Lunch Box Dilemas- what do you do?

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

DD1 is going to nursery in Sept and I'll be making a packed lunch for her.

I'm wondering what to put her lunch in- paper bag? horrid plastic lunch box thing? insulated back pack? Bog standard tupperware box? I'm slightly overwhelmed by all the stuff that is marketed at us with matching "night-garden" character drinks bottles. And I'm really just concerned with keeping her food nice and fresh.

Do nurseries usually have a fridge to store stuff in or do you just go with a box/ bag and it warms up to room temp ?

Also what do you put in the average lunch pack ?

God! I may be overthinking this but would welcome some feedback. Esp as DD1 isn't a great fruit eater so may need to be more creative in other areas...

[Seona1973]

dd has a sandwich or roll in a plastic tub which is then put into an insulated lunch bag (her new one has tinkerbell on it). I also have a thin ice pack which I bought in tesco and that helps to keep the food cool for a couple of hours. She also has a yoghurt type thing (either a frube type thing or a spoonable one although you run the risk of the spoon going missing!). I also put in a small bag of fruit e.g. grapes, strawberries, satsuma (peeled for ease of eating), etc. I sometimes put in a small biscuit as a treat e.g. custard cream, a mini pack of jammie dodgers, etc

[bran]

I use an insulated lunch bag for DS. The type that zips open around 3 sides and is quite shallow when open is easiest for little ones. If she's old enough to put the straw into a juice carton then you can freeze them to use as cool packs otherwise I use flat flexible ice mats that I got from Lakeland.

These are brilliant for sandwiches.

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

Thank you both. I'll look for the insulated zip bags and ice packs. I'm sure nursery will provide spoons but will ask.

[shootfromthehip]

bran- I am soooo excited about that link! Am off to start a thread about it- I want the world to know!!!

[bran]

There are threads about the wraps every now and then. I found out about them on here.

(I'm trying to refrain from suggesting that if you are that excited about a lunchbox accessory you should probably get out more. Oops, just suggested it. )

[shootfromthehip]

Bran, you are totally and utterly correct in your assumption taht I need to get out more. Someone on the other thread just told me that they made their own!! I'm in ruptures

[bran]