Do you keep lunchboxes cool?

[NachosPlease]

Do people keep school lunches cool with one of those freezer blocks for picnics? I haven’t been so far, but DS was sick on Monday and I’m a bit paranoid about it something in his lunchbox will have caused it (not sure if lunches are stored somewhere cold at school, I’m going to ask). I know when I was at school they just sat on a table outside our classroom and no one seemed to worry about it!

Freezer? it depends on what food it is that you will need to store it into the freezer. It is cooled but typically I do not put it in the freezer.

If you're concerned, you could always partially freeze a bottle of water and put it in the lunch box. By the time DC sits down to eat, the ice would have melted but kept everything cool as well as providing a refreshing chilled drink

I tend to avoid anything that is likely to cause an issue (e.g. prawn sandwiches which my eldest loves) if left in a warm class room. Cheese and yogurt would taste bad way before they're likely to make your DC ill.

Ask what they do with the lunchboxes - at my dd's school they get put in an unheated room so while they aren't kept chilled they don't get warm either. In summer I do the frozen bottle of water or freezer block to keep the food nice tasting rather than from a going off point of view as its not enough time for food to go off but I hate warm sandwiches/salads.
I do try to think about foods that stay tastier if they are not cold - so because I hate anything with mayonnaise that isn't fridge cold I don't put stuff like that in the packed lunch

Thank you, a frozen bottle of water is a great idea! He doesn’t have anything super risky, generally a ham or cheese sandwich, yoghurt, fruit/veg, sometimes baked crisps or an oat bar. Although it was the ham I was worried about the other day. His lunchbox is quite roomy so I’ll put a part-frozen bottle of water in there when he next has a packed lunch if the school don’t keep them cold.

I use a mini ice pack thing. The brand is polar gear

My mum used to make our sandwiches on frozen bread. By lunch time the bread has defrosted, and the filling has been kept cool. Not soggy either

Mine always had an insulated lunchbox and an icepack in summer. In winter I often didn't bother.

But yes, it depends where they're storing it.

Yes I use an insulated lunch bag with an ice box. Even if it's not going to go bad I just think it's nicer to have chilled food. In summer I avoid chicken and seafood altogether.

small lunch box mini ice pack