Best Toddler and Kid Lunch Boxes for Back-to-School
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Need toddler and kid lunch boxes for back-to-school?
Last year, my three girls (then ages 9, 10 and 12) looked at each other over breakfast as if they had discussed something serious without me, silently nodded together that it was time to have a chat with mom, and declared that they all needed new kid lunch boxes for the upcoming school year for their lunches and snacks.
Oldest: “Nothing that stands out. Just nice and normal.”
Middle: “ Not too small. I’m always hungry at the end of the day. And it needs to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.”
Youngest: “No unicorns or sparkles. Nothing babyish.”
Indeed, I have been packing their lunches in the same personalized, Potterybarn, insulated lunch totes for YEARS now. They are rather indestructible despite having been machine-washed dozens of times, but my girls have outgrown the designs and are ready for something new.
Given the many eco-friendly, innovative kid lunch box designs on the market these days, it is definitely time for an upgrade!
What to look for in a lunch box for kids and toddlers
As a pediatric dietitian, mom of three, and serial lunch packer, here are the features I find most helpful in a lunch box for toddlers and kids.
Easy to open: most kids aren’t given enough time to eat in school. If the lunch box design is challenging or time-consuming for them to open, they may run out of time to eat as much as their body needs and wants.
Multiple compartments: lunch boxes that keep foods separate from each other help make picky eaters feel more comfortable and encourage caregivers to pack a variety of foods from different food groups, which encourages little eaters to eat a variety of foods as well. This is key for helping kids get the different nutrients they need to thrive and grow. It also helps prevent blood sugar dips and spikes that can make it difficult for kids to stay energized and focused during school.
Leak-proof: nothing is worse than a backpack full of leaked lunch!
Insulated: food safety is key! Machine-washable insulated lunch totes with cold packs offer a great way to help keep foods in bento-style boxes at safe temperatures throughout the school day. Some lunch totes also include 2 compartments - one for cold foods packed with a cold pack and another for hot foods packed in a thermos-style container.
Which lunch box is best for toddlers and kids?
As we approach back-to-school, I thought I’d share the lunch box brands we like and will be using during the school year ahead. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated for writing this blog post, although some of the brands below sent free product samples for me to review.
Best Bento Box for Kids: Leak-Proof BentGo Kids*
We’ve used these BentGo Kids*, leak-resistant, bento-style lunch boxes throughout the past year in addition to our Potterybarn totes and my girls love them. I have never seen them leak, even when packed with wetter foods and dips. They include five compartments that keep foods separate and make it easier to pack a variety of different foods.
BentGo also makes a great BentGo Salad Stackable Lunch Container* that comes with a bento-style tray for salad mix-ins and dressing, as well as an insulated BentGo Kids Chill Box* that includes a removable ice pack that fits inside the box, keeping foods chilled throughout the day.
The BentGo Kids* boxes are recommended for children ages 3-7, while the BentGo Fresh boxes* are better for older kids and teens. The BentGo tray is dishwasher safe. They recommend hand washing the outer box to preserve the leak-proof seal, although I’ve been throwing the whole box into the dishwasher (top rack) for months without any issue.
Also microwave-safe and freezer-safe and made with BPA-free and FDA-approved food-safe materials. I love the kid-friendly latches that make the box easy for small hands to open and close. BentGo also sells separate, soft-shell Insulated Kids Lunch Bags* with mesh pockets for ice packs.
Best Stainless Steel Bento Box for Kids
These stainless steel lunch boxes contain multiple, bento-style compartments for keeping foods separate - four main compartments and one smaller area, which offers a perfect spot for introducing new foods if you have a pickier eater. While the actual lunch box is not leak-proof, the Rover comes with two leak-proof containers that fit inside the lunch box and are perfect for wet foods. I love how easy PlanetBox makes it to add variety to a packed lunch, as well as how easy the box is to open and clean (just stick it in the dishwasher).
PlanetBox’s sleek, insulated lunch tote bag is another great option to buy in addition to the Rover that helps keep foods cold and easily fits into a full backpack. I also love the fabric Snack Packs, which offer a sustainable way to pack dry foods for school snack time. Check out the Rover’s adorable magnets that kids can use for personalization. PlanetBox’s bento boxes are toxic-free, and free of lead, PVC, phthalates and BPA material. Best for kids ages 3+ with smaller appetites.
Best Lunchbox for Toddlers
Compact and adorably stacked, the MonBento Tresor bento-style lunch box fits easily into smaller backpacks and is a perfect size for toddler lunches - as well as preschoolers.
The easy-open clasps are perfectly adapted to little hands, and the design of the box is customizable, making it fun for smaller kids.
This lunch box is also quite airtight (lower compartment only) and robust - all compartments are freezer safe, and when you remove the lids they can be microwaved and/or easily cleaned in the dishwasher. The Tresor includes three separate compartments Made with BPA-free, food-grade materials. Do note that older kids may find the size of this lunch box too small to accommodate their appetites.
Best Bento Box with Built-In Insulated Container for Hot or Cold Foods
Omie also just came out with an excellent new OmieBox insulated bento-style box that includes a thermos insert for hot or cold foods*.
If you send in a lot of leftovers, this lunch box is a great option. It also has dedicated space for utensils which makes it easier to remember to include them!
Best Innovative Design Lunch Box
OMIEGO BENTO BIO: INNOVATIVE DESIGN LUNCH BOX
If you have a child who loves to build and stack, this beautiful design will be a hit. The bento-style main entrée container sits below the two smaller, top containers which stack on top and lock in place. All compartments are leak-proof and keep foods separate, making it easy to pack a variety of different foods. If your child has a larger appetite, you can purchase additional sets.
Easy-open flaps surround the tops of each compartment. I love that all of the pieces are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and freezer-safe. I also love that OmieGo Bento BIO lunch boxes are made using planet-friendly, plant-based materials to replace an equivalent amount of fossil fuel. By doing this, OmieGo halves the climate footprint from plastic compared to plastic made of fossil fuel. Omie’s lunch boxes are BPA-free and phthalate-free, and Omie also sells separate, insulated lunch totes to help keep their bento boxes at the right temperature throughout the school day.
Best Versatile Stainless Steel Lunch Box for Kids
Lunchbots offers a wide variety of different bento box sizes with different numbers and arrangements of compartments. This makes it easier to match the size of the bento you buy to the general appetite of your child, and also to pack a variety of different foods into your child’s lunch. The boxes are stainless steel with an optional plastic snap-on top that is easy to wipe clean.
While the boxes are not leak-proof, wet foods can be packed into the assortment of leak-proof dip, condiment and wet food leak-proof containers and/or thermoses that are sold separately. Lunchbots also sells thoughtfully-designed, insulated lunch totes with separate compartments for beverage, bento box and snack. Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
Are there other lunch box brands you love and have had great experiences with? Please share with me in the comments below, so I can check them out!
Wishing you and your kids a fantastic school year ahead…if you’re looking for some lunch-packing inspiration and want to help your child make healthy choices that will help his or her little body to grow and thrive, check out my guide to packing healthy lunches for kids!
For tips on feeding selective eaters, grab my FREE guide to reducing picky eating, and if you are looking for help navigating picky eating behaviors in your toddlers, preschoolers, and school age kiddos, check out my online course, Solve Picky Eating, a self-paced set of 12 modules that are delivered quickly in 5-15 minute videos.
And if you're looking for personalized nutrition support for yourself, your babies and/or your kids, I am currently accepting new clients in my virtual private practice. Looking forward to meeting you online…