Back to School Lunchbox Essentials

We are officially only one week away from starting another school year! In addition to school supplies and uniforms, I also needed to purchase everything we use to pack a healthy and filling lunch for our boys. Today I am sharing some of our favorite back to school lunchbox essentials.

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BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCHBOX ESSENTIALS

Freezable Lunch Box: This lunch box has freezable gel built into the walls of the bag to chill contents for hours. The entire lunch box collapses flat for compact storage in the freezer. Freeze the lunchbox overnight and by morning, the walls of the bag will be completely frozen and ready to cool items for hours.

Insulated Lunch Box: If putting your kids’ lunchbox in the freezer isn’t something you’re up for (my kids’ lunchbox can get pretty dirty) this is an option for you. I like that these come in very basic colors for my fourth grader. It is big enough to fit the lunch containers we use and an ice pack or two. The premium fabric makes this lunch box durable, sturdy and easy to clean. Insulation helps retain hot and cold temperatures throughout the day. Features include a zippered front pocket, inner elastic tabs to secure water bottles or ice packs, and a handy inner mesh pouch perfect for napkins and utensils.

Bentgo Lunchbox: These lunch containers are super popular and I can totally see why! They have 5 compartments perfectly portioned for a child’s appetite to encourage a healthy and balanced meal. They have leak-free technology on the lid and the dividers to keep meals and snacks fresh and mess-free during transport. Purchasing containers that kiddos can open on their own is super important to ensure they can actually get to their lunch and have enough time to eat it. This box is designed with 2 kid-friendly latches making it easy for small hands to open and close. I especially like that the tray is dishwasher safe. Just pop the compartment tray in the dishwasher, on the top shelf, for quick and easy cleanup. It is recommended to hand wash the outer box to preserve the leak-proof seal.

3- Compartment Lunch Container Set of 4: These are the containers we use the most. They have 3 compartments to fit their sandwich, chips or veggies, and fruit perfectly. The lids are easy for the boys to open. These are also safe for microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. I like that these containers nest together and store nicely in cabinets when you’re not using them. I also like that they are really affordable (less than $15 for 4 containers) so if the boys do lose them we can replace them without spending a ton of money. Something to note, though, these containers are not leakproof so you’ll need to put dips or “runny” food in a different container, such as these dip cups.

Food Thermos: When my kids ask to switch things up and bring hot food for lunch, I use these thermos containers. It keeps food hot for 5 hours and can also keep cold food cold for 7 hours. The wide mouth is easy to fill, eat from and clean. It is recommended to hand wash this thermos.

Slim Ice Packs: This set of 4 ice packs are slim enough to fit into all types of lunch bags. Use more than one for extra cooling power.

Bentgo Ice Packs: These icepacks are designed to fit in Bentgo Bag and compatible with most other lunch bags, lunch boxes and lunch coolers.

Water Bottle: These are by far our favorite reusable water bottles for our kids. They are durable, hold plenty of water without getting too heavy, and they are leak-proof when the spout is closed. They are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Insulated Water Bottle: I am thinking about getting these for the boys this year. They hold 40oz of water so the boys would have plenty of water to last them the whole school day. This stainless steel water bottle comes with two lids; an innovative leakproof chug lid & a straw lid for sipping.

Snack Container: I love these divided snack containers and have used them since Connor was in Kindergarten. They have easy to open locks on both sides of the container. The divided sections are perfect for keeping your snacks fresh. I like to pack a few of these snack containers at the start of the week and then quickly throw one into the boys’ backpack each morning.

Lunchbox Notes: 101 fun tear-off lunch notes to teach your child cool facts and make them laugh, too!! Each note has one interesting fact and one silly joke. I used these notes for the boys last year. They look forward to reading them and then sharing the joke or fact with their friends. I also included a little message on the back of each note. Sometimes it was words of encouragement. Sometimes it was wishing them well on a test they had scheduled that day. Or sometimes it was just reminding them how much I love them. Even if the boys don’t really care if they have a note, I will continue to do it. Taking the extra time to add the note helps keep me present in the busyness of all the school routines. And it’s another opportunity to express how special they are to me.

Name Stickers: I love these labels so much! I have purchased these exact stickers over and over because they are so good! You can completely personalize them and she has many different options for color, font, shape, and size. These are super durable and will last longer than just the school year. I stick them on all lunch containers and water bottles and I even stick them on jackets and cardigans. They are scratch-proof, waterproof, and microwave and dishwasher safe! Order a set- I promise you they are as good as they claim to be!

What are some of your back to school lunch essentials? Share with me in the comments.

Now that you bought all your lunch essentials, you are all set for your kids to start school. I hope everyone has a fun & successful school year!

You can see more Back to School posts here.