Lunch Boxes

What to look for in a kids' lunch box

We would start with your child's appetite and the school bag. Lay out a typical lunch at home and see how much room it takes, then check that the box will sit in the bag beside a reading folder and a water bottle. A box that is too big lets food rattle about, and one that is too small means a second container.

Then think about the lid. One your child can manage without help saves a wait at lunchtime; a practice run at home before term starts is time well spent. Most of our lunch boxes are made for kids, so let them have a say in the design: a box they recognise is quicker to find on a crowded lunch trolley. You will also find a few in blue and a few with a vintage look.

How a bento box works

You will find a few bento boxes in this range. A bento box is divided into sections so that different foods keep to their own spaces, which suits a child who likes a little of several things or would rather foods did not touch.

The sections make portions easy to judge: fill them and lunch is packed, without a pile of bags and wraps. It is also easy to see at a glance what came home uneaten.

Keeping a packed lunch cool

A few of our lunch boxes are insulated, which slows the rate at which a cold lunch warms up rather than stopping it, so they work best with food that goes in straight from the fridge.

Add a frozen ice pack and lay it on top of the food, as cold air sinks. Through the day, a box kept in the shade stays cooler than one left on a sunny windowsill or beside a radiator.

What plastic does well

Every lunch box in this range is plastic, the usual material for a packed lunch: it is light in a school bag and simple to keep clean. Some combine plastic with nylon, a synthetic fabric, and a few are BPA-free, which some parents look for when choosing plastic for a lunch box.

Washing, drying and getting rid of smells

Some of our lunch boxes are dishwasher safe, a few are best washed by hand and a few simply wipe clean, so it is worth knowing which kind yours is before its first wash.

Whichever kind you have, our advice is to empty it and clean it as soon as it comes home, because dried-on food is harder to shift. Warm soapy water and a soft sponge are kinder to plastic than a scourer, which leaves fine scratches that hold on to stains. Dry it fully and store it with the lid off so no damp is trapped inside. If a smell lingers, a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, left for a while and rinsed away, usually lifts it.

A present for the first day back

Most of our lunch boxes are made with back to school in mind, which makes one a practical present for a child starting school or moving up a year. Tuck a few things inside to make it feel like a gift: a pencil, a sticker sheet and a note from home for the first lunchtime.

A few of our lunch boxes would make a good Christmas present too, wrapped up under the tree and ready for the spring term. For a fuller gift, pair a lunch box with a cup or a bowl of their own for meals at home.

Picnics, days out and a home for crayons

A lunch box earns its keep outside term time too. It carries sandwiches on a picnic, snacks on a long car journey and lunch for a day at the seaside. At home, a spare one makes a handy box for crayons, felt tips or craft bits in a kids' room.