Daytrip is no exception. This bag doesn’t come with an ice pack, but any flat one will work—and Yeti does sell its own.
Much like the brand’s water bottles, the Daytrip 3L (and larger 5L) comes in a variety of solid, pop-y colors, so if your kid wants flashy patterns to show off in the cafeteria, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
When my first child needed a lunch bag for preschool, I started using Pack-It Cool’s Freezable Classic Lunch Box. For me, the selling point is that they don’t need an additional ice pack—you simply squish down the bag and tuck it in the freezer each night—and it truly keeps the food cold all day long. During my kid’s preschool days, any leftover food came home still slightly chilled.
The new Freezable Friends line is the same concept as Pack-It’s original design, but with an adorable upgrade. The line comes in four styles (Unicorn, Fox, Dog, and Truck), and features a removable cross-body strap for Little Miss/Mr. Independents like my daughter, who prefer to haul all their gear solo. It also features a front pouch for extra snacks and a side mesh pocket to hold drinks.
Its greatest asset is also the only thing that bothers me about the bag—the fact that you have to store your child’s bag (and whatever your child touched with it) is on top of your food is, well, a little gross. But if you can get over that, or are OK slipping it inside a zip-top bag before re-freezing, then you’ll love it.
Thanks to their social media ubiquity over the last several years, we’ve seen Stanley water bottles become objects of obsession for teens and tweens, and if that sounds like one of your kids, the brand’s lunch boxes can complete the look. The Stanley Assembly Lunch Box doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but it’s a good, durable lunch box. In my opinion, the size is perfect: It’s not too big and not too small (it holds most of the bento boxes I tried), and its lightweight material keeps it from being clunky. (Even my 5-year-old easily lugged it around camp this summer.)
Perhaps the best feature of the Assembly is its side mesh pouch for holding, what else, but a Stanley 1913 (up to 24 ounces). And if your child is full-on Stanley, its buckle clip also pairs with the Assembly Backpack.
One note: While this lunch box is insulated, you’ll need an additional ice pack; a flat one can fit in the lid’s mesh interior pocket.
Speaking of coordination, this is the bag my daughter chose on her first day of kindergarten to go along with her State Bag backpack. (I realize you may not be here for backpacks, but this is the only backpack brand I’ve bought my kids during elementary school years because they are so incredibly durable and have thoughtful extra features, like a hidden interior pocket that’s perfect for AirTags.) I’m predicting the same for the lunch box—and so far so good.
Like the Stanley Assembly, the lunch box is both lightweight and the ideal size—it’s large enough to hold my top picks for bento containers. The Rodgers is fully insulated and easy to wipe clean. I love the little details—like the detachable Velcro divider to help keep things organized, and the clear pocket for little notes or pictures. There’s also a zippered interior mesh pocket to hold utensils or other loose items.
Besides all that thoughtfulness around utility, the designs are some of the best out there. Whether your kid is into Hot Wheels or Barbie, or is older and wants something more mature, State Bags has a lunch box look for just about everyone. And, of course, there’s a backpack to go with each style.
I didn’t think a bento box could surprise
I didn’t think a bento box could surprise me—and then I tried the OmieBox. The attention to detail made me smile, and even my kids were enamored.
There are three sizes, but the Up is my pick of the bunch. The brand suggests it’s for ages 9 and older, but I found the design worked well for my 5-year-old. The size fits in most lunch boxes and is packed with features. I love that it easily integrates hot and cold food—I can send the kids with warm noodles or soup one day, and the next day I can remove the thermos insert and pack them a sandwich. I also appreciated that it comes with an ice pack, which is stored out of sight. The box comes with a little divider for even more storage.
For younger ones, the Lite—targeted to kids ages 3 to 7—is a bit smaller and less bulky, but is still packed with features. I adore the hidden Treasure Pocket in the interior top lid—it’s a little flap that reveals a surprise treat. The original bento box, which is for the same 3-to-7 age group, was my least favorite; although its weight is identical to the Up, its square shape makes it particularly bulky and too big for most standard lunch boxes. Plus, the original doesn’t come with a built-in ice pack like the Up and Lite.
These bentos are easy to clean—all the parts are removable and you can pop them right in the dishwasher if you’d like. And last but certainly not least, all the OmieBoxes were easy to open and close, and incredibly leak-proof.
Not only are these my kids’ favorite boxes, but they’ve also earned accolades from parents and food experts for their functionality and design. To be honest, we all had a hard time choosing our favorite Bentgo, but ultimately, the Stow and Go was the winner by a hair. My 7-year-old loved the secret utensil compartment, which comes with a 2-in-1 fork and spoon. (We’ll see how long it takes for the utensil to accidentally end up in the trash, but it earned points for now.)
I liked some of the other Bentgos for other reasons, particularly the Chill, which features a freezable insert that conveniently fits under the full length of the bento tray. I like that it chills the entire box as opposed to a small section of the container. The Bentgo Kids Lunch Box and its five different compartments will also be a hit for all those snack-cuterie-type eaters out there. My kids don’t have microwave access at school, but if yours do, it’s worth noting that the removable trays are safe to heat.
The only Bentgo that I didn’t like was the Stainless Steel Prints Lunch Box. I wanted to love this newer stainless steel option, but the latches were difficult for my kids (and even me) to open and close. And for its higher price tag, it’s not quite worth it.
If being plastic-free is important to your way of life—or if you want something functional, without frills, and that’s super easy to clean—PlanetBox is a great option. The one issue someone might run into with these bento boxes is that younger kids may have difficulty with the latches. They’re secure, but a little more difficult to close, so tiny hands might have trouble. PlanetBox recently released a line of stainless steel boxes with silicone lids, but again, I found them tricky to secure and worry that leftover food would be all over your kid’s lunch box or backpack. For older kids, though, this won’t be an issue.
Of all the PlanetBox models I tried, the Rover is my favorite. This model has five compartments of various sizes, so there’s plenty of room and division. Plus, it comes with two small containers (dippers) for modularity. There’s a smaller size for preschoolers (the Shuttle), and a larger size for middle and high schoolers (the Launch), but the Rover feels like the perfect in-between size, plus it fits in most lunch boxes. And just because it’s stainless steel doesn’t mean it can’t be flashy—PlanetBox sells magnet sets for zhuzhing up your bento.
Thermos
If your kid is the type who prefers a warm lunch over a cold one, then the Hydro Flask Insulated Thermos is a must-buy. It holds 12 ounces of liquid or food, and the steel keeps it hot for hours. (Alternatively, cold food or liquid also stays quite cold in it.) The lid and outside of the container are grippy to increase stability for little hands. The whole thing is dishwasher-safe, and the colors are just as fun as their iconic water bottles.
Utensils
Many of the lunch container brands mentioned have their own utensils. The OmiePod is a fork and spoon set, complete with a carrying case that loops around the bento’s handle; PlanetBox features a stainless-steel set with a silicone case; and Bentgo has two different sets. These are cute and all, but I prefer these biodegradable wooden sporks. Kids lose things (they’re kids!), so more environmentally friendly disposable utensils really come in handy.
Sandwich bags
If you’re forgoing a bento, you’re going to need a way to store a sandwich. Stasher’s Recyclable Paper Sandwich Bags offer an eco-friendly solution. These kraft paper bags feature an adhesive strip for secure closure (they hold snacks, too); a pack comes with 50 bags in a few cute prints.
Water bottle
BA has written many stories on the top hydration vessels. The Yeti Rambler Jr. remains my personal favorite—it’s durable, keeps water very cold for a long while, and it can be personalized.
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Source: www.bonappetit.com
