keeping lunchbox contents cool

[givemeaclue]

thought I was 100% sorted for dcs starting school now have realised got nothing to keep lunchbox contents cool. like an ice pack to put in the lunch bag? have searched on amazon they only seem to have big ice blocks that I do have in the freezer but they are too big, cumbersome, heavy and would take up half the lunchbag.

any suggestions oh wise mums?

Frozen frubes?

They've got some small sandwich box size iceblocks in Waitrose.

Or put something like a Frube in the freezer, it will keep the rest of the box cool as it defrosts and will be just perfect by lunchtime.

Freeze the drink cartons, this will cool it down and be defrosted by time they need to be drunk. Also they do small freezer packs in Waitrose/John Lewis

You can get little gel-filled packets that you freeze - I got some in Sainsburys.
If my kids are on a school trip they have to take 'disposable' lunches so aren't allowed lunch boxes. For those I freeze those fromage frais tubes (MunchBunch/Frubes etc) and pop one of those into the bag. It helps keep things a bit cooler and is defrosted in time for lunch

Freeze a Capri Sun or something like that and use it instead of an ice pack.

www.amazon.co.uk/Polar-Gear-Animals-Lunch-Chillers/dp/B002MVQWHA/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1347023174&sr=1-1

I got mini ice packs from the supermarket or matalan. They look like this

Frozen juice cartons and frubes here!

I use the same ones that vodkaanddietirnbru linked to - I got mine from Asda and they are really handy. I bought plenty of them because they are hard to find in the freezer

I use refreezable ice cubes, pop a couple in, stays cool and not too heavy

Frozen drink and frubes here too

I freeze the sandwiches. Do a big batch on sunday so I have enough for a full week. Making up packed lunches takes 5 minutes in the morning and everything is nice and cold by lunch time.

God, that's a good idea RedBanket, what do you put in them to freeze well? I am guessing salad is out?

It won't surprise you to learn I read about it in here!

Cooked meat, cheese, tuna mayo so long as its not too 'wet'. I've never tried with salad but I'm guessing it doesn't freeze well. I tried it out secretly on DH just to make sure it all defrosted ok, and he didn't notice anything different. I do 3 packed lunches in the time it takes to boil the kettle.

You need something like this. I bought something similar at John Lewis. They are very good.

Freezer packs - I have tiny ones - about 3 x 3 x half an inch but I can't remember where they came from. Or I have some normal sized freezer packs which are super-slim and they were from Tesco

oh my good god!! can you really do that redbnlanket????!!! wtf has no one ever told me that? that is nothing short of freakin AMAZEBALLS gonna try it,doesn't the bread go soggy?

I bulk make jellies and put them in little clip lock tubs. One packet makes about 6 small portions. I then freeze them and take one out in the morning and they have almost defrosted by lunchtime. My dc love jelly!

I have a cool bag that folds up and goes in the freezer (gel filled). It's for baby food but easily big enough for a packed lunch. Like this

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007JKCAAW/ref=aw_d_detail?pd=1

Not soggy in the slightest, there was a whole thread about it a while ago so I gave it a go. I had I sacrifice my cheese and tomato sandwich fix but the fact that it save soooooo much time is worth it.

I also have similar to those little coolpacks dikkertjedap linked to.

They're good but ds thought it was an ice cube bag and ripped it open and put it in a drink

But that's just us... they are good if used as intented

could someone please recomend a really good flask for a six year olds school lunch (pasta/soup etc).
Thanks!

I use those little freezer packs from the supermarket in a mini cooler bag, it holds this amazing lunch box scroll through the pictures, yes it holds a proper sandwich.

According to Annabel Karmel she says foods that freeze well are
sliced meat
chicken
fish
cheese spreads
peanut butter

don't freeze hard boiled egg, egg whites (?) may or salad dressing.

This is from her Lunchboxes book, she always says keep frozen bread, bagels, rolls, pitta etc to make lunches more interesting.

An I the only bad mother who doesn't add anything to keep lunch cool?!