Does the lunch in lunch boxes not get messed up for kids?

[susanknft]

Im going to be doing pack lunches for the kids for school and am in the process of buying them the boxes / bags etc. Ive bought the Sistema 1.65l Bento box. Its great and I really like it, however, I was thinking if I get those lunch bags for the kids like this,

www.amazon.co.uk/Thermos-Radiance-Dual-Compartment-Lunch/dp/B00CE05WRU/ref=psdc_3313546031_t3_B07G9Z74PP?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

won't the food get messed up. Im thinking a bag which will hold the box flat would be best but I can't find any!!


I may be over thinking this but I don't want them to open their box up and find a big mess and Im a newbie to this and have no idea!

TIA

[thelegohooverer]

I have these sistema microwaveable boxes which I use for food storage, reheating, and lunch boxes. No scrambling for lids as I basically use the same box for everything.

Typically I put a sandwich, several portions of fruit and veg and yogurt in for lunch. If the fruit is chopped, or something like berries, I put them in these silicone egg poachers which keeps them separate from the sandwich, and the friction of the silicone stops things moving round too much.

It’s more flexible than a bento box. The sistema box is high enough to put in a decent sized apple, or a pot of yogurt. I can cram a fair bit in, or pop in a packet of cheese dippy crackers. Dh sometimes takes leftovers to reheat, or a salad for lunch and these boxes work fine for that too. I really need lunches to be streamlined in the morning or my head melts.

The boxes then just go in with their books. They clip securely so there’s no worry about them opening up. And most of the time they’re not messy when they open them. Drinks go in the side pocket of their book bags.

[LER83]

My eldest 2 have the bento lunch box and its fine. I tend to wrap the sandwich/roll in cling film to keep it together. On the bottom I put a squeeze yoghurt and capri sun/smoothie, in the tray on top if that i put their sandwich/roll/crackers. Then just put fruit/crisps in the little sections. This then goes into their normal school bag.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

The lunch bags go in the washing machine in a quick 30’ wash here. They seem to be sticky and weird otherwise. Tupperware sandwich. Carton of juice. Crisps or cake or yogurt, spoon.

[DominaShantotto]

I put the sandwich in a tupperware box inside the lunchbag, the only real mess is if they put a halfeaten yoghurt back in the bag and even then I just shove the lunchbag in the dishwasher.

[susanknft]

i know i am definitely over thinking this!

ok right, its a bento box small cube one and then in a whatever usual lunch bag to keep cool!done! done! :)

[GoatsInBoats]

In the nicest possible way, OP, you’re making a bit of a meal of this.

You could get a normal lunchbox like this, and inside it put a sandwich wrapped in foil, a whole piece of fruit and a snack. Put the drink bottle in too, zip it up and you’re done.

[GigantosaurusRex]

They really do hold a lot.

[dollypartonscoat]

Sandwich wrapped in cling film. Everything else lobbed in

[WalesAppearsToBeSlightlySaner]

I put the sandwich in a takeaway pot so I can wash and reuse, fruit in a small reusable pot if it’s messy and everything else like bananas and crisps loose. I use the smiggle lunch bag with 2 compartments. The bottom one fits an ice pack and takeaway box, all other stuff in the top. Works perfectly

[RedCatBlueCat]

We have a cube lunch box in a bag

It's in an insulated bag to keep it cool. They sit on the side for 4 hrs (DS2 currently eats at 1pm), and he wont eat warm sandwiches.

[GigantosaurusRex]

@susanknft we have that box. DS school has requested a small schoolbag only and this fits along with a drinks bottle inside his school bag. DS is only in year 1 so he only needs s change of clothes in his school bag.

[scrivette]

DS uses the Sistema Bento Cube Box (Amazon sell them for about £8) as it's keeps all the different types of food separate.

[Sootikinstew]

Most children are really not going to get the time to sit and eat nicely prepared little bento box selections.

[susanknft]

www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Bento-Cube-Fruit-Yoghurt/dp/B072K4GS3C/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&crid=1HQEMHCVUIWYH&keywords=sistema%20lunch%20boxes&sprefix=sistema%2Caps%2C149&qid=1599590174&sr=8-5&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

do you have this one? TheLastStarfighter

[Sootikinstew]

Your massively overthinking this op. My DC gets sandwiches in a tupperware with a bit of whole fruit shoved in next to it and a packet of baked/popped crisps. Plus a juice carton.

Plenty enough

[Whatsthekey]

https://www.johnlewis.com/tinc-kronk-lunch-box/p4995183?sku=238715996&sppc=2dx92700055674800473&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CjwKCAjw19z6BRAYEiwAmo64LdfyPnU4A9BtxKq-Npy3FIbrr6H90Sj5VNKJpj8Rz8bm6EWJ00KdRoCxNkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

What about this? It's not upright but seems the right size.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I think you’re really overthinking this.

DD has a lunchbox like the second one you linked. In it, I put a bottle of water, a sandwich in a sandwich bag, fruit, a yoghurt and a treat (snack bag of biscuits or crisps). I don’t put any of it in a separate box unless the fruit needs cutting up. Her lunch is always fine.

[TheLastStarfighter]

I use a small lunchbox (the systema sandwich box) and pack it all in tight and then nothing moves.

[GameSetMatch]

Just read what you’re going to put in the lunch box, ifyour child is in reception class I’d go with less is more they only have a set amount of time to eat and only have little tummies. I’d go with one main item and one side item to start with, you don’t want them getting upset they couldn’t eat all their lunch or it took them so long they couldn’t go out to play.

Also make sure they don’t need a separate drink in the packed lunch, my sons school won’t let them take their water bottles out of the classroom so I need to add him a lunch drink.

[VeggieSausageRoll]

Can they not just take the box in the school bag without putting it in a separate lunch bag? That's what our DS does and we did as kids, and continue to do as adults. The bags just get crap in the corners and the seams 🤢

[susanknft]

CatFaceCats So if you have a box then do you just put this in the kids normal backpack with their books etc?

[susanknft]

Teacher12345 yes that's exactly the type that i want but its too small for the box!

[CatFaceCats]

I don’t think you need to put the box in another lunch bag OP.
I have systema lunch box. Sandwich is wrapped, fruit in pot. Nothing else is messy. Sure it’s a mess when it comes home, but I just clean it for next day.

[Teacher12345]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TEAMOOK-Insulated-Adults-Leakproof-Waterproof/dp/B07SC9JLR6/ref=mpssa1126?dchild=1&keywords=lunch+box&qid=1599589392&sprefix=linch+&sr=8-26

My kids have one a bit like this don't seem to have a problem with it. I would use a clear plastic tub inside the second link you posted but it would still get a bit mixed up of things were very loose.

[susanknft]

MJMG2015 put wrong one in link.

A typical lunch might be sandwiches, yoghurt, bit of fruit and a flapjack or something. They keep their water bottles in their school bags.