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Mama’s how is it back to school time already? Are you looking for lunch containers? Are you ready to grab the best stuff for packing your kids school lunches? Plus, grab lunchbox ideas to have handy for when school starts. I was having a conversation with my daughter (Krissy) about the end of summer, what plans we all have left. Then I asked if she had shopped for back-to-school already? Like me, she was getting a jump on it. (You can scroll down to what we purchased and our list if you are in a hurry. And grab our lunch ideas.)
She is ready, the kids are ready for the end of summer. It’s that time of year where everyone is coming back from vacations. The kids are burnt out, tired of the midday rest times or naps (but, mom needs quiet time!). And everyone is tired of long hot summer days. Summer can seem like forever with a full house of kids… But, she was saying her kids are getting excited for back to school.
I used to dread easing into back to school, the early mornings, packing lunches every day, just to see kids get back home and you open the lunch bag to find lunch hasn’t been touched or is half-eaten. sigh…But, over the years we got our lunch ideas pinned, lunch meal plans made (Do you need a meal planner? At the bottom of the post is our free weekly meal planner.) and found our favorites for making packing lunches easy.
But, are we really excited about all the aspects of back to school? And daily chores of packing of lunches? Yum, yes! With our picks, andtips for packing lunches, lunch ideas... I am sure that it will help you get school lunches under control, be prepared, and kept food safe all day long! Packing lunches for the win!
Lunch Containers
Mamas want structure back into our lives, not the constant making food, picking up after kids and chant of bored kids. Plus we want our house to ourselves for our own projects, at least I do!
For me, Sammie’s a senior this year, and after raising her older siblings and her I can say I have a handle on packing up lunches. But, not the fact that she is a senior this year! Just the brown bag, lunch stuff.
Set yourself up for lunch making a success!
Have your kids help you pack their lunches. How do you get them excited to do that? Grab the lunch containers, lunch bags, and stock up on their favorite healthy foods, fruits and veggies, and healthy snacks.
Typically we head to Costco, Walmart, Target and the grocery store to stock up on lunch stuff and stock the pantrywith snacks. I stock the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies. (some cut up and stored in food containersmaking the fresh vegetables and fruits washed and ready to pack.
I set up a lunch cabinet stocked with all the lunch stuff; grab and go stuff, containers, bottles, and lunch bag. Pack lunches the night before. Even younger kids can help with lunch prep if you let them! I say, let them!
You can help pre-portion snacks into containers for the day, or several days of the week. Let them put it into their lunch boxes.
Have a cutting board handy if your kids are big enough to make their own sandwiches.
There are so many ways to get them excited for packing their lunches, or helping! Like grabbing a cute lunch bag with a mermaid, or a fun lunch bag with space stuff and astronauts…Give them incentives to help. Fridays we pack a small treat or surprise, even if it’s just a lunchbox note. Tada! You made your lunch all week!
Now onto the lunch gear. Scroll down if you are looking for packed lunch ideas for kids, or lunch ideas.
Top picks for lunch containers, lunch bags, and lunch boxes
You can use these ideas for work lunches too! The angels are singing because these containers and lunch bags will last beyond this year!
Hollar! Who is ready to get packing lunches? Get brown-bagging it? We are breaking it down. Ready, set, it’s back to school, lunchtime. Don’t forget to grab your camera, or cell phone and the tissues (or not)when you send them off to school.
First, we took stock of what we had. Ditched the old containers, recycled containers with no lids, and got rid of the stuff we didn’t like or use. Then made a list of what we needed. (Be sure to Subscribeto see how we cleaned and set up our cabinet. I’m saving that for another day.)
New water bottles. Our pick for middle school or high schoolers in sports is the ThermoFlask(Sammie has used hers all 4 years of high school)
New lunch bag. Our pick for middle school, high school, college or work is this insulated lunch bag. Roomy enough for lunch, snacks and heading to sports or packing up for work. (Shown below with full details.)
What did we buy for this school year?
The Best Lunch Containers
Lunch Containers with dividers
There are three sizes of these lunch containers we love. The Rubbermaid LunchBlox Sandwich Kit shown here is the perfect lunch container for elementary school kids. But, I got a set for on-the-go snacks for my high schooler. She has sports after school so we pack both lunch and snacks. BPA Free, Blue Ice freezer packs snap directly to food containers, keeping lunch chilled when you’re on the go. Snapping lids keep lunch items leak proof. Plus, she can use this for when she goes hiking with friends.
Lunch Kit Includes: 2 Snack Containers (.5 cup capacity), 1 Side Container (1.2 cup capacity), 1 Sandwich Container (2.6 cup capacity) and 1 Medium Blue Ice (Size: 4.81″ L x 5.625″ W x 5.25″ H when stacked)
Microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, BPA-free
Little ridges help snap them right into place. Then pop the lunch container into your lunch bag. These sets come in three colors.
You can get various sets to suit your lunch needs. For our high schooler, we picked the Rubbermaid LunchBlox Entree Kit which would also work for a college or work lunches. Similar to the other but, only bigger and with two blue ice freezer packs.
This Lunch Kitincludes 1 Entrée Kit with dividers (4.1 cup capacity), 2 Snack Containers (.5 cup capacity,) 2 Side Containers (1.2 cup capacity), 1 Medium Blue Ice and 1 Small Blue Ice. (Size: 4.81″ L x 8.625″ W x 5.25″ H when stacked)
Microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, BPA-free
Salad and Snack Container
These lunch containers are an investment (if you have multiple kids) but, well worth it. And the best lunch containers for high school. We have had these a few years and they are as good as new! (top shef dishwasher safe) We just added to our sets for the year. Since Sammie has school, tennis, an internship and other after school activities. These are perfect for packing snacks and salads. You can see the post about them when you are done. It’s later in the this post the bottom of the page to get tips for prepping salads…
Lunch Bag
The lunch bagwe picked is insulated. Large enough for her entree lunch, sandwich set or her salad and snack set. Or using two sets in the bag. It also has a nice side zipper with a large pocket on the outside of the bag, plus a back pocket on the other side. The bag has handles for carrying and a strap for over the shoulder.
It also can hold up to 12 soda cans or similar if heading to the beach with friends. Versatile, easy to clean interior, and wipeable exterior. Comes with 30 days return and money back, 1-year warranty and lifetime customer service. Too many details to mention.
See all our favorite picks for taking your lunch with you
Food Storage Solutions to keep your foods and produce fresher for longer! Perfect for prepping lunch with fruits and veggies ahead of time. Our favorite food storage containers! They really do work the best and a game-changer for when your refrigerator bins are stocked but, you still have more fruits and vegetables to store.
Subscribeand get a free printable recipe binder with resources! Perfect for saving all the recipes that your family loves, taking stock of your pantry, freezer and meal planning, conversion charts…
with snacks. I stock the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies. (some cut up and stored in food containers making the fresh vegetables and fruits washed and ready to pack. 
with snacks. I stock the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies. (some cut up and stored in 
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. Our pick for middle school, high school, college or work is this The lunch bagwe picked is insulated. Large enough for her entree lunch, sandwich set or her salad and snack set. Or using two sets in the bag. It also has a nice side zipper with a large pocket on the outside of the bag, plus a back pocket on the other side. The bag has handles for carrying and a strap for over the shoulder.
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