5 tips for choosing a school lunch box
With so many lunch box choices on the market these days, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when trying to work out the best lunch box for your child. Here are some simple points to consider when choosing a lunch box:
- The lunch box will need to be the right size for the food your child will want to take to school and fit into the school bag without taking up too much space.
- It may suit to have 2 smaller lunch boxes, one for food that needs to be kept cold and one for food that doesn’t.
- One big box that you can pack with your own smaller containers can give you more flexibility, however, some kids may prefer a lunch box that has compartments.
- If your school does Crunch & Sip – ideally, the vegies should be cut up and placed into a small container that can be accessed easily without too much fuss when it’s Crunch & Sip time.
- Look to save on packaging and the environment – luckily there are many reusable products such as individual food containers or bento-style lunch boxes on the market that will keep food fresh without using plastic wrap. These are usually on special at the start of school term too!
Food safety:
With our climate, many foods taken to school need to be kept cold, often for several hours. The lunch box should ideally be insulated and be big enough to fit an ice brick or frozen water bottle. Some lunch boxes have a compartment that fits an ice brick and keeps moisture away from the food inside.
Bits of food and splashes of drink need to be removed every day before repacking the lunch box. Choose a lunch box that is easy to clean and doesn’t have too many nooks and crannies.
For more information, see our blog on how to make your lunch box food safe.
