School lunchboxes?

**cheles2kids** · 07-15-2008, 12:54 PM

Since this seems to be a theme among some of us right now, I thought this would be a good time to ask.

Since homeschooling for the past 6 years, we haven't needed certain items and this is one of them, lunchboxes.

But I will be needing to purchase two in the next couple of weeks and I'm looking for something durable, practical (not cutsie bento boxes), something that can keep their food either cold or warm (so I'm thinking some type of insulation, and something that's not cheapie like the ones they sell at alot of the retail stores this time of year), and something that's not teeny tiny that doesn't hold anything.
While I have nothing against buying something cheap, I really want something that I won't have to replace next year, so I don't mind spending a little extra money on it now.

Do you have any ideas, advice, suggestions? What do you use to pack your kids' lunches, have you been happy with it?

I knew I would get the best advice and help here and I didn't want to wait until the last minute to try to scramble around and order something offline, to only have to wait on it.

**justpeachy92** · 07-15-2008, 01:10 PM

We use the small 6 pack coolers, that have the hard plastic liner that is removable. If something leaks the plastic thing comes out and is easily washed. There is plenty of room to pack food, room for a lunch and afternoon snack when the kids are staying after school for activities. The plastic liner also keeps the lunch from getting squashed when it is stuffed into a locker.

**cheles2kids** · 07-15-2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by justpeachy92

We use the small 6 pack coolers, that have the hard plastic liner that is removable. If something leaks the plastic thing comes out and is easily washed. There is plenty of room to pack food, room for a lunch and afternoon snack when the kids are staying after school for activities. The plastic liner also keeps the lunch from getting squashed when it is stuffed into a locker.

I saw one of these at Big Lot's the other day, but the only color they had was orange.
Do you have to use a freezer pack thing with it? I know some people just freeze a juice box or something to throw in with the lunch to keep it cool, but I doubt I'll be buying those.
My kids will probably be taking a water bottle type drink with either lemonade or tea, or just plain 'ole water.

Where did you buy yours? Can you remember the price of them?

Thanks for all your help!

**Momto2Boyz** · 07-15-2008, 01:34 PM

DS has a lunch box that was handed down to him from my cousin...so I'm not sure where it came from. I bought one of those hard plastic "juice box" shaped reusable drink cups, and it worked awesome all last year. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get another year out of it for him! It works, because then I can send him whatever he wants to drink...milk, water, kool-ade, etc.

But for packing DH's lunches, he has an insulated 6 pack cooler that is perfect. I stick a freezer pack in there and it keeps everything cold all day long.

**zakity** · 07-15-2008, 01:35 PM

You can still freeze their lemonade or water or whatever in their water bottle. It does take some expirimention on how much to put in there to freeze though. The lady I got that idea from would put an inch or so of liquid in the bottle and freeze and then fill it up the rest of the way in the morning. The frozen part would keep the lunch cold, but still be thawed (or almost thawed) by the time the kids drank it.

**leezza** · 07-15-2008, 01:43 PM

I use the cooler justpeachy mentioned in her post to send food and snacks with my DH to work......you do have to put a cooler or frozen water bottle, ect.....but this item will take a lot of rough treatment and keep being used......my DH also takes it along on business flights for treats, now that the airlines don't have anything.

JMHO,
leezza

**Moor** · 07-15-2008, 01:46 PM

i bought one of those that looks like a sack. but insulated.
it has a zipper compartment on the bottom that holds a square plastic container. (it came with it) i put their sandwich in that, and the rest in the top. i can also use it for leftover lasgna or what ever.
since my kids don't like food warmed up, this keeps it great until lunch time.

but i put a water bottle in the freezer with about two inches of water (or whatever they are going to take) in the bottom so that it freezes. then pour more in it, in the morning.

i have the small water bottles, so that the girls can still get chips or such in the sack. i got mine at walmart

**cheles2kids** · 07-15-2008, 02:13 PM

Thanks so much, ladies for all of your help!

I guess I will take a look around the next time I'm in Wal-mart or K-mart.
I personally would have liked to have bought the orange ones that I found at Big Lot's, but I could just imagine what my two teenagers would have said!

More likely than not, I will be packing a bit more than what I rem. packing for them 6 years ago, since it will be like packing for adults this time around, so I defiantely need something with a bit more room in it.
My husband actually carries a hardsided cooler that holds a 12 pack of cans, but he leaves his in his work truck and that works so much better at keeping things cold all day for him.

I also have to take into consideration about the lockers as well, because they were little when we started homeschooling, so they only had "cubbies" that were located in their rooms, now they'll each have lockers, so I'm thinking the one with the hard plastic box will defiantely be the way to go.

Thank-you all again for adding your suggestions and advice, it's given me some things to think about that I had forgotten, like freezing a bit of liquid in the bottom of their water bottles.

I really appreciate everyone's help!

**justpeachy92** · 07-15-2008, 02:16 PM

We have several of these and they average in age from 2 to 10 years. They usually go on clearance in Sept., after the mad rush for back to school shopping is done. I have never spent more than $3 on one. We do occasionally use the ice pack things. Though I usually freeze one bottle of water, that keeps things cold. And there is another drink in there for lunch. The frozen water is generally thawed out after school, so gives the kids a nice cold drink then.

**geckoace** · 07-15-2008, 05:27 PM

my mom bought my DS a lunch sack that has the cold pack/gel built into the actual walls. you stick the whole bag in the freezer and it stays cold for hours. and its not "hard" i imagine it would keep hot foods hot as well