Snack Boxes

Snack boxes, snack pots and lunch boxes

A snack box is a container for the food that comes between meals: a handful of berries, a couple of oatcakes, a square of flapjack. You will also see them called snack pots or snack containers, and the names largely overlap. A lunch box carries the whole meal, while a snack box keeps a smaller portion apart, inside the lunch box or on its own in a bag.

What to look for in a snack box

Start with how much the box needs to hold and where it will travel. A bite at morning break needs far less room than the snacks for a long afternoon out, so check the measurements in the product details against the bag it will go in.

Then think about who will open it. A lid that lifts from a corner or a tab is easier for small fingers than one that has to be prised off, and a practice run at home is worth the few minutes it takes. Last comes the look: a child who likes the design is more likely to bring the box home again.

Why a set of three comes in handy

Three boxes give you more ways to pack than one. Keep one in use, one in the wash and one clean in the cupboard, and there is a box to hand on a busy morning. Split a set between a school bag and a sports kit bag, or between brothers and sisters on a day out, and if one goes astray, there are still two to carry on with.

Snacks that travel well

Firm snacks travel best: apple slices, carrot sticks, breadsticks, crackers, rice cakes and dried fruit sit happily in a snack box until break time. A squeeze of lemon juice stops apple slices browning so quickly, and a square of kitchen paper underneath soaks up juice from chopped fruit.

Runny foods such as yoghurt and dips are better in a container made for liquids. Anything that should stay cool, such as cheese, is happier going straight from the fridge into an insulated bag with an ice pack.

Getting ready for the start of term

A few small steps before term starts save trouble later. Put a name on the boxes and the lids, since lids have a way of wandering off, and boxes in the same design are easy to mix up in a busy classroom. It is worth checking what your school asks for at break time too, as some schools ask for fruit or vegetables only.

Washing and drying plastic snack containers

Some of our snack boxes are dishwasher safe and some are best washed by hand, so check the care notes for your set before the first wash. Where the dishwasher is allowed, the top rack is the kinder place for plastic. By hand, warm soapy water and a soft sponge do the job; a scourer or an abrasive cream can scratch the surface, and scratches hold on to stains.

Wash the boxes on the day they come home, before crumbs and juice dry on, and let them dry fully with the lids off before you put them away, as a box closed while damp can smell musty. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, left on for a while and rinsed off, helps lift a stubborn smell and can fade a tomato stain.

Snack boxes at home and on days out

A snack box earns its keep beyond the school bag. Fill one with dried fruit for a walk or a long drive, have chopped vegetables ready in the fridge, or use a spare one to keep hair clips, crayons and the odds and ends of a kitchen drawer in one place.