Starting school is such an exciting milestone – for us parents just as much as our kids.
And it also marks the beginning of a new daily routine: preparing the school lunchbox.
Considering there’s an average of 200 school days per year, times thirteen years of school, that’s a lot of school lunches ahead of you.
So trust me when I say, choosing a great kids lunchbox can make all the difference.
Between myself, my team of feeding experts and our Mealtimes members, we’ve tried and tested so many lunchboxes over the years. And let me tell you, not all of them get an A+. While some have been absolute game-changers, others have quickly ended up shoved in the back of the plastics drawer (IYKYK).
Maybe you’ve just been through kindy orientation, reading fact sheets about what to pack for lunch and feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Or perhaps you’re a seasoned school parent who’s tired of dealing with broken clips and soggy, half-eaten sandwiches.
Either way, I’ve got you covered with the key things to look for when choosing a lunchbox that will work for your family (and last the school year).
What makes a great school lunchbox?
Let’s start with the key features I look for in a school lunchbox:
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It's got to be sturdy
Look at your kid. Now look at your kid’s school bag. Now imagine your kid throwing said school bag down about eleventy times a day for the next year. You do NOT want their lunchbox coming open, tossing apple slices and cheese loose in their bag.
Their lunchbox needs to be well built. Avoid glass (for obvious reasons) and opt for thicker plastic, stainless steel or a combination of both. Check that the hinges aren’t flimsy and test those clips – they need to hold up to some serious wear and tear.
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Kid-friendly operation
So your lunchbox is as secure as a bank vault – and just as difficult to get into. The thing is, no teacher has the time (or patience) to be opening 20 kids’ lunchboxes twice a day. Your child needs to be able to manage their lunchbox by themselves.
Before you send them off to school, check that they can open and close it by themselves. If it’s too fiddly or needs too much hand strength, it’s not a great option for school (save it for weekend outings).
Tip: Practicing on the weekends and during school holidays can help build your child’s competence with opening their lunchbox.
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Clever compartments
Kids Bento lunchboxes with multiple compartments don’t just look cute. They also make packing lunch easier because they let you add variety without everything getting mixed together.
Smaller sections are perfect for little snacks and those foods your child is still getting used to, while larger compartments can hold their safe foods so they feel satisfied with their lunch.
How many compartments should you aim for? Five is my go-to because it fits perfectly with my lunchbox building approach. If the lunchbox you choose has fewer compartments, you can always add snack containers or silicone cupcake liners as make-do dividers.
Tip: some schools will ask that you pack recess separately, or have another snack box for Crunch and Sip. Check with your school about how they handle different mealtimes.
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Cool packs and insulation
Rare is the school that has a fridge or cooler to store kids’ lunchboxes. For those that don't, an insulated lunch bag will help keep food at safe temperatures, especially during hotter weather.
You might also want to send hot food options, particularly during winter. You can send an insulated soup container alongside their lunch bag if that's something your family enjoys.
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5 Lunchbox size matters (but bigger isn’t always better)
You want the lunchbox to be able to fit enough food for your child, but not so big that you feel compelled to fill every space, or have it take up all the room in their bag. It’s okay to have a smaller lunchbox for kids with a smaller appetite, or even send two lunchboxes for those days when their appetite is bigger.
6 It passes the seal test
Look for silicone liners on the lids, which help create a tight seal. This keeps sandwiches and crackers fresher in a lunchbox, and will also keep goop-y food like yoghurt separated.
7 It fits your family’s food preferences
If your child loves whole pieces of fruit or thick sandwiches, choose a lunchbox with compartments that will hold these without squashing or having to cut off corners.
What goes inside their lunchbox?
Choosing the perfect lunchbox is only the beginning. What you pack inside is where the real magic happens – and where many parents feel completely overwhelmed.
My approach involves a simple formula that meets health guidelines while taking into account what your kid will eat. It’s not about packing the ‘perfect’ lunch every day, it’s about creating a system that works for your family’s real life.
I’ll be sharing more about this in my live Lunchbox Masterclass on 20th January
Mealtimes Members get access to my lunchbox builder, which is so handy for coming up with ideas on what to pack each day. You select from a massive list of options to find food your kid will eat, then the tool will build out your personalised lunchbox list. Save it to your phone for shopping and print it out on the fridge to make the mornings go so much smoother.
Mealtimes memberships include all the support you can imagine for easy, low fuss lunchboxes.
If you want more ideas, I regularly share photos of what I'm packing in my kids' lunchboxes on my Instagram stories. Then, members get a gallery where they can browse all my past photos, plus more from the rest of the Mealtimes team.
Happy Packing!
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