Keep Your Kids Safe and Healthy With the Best Kids Lunch Boxes

Buying Guide: Kids Lunch Box

Choosing a lunch box can be really difficult. Kids lunch boxes come in a wide range of styles, sizes, and colors, not to mention a variety of materials. Everybody wants to choose a lunch box that is safe for their kids and easy to clean. Since there are so many kids lunch boxes to choose from, we’ve put together this helpful guide to help you find the one that meets all your needs and brings a smile to your child’s face when they carry it.

Factors To Consider When Buying a Kids Lunch Box

Size

Your lunch bag’s capacity is crucial. If you get one that’s too small, you won’t be able to fit all of your essentials or your favorite containers inside. If it’s too big and bulky, it won’t fit in your child’s backpack. A good-sized lunch box is made to fit common food containers. As a parent, you know that things that don’t fit in your child’s backpack often don’t make it home. Since children aren’t able to master the art of multitasking, parents have to make sure that their child’s lunch box can easily fit inside the backpack. Plus, the lunch box needs to be spacious enough to accommodate all kinds of containers for carrying healthy foods like seeds, berries, and veggies.

Material

Plastic lunch boxes for kids aren’t only hazardous to your child’s health since they may leach harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) into the food, but they also have negative environmental impacts. Because of this, you should throw away or donate your child’s single-use plastic lunch box. You should choose a lunch box made of glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic instead.

If you pack your lunch in a glass container, be aware that it’s less sturdy and more likely to break, which increases the risk of serious injury. Lunch boxes made of stainless steel are more versatile and durable and more compact and lighter weight than their glass counterparts. Whether your kid is going to school or on an exciting picnic, they can take full advantage of their lunch box’s durability and portability. Stainless steel also has antibacterial properties and it won’t transfer chemicals to your meals.

Durability

Children can be harder on their lunch boxes than adults. A quality lunch box should be able to withstand at least one school year of everyday use, including being pushed into a bag and dropped on the ground. Even after extensive rough use, zippers, clasps, and hinges shouldn’t fail.

Leak-proof

Lunch boxes should be airtight and they should ideally have a lid seal to prevent sauces and other liquids from leaking out of their respective compartments and contaminating other parts of your child’s meal. Lunch boxes can leak if stored improperly (or even upside down) in backpacks or cubbies, so a secure seal is essential for kids.

Easy to clean

Lunch boxes shouldn’t get dirty easily, and they shouldn’t have cracks or linings where crumbs or other leftover food can get stuck. Bento-style boxes, which can usually go in the dishwasher, may be easier to clean than insulated boxes, which need to be wiped down or washed by hand. Remember that you’ll likely need to wash some parts of your child’s lunch box by hand. Lunch bags with a lot of small compartments or sharp corners are harder to wash by hand than those with bigger compartments or rounded corners.

Easy to use

Lunch boxes should be lightweight and easy to carry by hand, over the shoulder, or in a backpack. A handle makes it more convenient to carry the lunch box or grab it from a bag. Latch and lid mechanisms should be easy enough for even the youngest children to operate independently. Lunch boxes with a single container and an attached lid are more popular than those with many compartments and separate covers, which can easily be misplaced.

Shape and design

Let your child have some input when shopping for their school lunch box. This will help your child take interest and joy in using their lunch box and reduce the chances of them forgetting the box at home or deciding not to use it. If you want your kid to eat at school, give them some choice in the style and color of their lunch box. Lunch boxes are available in many fashionable colors and patterns. Pink and glittery unicorn lunch boxes are the favorite for some children, while others might prefer a lunch box with their favorite superhero or sport on it. We recommend taking your child with you to look at the latest and coolest lunch boxes for kids, and then let your kid pick out their own.

Insulation

When taking cooked meals, the best thing to do is bring a lunch bag or lunch box that keeps the food warm. The added insulation will keep your child’s food warm until lunchtime. It’s also useful to get an insulated lunch box while carrying cold meals such as yogurt, fruit, or sandwiches. If you live in an area with a hot climate, you understand how crucial it is to have a temperature-controlled lunch box that can accommodate different types of food.

Accessories

There is a wide choice of included accessories with lunch boxes. Some lunch boxes include a bag, a sandwich box, a water bottle, cutlery, and sandwich cutters. Depending on your child’s needs, you’ll want to consider whether any of these accessories are necessary.

What Are the Different Types of Kids Lunch Boxes?

Bento boxes

You can buy Bento boxes as individual containers that nest inside a bigger container or as a tray with multiple compartments. The tray design features a sizable lid that you can use to cover the entire tray when not in use. Depending on the box’s design, it may come with both individual box lids and a top for the bigger box, or it may have only the top.

Lunch bags

There’s a large selection of lunch bags available at most stores, including neoprene and plastic-lined cotton options. Combined with an ice pack, these convenient containers can keep food cool for at least five hours on the go. When looking for a lunch box for a young child heading into preschool or primary school, these are among the top choices.

Freezable bags

This category is unique from traditional lunch boxes. You can store freezer-safe bags overnight in the freezer. The following morning, the bag will be sufficiently chilled to keep its contents cold for up to 12 hours, depending on the outside temperature and the bag.

Tupperware or plastic containers

Plastic storage containers range from disposable Ziploc boxes to the long-lasting durability of Tupperware. Plastic containers are versatile enough for use alone or combined with other items, such as lunch bags and ice packs. If you’re going to get a plastic lunch box, it’s best to get one with a hinged lid so your child won’t accidentally lose it.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Kids Lunch Box?

Keeps food fresh

The compartments in the lunch box are specifically made to separate the food. The box’s interior has been meticulously designed to accommodate each section. You can place crunchy pretzels in one compartment, fruit slices in another container, and noodles, yogurt, or applesauce in other sections without sacrificing freshness. Simply open your box when ready to eat and take a bite. Separate compartments also ensure that the food in every compartment doesn’t come into contact with any other food, keeping it fresh for hours.

No need for plastic or foil wraps

Each compartment in your lunch box is sealed when you close it. You no longer need to spend time individually wrapping each item. Simply put each of your preferred things into a single-serving section. Besides saving time, you reduce the amount of plastic wrap and aluminum foil that otherwise would end up in a landfill.

Healthy eating for picky eaters

Your children’s favorite meals can be artfully arranged in the lunch box’s several compartments. You can put different colorful veggies, fruits, yogurt, sauces, roll-ups, and cheeses in each container. Your child will open the lunch box when it’s time to eat and discover a delicious, eye-catching assortment of colorful cuisine. Even the pickiest child cannot resist the allure of such a vibrant buffet. When they have an ideal box lunch, your youngster will be more inclined to eat a balanced variety of fresh foods.

Helps you control food portion

Each food item fits into a separate compartment in the lunch box. Thanks to this, you can easily control how much food you can put in your kid’s lunch box, which is a brilliant way to ensure that your kid eats well.

Ensures food is allergy-free

Many kids have food allergies and it’s not easy to put your faith in the school lunch. Many schools go to great lengths to exclude nut products and other common allergens from their campuses, but it can be challenging to eliminate the risk completely. It’s to your greatest advantage to pack their lunch. When you pack your child’s lunch, it guarantees they will receive a nutritious and safe meal.