lunchbox question

**Sara Noel** · 08-01-2005, 10:27 PM

I need to get Zachary a lunchbox. I really don't have a clue what type to get him.

I want a really good thermos, so if I decide to send something hot like mac n cheese in it, it will stay hot in the thermos. I kinda like the idea of a flip top thermos because I'm not quite certain on his pouring skills yet.

I also am very picky on cold staying cold. Does anyone pack school lunches with blue ice or insulated lunch bags or do you just freeze sandwiches and have them thaw by lunch time?

I see tons of lunch boxes available and I have no idea what to get him yet. I only know I want a good thermos for him.

He leaves home at 8:30am and doesn't have lunch until noon time.

Some things that I pack like peanut butter and jelly, I'm not concerned with.
But I am concerned with cold cuts with condiments and foods like that.

**Dedlered** · 08-02-2005, 03:26 PM

Sara,

I have always used the blue ice in my ds lunches, I was too worried about food spoiling.

I am sorry I don't know anything about thermos' though

**YankeeMom** · 08-02-2005, 03:34 PM

We also use the blue ice packs. Have used them for years and years. They keep the food nice & cold and nothing has spoiled. I got a package of five for them for just a little over $1 at Walmart. Another thing I do is freeze some part of their lunch...a cup of applesauce or their water bottles and stick them in with their lunches. I usually only do that if they have forgotten to put their freezer packs back in the freezer.

Look for a lunch box that is insulated. There are a lot of really nice soft-sided insulated lunch boxes out there. And they last for YEARS! My girls used the same ones for 4 years before they wore out too much to use. And honestly, the only part that wore out was the inner plastic liner...it got brittle and started cracking.

I've thrown these into the dishwasher (top rack) or the washing machine and they clean up nicely too.

**Sara Noel** · 08-08-2005, 02:08 PM

Thanks. I've seen some nice insulated lunch boxes online. I really like the one I saw with two separate zipper compartments, but also like the one that has the hard plastic interior that can be removed and washed.

I have a little insulated soft sided tote I use for drinks/snacks for the kids, but it's just a bit too small to hold a thermos.

I can say there sure are some fancy lunch boxes. lol I saw one with a radio incorporated into it. rofl

**Missy** · 08-08-2005, 02:47 PM

I can't say how they'd hold up in a back -and-fourth-to-school situation, but I also love the soft sided bags. DH likes taking them now and then to work with him. and they stand up to him (that's saying A LOT LOL. the only problem we have found is keeping sodas cold while his lunch stays hot. We do like the containers that are like insulated bowls with screw on lids. They look sort of like a thermos cut in half. those work well for us, only thing is DH needs about 3 of em to fill his hollow leg at meal time.

**forestdale** · 08-08-2005, 04:03 PM

Another solution to keeping cold food fresh until lunchtime is to freeze a container of fruit juice. I used to do this with my kids. We have those little tetra packs of Just Juice. They fit nicely into the lunchbox and have defrosted by lunchtime, ready to drink.

**Michelle** · 09-18-2005, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by forestdale
Another solution to keeping cold food fresh until lunchtime is to freeze a container of fruit juice. I used to do this with my kids. We have those little tetra packs of Just Juice. They fit nicely into the lunchbox and have defrosted by lunchtime, ready to drink.

This is what I've been doing. It works great, but their lunchboxes are so good at insulating that it's still frozen when they come home

I've been freezing them just until a certain point so they can still drink them during the day