Lunch boxes have long been a familiar staple of childhood. But for parents, there's a lot
more to consider than just pretty colors and graphics when buying your kid a new lunch
box. From food safety to packing features, consider this lunch box 101.
Before you even start shopping for a new lunch box, take the time to sit down and figure
out what you're going to regularly include in your child's lunch. While that might seem
like an odd step, you might be surprised at how handy it is — especially considering
how often a growing student's palate might change.
Is your child going through a sandwich stage? Well, then you're going to need a lunch box
with a compartment big enough, and sturdy enough that it's not going to get turned into
mush in a locker. Do you live in a place where there are months of cold weather, and some
soup might hit the spot? Then, you're going to need something with a thermos — or room
for a thermos, at least.
What about a salad? In that case, you're going to need a lunch box that's not only the right
size, but you'll also need something that seals really, really well to keep that dressing
where it's supposed to be before your child pours it on.
While you're doing this, consider, too, that organizations like the National Health Service
now recommend a healthy lunch box that includes a source of protein, a source of dairy, at
least one portion of fruits or vegetables, and a serving of starchy foods. The days of
lunch box food staples like Dunkaroos, PB&J, and a juice box aren't what they used to be.
"It's peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!"
You also might want to look at getting a bento box. But what is that, and why? According
to AllRecipes.com, the word "bento" comes from a slang word that means "convenient,"
and it's definitely that — along with much more. Bento boxes essentially contain ready-to-eat
meals. However, they're also associated with being more of a demonstration of love and
thoughtfulness than a regular old lunch box, where you might just throw everything in baggies
and containers and call it a day.
"What do you want to take for lunch?"
Bento boxes tend to be deeper than most traditional Western lunchboxes, and that can help keep
delicate foods safer — because how long a lunch box will keep food fresh is a definite
consideration. There's another huge benefit, too — they're very environmentally friendly.
Bento boxes are traditionally about art, aesthetic, and appearance as much as the food, so they're
designed to be packed very snugly. That helps eliminate the need for things like plastic
bags, and if you're trying to cut down on your family's environmental footprint, this
is the way to go.
If your child is going through a picky phase, don't worry, you're definitely not alone.
According to Healthy Children, being picky is completely normal, and there are plenty
of tips and tricks you can use for getting them out of this stage. One of those things,
says Kangovou, involves selecting the right lunch box.
Specifically, they're talking about bento boxes with compartments that will keep food
separated, but will also allow for a pretty presentation that just might persuade a picky
eater. If it looks that cool and fun, after all, it just might taste good too. According
to Sanford Health, one of the key components of getting picky eaters to eat food that's
good for them is getting them to engage with what they're eating.
"You don't have to eat carpet and wallpaper."
That means a little creativity on your part. Sanford Health also says that color, texture,
and presentation can have a major impact on how excited your young ones are about lunchtime.
So, get rid of the boring old bags, and show them how fun food can be! They'll actually
look forward to opening their lunch box, and seeing what you've put on the menu!
One of the things you're definitely going to want to keep in mind is the fact that there's
going to be a lot of lunches spending a lot of time in that lunch box, and lunch box stink
is definitely a thing.
When The Independent did their research into the best lunch box options on the market today,
they found something that's pretty important: a lot of lunch boxes out there were really,
really good at catching and holding onto the smells of lunches past. If your kids like
some foods that are particularly pungent, you might want to consider a lunch box made
from the only material they found that didn't hold onto lingering odors — stainless steel.
"There used to be a peanut butter and banana in there."
"You can still smell it."
Otherwise, you might find yourself needing to add an extra step to your cleaning routine,
and that's deodorizing lunch boxes with the help of white vinegar or baking soda. But
who needs more work?
If you're taking a lunch box to work with you, there's a good chance you might have
a communal refrigerator to stow it in until it's time for you to eat. Most school students
don't have that luxury, though, and that's why it's incredibly important to find a lunch
box that's going to keep their food cold.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or the USDA, the dangerous bacteria that's
linked with food poisoning can start to grow in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
They warn that if you're using an old-fashioned paper bag, food can start reaching the danger
zone in just two hours. If you're making your child's lunch at, say, 7 a.m., that means
it's only safe until 9 a.m. — and no one's eating lunch at 9 a.m.!
The USDA also says that using a well-insulated lunch box will keep the temperature of your
child's food at a safe level until they're ready to eat — which can be five or six
hours after you've packed their lunch for them.
Now, let's have a quick crash course in how well different types of lunch boxes will generally
do when it comes to keeping their contents cool. There are a variety of different ways
that lunch boxes are made. Those that are made from either glass, silicone, or a metal
material are going to be pretty bad when it comes to insulation, and you're going to have
to make other plans for keeping lunches cold and food safe.
The most well-insulated lunch boxes are the ones made of a plastic-like fabric exterior,
such as polyester or nylon, with an inner layer that's usually made from something like
foil, aluminum, or plastic. In between the inner and outer layer is the insulation, which
is usually a thermal polyester, or another form of plastic.
And here's the thing: they also recommend that even if you're using an insulated lunch
box, you should also use an ice or gel pack to help keep everything cool. So you'll have
to decide whether or not you're going to go plastic and extra insulation, or metal with
less insulation and an extra gel pack — which experts recommend you use with highly insulated
bags anyway.
So, let's say you've found a lunch box you're pretty sure is going to work. You're judging
the size of it, and it looks like it'll be just about big enough for your child's lunch.
Great? Not exactly — put it back and look for something a little bigger. According to
Tamika Sims, PhD., of the International Food Information Council Foundation, one of the
most important things you should be putting in that lunch box is a cold source. And yes,
that's true whether you pick an insulated or uninsulated box.
There are a few different versions of cold sources that are perfectly fine, including
a frozen gel pack, or an old-school hard ice pack. But here's the thing: they're going
to take up a surprising amount of space — especially hard-sided ice packs — so you're going to
have to account for that when you're buying a lunch box. You should also consider the
fact that the USDA recommends using not just one cold source, but at least two. In other
words, don't forget to factor in the ice packs when you're looking at box size!
Here at Mashed, we're all about practicality — and we know you are, too. That's especially
true when it comes to saving some time in the kitchen, and saving time doing what we
all hate: cleaning. That said, you should definitely keep cleaning in mind when you're
picking out a lunch box, because you're going to have to do it on a regular basis.
And here's some food for thought, starting with a warning from Merry Maids: If you're
thinking you can just throw that soft-sided lunch box in the washing machine, hold on.
This isn't a great idea because a washing machine cycle can do some serious damage to
the insulation. You're going to have to clean it by hand, and it's not just cleaning, either.
Safefood warns that if you don't completely dry lunch boxes of all kinds, there's a good
chance it could cause a serious mold problem. That said, we don't have to say how dangerous
eating out of a moldy lunch box can be. So when you pick up a lunch box and get ready
to buy it, just imagine what it's going to be like to clean or dry it every day.
And here's a helpful pro tip you can use. If you're still looking at those soft-sided
insulated bags, pick up a couple. That way, you can make sure each one is completely dry
before packing a lunch in it, and sending it off to school with your kiddos.
Lunch boxes aren't just about the box, they can also be about a thermos. After all, what's
better than sending your child off to school with a thermos of piping hot chicken noodle
or tomato soup on those cold winter days? Sounds like a great way to get them to eat
their veggies, right?
That said, here's some thermos basics. Whether they're keeping cold things cold or hot things
hot, a thermos works because it's a double-walled container with a vacuum between the two walls
— and the vacuum doesn't allow for the transfer of heat. But even though the principle is
universal, quality isn't.
The Telegraph did some research to see if there really was a difference in thermos quality,
and the answer was a hearty, "Absolutely!" Among the best was the Stanley thermos, which
wasn't just durable, but they found that when they put in ice and cold water at 11 a.m.,
by 11 p.m., the cold water was even colder!
On the other hand, when they tested a Klean Kanteen thermos, they found it didn't keep
things anywhere near the temperature they were when put in the bottle. While they're
still generally safe enough if your child is only going a few hours before cracking
the top for lunch, you might want to consider spending a little more and getting a thermos
that's going to last for years — and have a purpose outside of the school lunch.
In addition to picking up a lunch box for everyday use, you should also look at reusable
silverware — and not just because it's way more convenient than grabbing cafeteria silverware.
According to National Geographic, the number of plastic utensils that are thrown away every
year is in the billions. And since plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, discarded
plastic utensils pose a serious threat to marine wildlife.
The answer, says Mighty Nest, is including a set of reusable bamboo, or stainless steel,
utensils in your child's lunch box. They'll not only help cut down on plastic waste, but
they look pretty cool, too! If you're looking for more ways to be environmentally friendly,
you can also pick up a set of reusable cloth napkins, and stainless steel containers perfect
for things like nuts and dried fruit. After all, it's never too early to teach your children
to be good citizens of this planet we all share.
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