Back to school lunch box hell. - Real Mum story on MoM

14 Comments

I never thought that purchasing a school lunchbox was such a big deal but gosh, aren’t there a lot of options these days?! I mean seriously, I’m pretty sure there was one small section in the supermarket which stocked lunch boxes when I grew up. The most complicated decision was what colour to get. I write this as I recently had a friend comment that I was too flippant about my daughter’s lunchbox options for kindy. Really? I provide her with the options of a healthy sandwich, fruit, veggies and a drink. I was asked if I would be sending my daughter with a waste free lunchbox? Is it BPA free? You know, stainless steel is much better for children. Does it have a metal handle because sometimes they’ve been known to pinch kids as they close them. Does it have a bento compartment option? You’d probably want a leak proof one as well. It got me thinking that maybe I have been too flippant with her lunchbox. I started googling in a frenzy until I realised, who cares? I mean, don’t get me wrong I’m sure there are plenty of fabulous options out there for lunch boxes but I guess my daughter and I are lucky if our biggest concern at the moment is whether I’ve bought the best lunchbox for her. What do you think?

Posted anonymously, 4th January 2016

14 Comments

- - rachelvk said
  - 26 Jan 2016
    8:33 pm
So much choice these days it can be overwhelming. As long as they can open and close the box and it fits a healthy lunch (and it’s an agreeable colour/ design) it should be fine!

- - mom90758 said
  - 17 Jan 2016
    1:20 pm
I agree. More than the lunchbox, I think it’s more important which food you put inside.

- - mom56312 said
  - 15 Jan 2016
    8:39 pm
As long as your kid is able to open it and close it without fuss, that is all that matters.Its what you put into it, my kids kinder has a lot of banned foods so all he gets is a sandwich and fruit and a rice cake, water to drink.. My older kids have it so much easier at primary school, where you can put what you want into it as long as there is some fruit…

- - clairejay said
  - 13 Jan 2016
    9:19 pm
Which do the mums here reckon is the sturdiest lunchbox? My kids have used Sistema and they seem to last fairly well.

- - mum888 said
  - 11 Jan 2016
    10:00 am
That’s because we have now so many choices where in the old day , it was a simple selection . My kids had to have the brand Smash one when they started high school because everyone else had one . and still until now I don’t even know what BPA means .

- - mom165744 said
  - 08 Jan 2016
    4:33 pm
We were lucky that where my son went to kinder, they actually supplied lunch boxes as part of their healthy eating program. As for school, my son wants a star wars lunch box so whether its stainless steel, has a bento compartment etc is really irrelevant. It comes down to what he’s happy with. Like you I agree if a lunch box decision is your biggest worry in life then you’re doing ok!
- clairejay replied
  
  11 Jan 2016 , 8:37 pm
  Agreed. I’m sure there will come a time when my daughter only wants to eat out of a lunchbox with a particular picture on it.
- - mom93821 said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    6:27 pm
The fancier the lunch box – the more likely it is to get lost! Kids definitely do lose lunch boxes. There are so many other school things to worry about – so don’t sweat it too much!
- mom94125 replied
  
  13 Jan 2016 , 11:23 am
  lol yes good point! they do lose them and water bottles too!
- - thaisgirl said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    5:10 pm
Amen to that. I have always used basic ones. Last yr I found some nifty ones on sale that have made my lunch boxes waste free but really I wouldn’t of got them if they weren’t cheaper then the usual lunch boxes that I get. Honestly the kids are going to lose them or brake them so what does it really matter as long as their lunch is healthy!

- - BellaB said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    4:24 pm
Kids lose stuff, so don’t spend a fortune.
- mom93821 replied
  
  07 Jan 2016 , 6:36 pm
  Totally agree with you – kids are pretty rough with lunchboxes and there is no point in a fancy lunch box. Basic and sturdy does a good job.
- - mom165081 said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    12:56 am
I have a small soft lunch bag that put a variety of small reusable plastic containers in. The fancier stuff is a waste of hard earned cash.

- - mom94125 said
  - 04 Jan 2016
    9:58 pm
lol yeah i am the same as you. i think that the lunch box market is over-saturated for sure! i like the rubbish free lunchboxes but other than that, no real preference or knowledge about the specific lunch boxes lol.