Hello!

My son (7) would like to take a hot lunch to school – some other kids in his class take a thermos with spaghetti bolognaise, or casserole, soup etc.
Does anyone use a thermos for their kids lunches, and what brand do you use? I’ve been looking online and it seems they are either quite expensive ($30-50) or really cheap ($5-10). I’d really like to see what others have experienced before I buy one. Do they leak? Do the kids lose interest? Does it take them longer to eat lunch, so they leave it so they can go play? etc


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  • I would think hot meals might be a bit cumbersome at school, as well as maybe a bit dangerous if they are too hot. Personally I wouldn’t do it.


  • I liked the idea of it when one kid came in with one but ended up deciding not to get one. There can be issues with younger children spilling soups and scalding themselves or others. Plus I think it was more of a ‘status’ thing and half the year wouldn’t be used.


  • I’ve been meaning to buy one too. One of the mums at school bought a Kmart one which you boil water at home that goes around it(I think) and she said it keeps food hot for ages


  • I never had hot lunches at school unless it was a lunch order.

    Hot lunches is a fantastic idea I think!
    Sandwiches do not always taste the best when they’ve been sitting for so long, especially during the warmer months.
    I would happily trial my children with hot lunches.
    Give it a go & see how it works out :)


  • Honestly kmart ones are the best. $15 and it stays hot for ages!


  • I’ve never had a hot lunch at school, given one to any of my kids or seen anyone else eat one unless it was from the canteen? Our school wouldn’t allow it I am pretty sure.


  • yeah great advice. don’t want to spend too much in case it gets lost


  • always had a wide mouth food thermos, its too hard on schools heating up for everyone, dont buy a cheap one, i still have mine from when i was at school


  • I used to take a thermos with soup and a slice of bread. Loved it in winter!


  • the cheap ones will leak and not keep things hot enough, the expensive ones will probably get lost, maybe ask the canteen if they can heat it up in a microwave if he takes it to them


  • I would see if they can what it for him rather than trying to keep it warm all day. Especially where meat is concerned


  • Have a chat to the school, they may be able to microwave something for him, not too sure about trying to keep something hot for that long.


  • What one did you end up buying? I’m also interested in this for my children.


  • quite often mum would send me along to school with cold leftovers of pasta bake or some such thing, and id just pop over to the canteen and get them to heat it there. as for a thermos, I picked one up for my daughter(just started kindy) to use this year from coles. cost me $20. I think if you heat up the thermos first with boiling water and then put the food in just warmer than eating temp it should be fine by lunchtime fingers crossed


  • What did you end up using?


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