BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCH GEAR GUIDE

Lunch is an essential part of the school day. A nutritious lunch can give your children the energy they need to stay focused, pay attention in class, and better learn the information presented to them. In order to ensure that you are dually prepared for lunchtime this year we have gathered up some great lunchbags, boxes and accessories to ensure that they will be ready for lunch in style! From eco-friendly to really convenient options-there is something for everyone.

Lunchbags & Lunchboxes

The essential starting point for any great packed lunch. Whether you are looking for stylish, eco-friendly or both, we have found one for you!

3 Sprouts Lunch Bag

Brand

Created by three friends who worked for high end retailers in New York and Toronto, 3 Sprouts launched in 2007 as a company devoted to making quality, stylish products for babies and kids. From bath and bedroom storage to lunch necessities, 3 Sprouts is devoted to those who share the desire for fun and unique children’s products.

Product

3 Sprouts insulated lunch bag comes in 6 different animal designs. Its spacious interior and soft outer material make it a no-hassle lunch bag for little ones on-the-go! Completely free of toxic materials, the 3 Sprouts lunch bag line will leave moms worry-free the whole school year.

Features You Will LOVE

• Buckle-clip adjustable handle to easily attach to book bag
• Fully insulated to keep food cool or warm until ready to eat
• Spacious interior with room for containers (width= 9 in, height = 6.5 in, depth= 7 in)
• Write-on name tag
• Made with 100% Phthalate and lead-free materials
• 6 fun animal designs to choose from

Perfect For

The 3 Sprouts lunch bag is perfect for young school-aged children. Its fun designs and durable construction make it a great choice for little ones; and you’ll feel content knowing you’re providing them with a non-toxic lunch bag from a trusted brand.

SHOP

3 Sprouts Snake Lunch Bag

EXPLORE AND CONNECT

Read moreBecoming The Wild Bradburys: Adventures with Kids Abroad

3 Sprouts | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Big Apple Buddies Lunch Sacks by BUILT New York

Brand

BUILT New York makes everyday items (lunch bags, coolers, pot holders) built with impeccable design and durability. The company believes that “great design makes everyday life better,” and strives to think outside the box to create everyday items with unique designs. All of the company’s products marry form and function, to make life easier (and fun!) while on the go.

Product

Remember opening your plastic lunch box at lunchtime, only to find your ice pack had melted all over your chocolate chip cookies? Biting into a warm, mushy ham and cheese sandwich? Finding that your chips had been smooshed at the bottom of your bag? Gone are those days — kids’ lunch bags today are insulated, easy-to-organize, and still as fun as that “My Little Pony” lunchbox you carried in fourth grade! In fact, BUILT’s Big Apple Buddies lunch sacks put the “fun” in function, with three cheery “buddies” from which to choose: Delancey Doggie, Rivington Raccoon or Lafayette Ladybug. Each lunch sack features high-quality Velcro closures, long-lasting insulation and a soft, clip-able handle — forward-thinking features that set BUILT’s Big Apple Buddies lunch sacks apart from the rest of the lunch crowd!

Features You Will LOVE

• The exterior of the bag is made from soft, wipe-able material
• High-quality Velcro means your child’s lunch will stay secure as your child runs to class or pretends the bag is an “airplane”
• The insulated interior is made with new heat sealing technology that keeps food cool and crumb-free
• All materials used for Big Apple Buddies lunch sacks are PVC, BPA, latex and vinyl-free
• Each bag has a name tag on the exterior for easy identification
• The handle on these lunch bags has a buckle that unsnaps to attach to backpacks, book bags or strollers!

Perfect For

BUILT’s Big Apple Buddies Lunch Sacks are perfect for preschoolers and younger-aged students. The characters are welcoming and friendly, which will comfort your child as he eats lunch with his class. The clip-able handle is great for attaching to your purse or stroller as you chaperone class field trips to the zoo or museum.

PACKiT Freezable Lunch Bag

Brand

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The company PackIt was designed by Melissa Kieling, a single mother of three who saw a desperate need for a lunch bag that would keep her children’s lunches cool and safe until lunchtime. She wanted to create something that rendered the toxic but freezable gel packs that were normally placed directly into the lunchbox, unusable. This was just the beginning for a company that now produces everything from small sandwich bags to large freezable carryalls.

Product

PackIts Freezable Lunch Bag with Zip Closure enables parents to pack their child’s lunch and send them off for the day without worry. This bag is lined with PackIt’s patented freezable gel liners that keep your content cool for up to ten hours and that drop temperatures by 25 degrees within the first hour.

Features You Will LOVE

• Adjustable carry handle
• Gel-lined walls chill a meal and a 12oz (340ml) drink for up to 10 hours (depending on external temperatures)
• Soft sided cooler folds flat and freezes overnight (12 hours)
• Zip closure locks in cold, dry air inside lunch bag
• Buckle handle clips onto totes and strollers
• Iceless cooler made from food-safe, nontoxic poly canvas and waterproof EVA
• PVC-, BPA-, phthalate- and lead-free
• Interior wipes clean; spot clean exterior
• Durable, hand-washable polycanvas comes in many stylish designs

Perfect For

The PackIt Freezeable Lunch Bag is ideal for both parents and children. It is a great bag to use for daycare and day trips and for children of all ages as well as perfect for a parent’s lunch.

Planetbox Lunch Box

Brand

The company PlanetBox was born when parents Caroline and Robert Miros combined their unique talents to create PlanetBox. Robert is an engineer who has designed consumer and medical products for the past 15 years. Caroline has worked extensively on childrens health education and environmental programs. They both share a passion for promoting the health of our children and our planet. And they both pack their fair share of lunches! They craved something that was all-in-one, but had separate compartments to keep foods neat and fresh, as well as encourage healthy eating habits.

Product

PlanetBox Rover Lunch Box will serve as your guide as to what and how much to pack in your child’s lunchbox. It holds an impressive amount of food, yet has it compartmentalized so it’s visually appealing to children, and helps promote healthy eating from the start with portion control in special partitions. They are made of high quality stainless steel that is built to last year after year.

Read moreDesigning the Perfect Toddler Bedroom with Nook

Features You Will LOVE

• The Rover holds nearly 4.5 cups of food
• Measures 10 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Each Rover lunchbox includes 1 Big Dipper and 1 Little Dipper
• Stainless steel products are dishwasher safe or hand wash
• Includes additional (sold separately) accessories to personalize, such as a carrying bag, fun magnets, water bottle, cold kit, or fork and spoon set
• Made completely out of non-toxic materials
• Stainless steel works great for foods because it’s safe, non-toxic, non-leaching, recyclable, and doesn’t pick up yucky food odors or stains like plastic does
• PlanetBox’s compartments were designed to hold sensible portions and remind you (and your children!) to eat a variety of foods, from fruits and veggies, to a small packed treat

Perfect For

The PlanetBox Rover is the perfect lunch box for kids of all ages. It’s a great way to dive into the bento box lunch scene, yet is fun enough that your children will adore it, with minimal effort on your part.

Bento Lunch Kit by Bentology

Brand

Bentology (formerly Laptop Lunches Bento-ware) was founded by California mom Tammy Pelstring in the winter of 2001. Located in Santa Cruz, CA, the company was established with the mission of helping families improve lunchtime nutrition while reducing waste. Their first bento-ware collection was geared at school-aged children, but it was not long until teachers and parents alike took to the meal containers for their own needs. Today, the company has been embraced by both families and individuals who want to improve their lifestyle through healthy eating, better nutrition and thoughtful design.

Product

Ideal for school, work, play and travel, this Bento Lunch Kit is versatile and fun! Pack your child’s bento lunch in this fun penguin design and ice pack inside the main compartment and your drink bottle (not included) on the side. Your child will appreciate a healthy and squish-free lunch every day with this perfectly designed lunch box.

The high-quality insulated lunch bag features a frosty translucent outer container, five translucent inner containers (2 open for easy access, 3 with water-tight lids in melon, raspberry, and pear), and an all-stainless fork and spoon set. Add a cool pack to keep your child’s meal cool from the time they leave home until they’re ready to eat lunch.

Features You Will LOVE

• Handle for easy carrying
• Front expandable pocket for extra items
• Side zipper pocket for bottle – fits bottles up to 2.75″ in diameter (bottle sold separately)
• Interior mesh pocket with Velcro for ice pack
• Durable Fabric – 100% polyester
• Reflective Lining – wipes clean easy
• Fully insulated
• Dishwasher safe (top rack – no heat boosters)
• Microwave Safe (containers)
• Food Safe: Contains NO lead, BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates, or PVC
• Sturdy, removable containers prevent squishing
• 3 water-tight, leak-proof containers
• 2 open, easy access containers
• Made in the USA

Perfect For

The Bento lunch kit is the ideal lunch bag for parents looking to feed their child a nutritious and perfectly proportioned meal at school. With its fun design, kids of all ages will love toting their squishy-free lunch into class. Save 15% off at Bento with the code: DailyMom15.

Accessories

To round out the perfect lunchbox you may need some great accessories. Maybe you are looking for some reusable snack bags to cut down on waste or maybe you need a drink holder that can keep beverages cool throughout the entire school day.

Reusable Snack and Everything Bags from Itzy Ritzy

Brand

Itzy Ritzy believes that parenting in style is completely possible, and their modern collection of baby toddler and lifestyle accessories provides smart, attractive solutions to everyday challenges, from carrying heavy car seats to keeping school snacks under eco-friendly wraps. They are committed to the environment and aim to up the ante on eco-conscious, no-waste solutions with amazing quality fabric and adorable modern prints that would appeal to any mom and child.

Product

Snack Happens Reusable Snack and Everything Bag Bundle includes a set of five of the top-selling everything bags- for the price of four bags. The large 7″x7″ reusable snack bags are machine washable bags that are multi purpose and ideal to tuck into lunch boxes.

Snack Happens Mini Reusable Snack and Everything Bag is sold in a 2-pack and is the smaller version of the everything bag and perfectly portioned for snacks or other lunch box additions. It measures 7″ long by 3.5″ wide.

Features You Will LOVE

• 3 bundles available for prints: girl bundle, boy bundle and gender neutral (pictured)
• Reusable, machine washable bags for snacks, sandwiches, fruit, school lunches, mini first aid kits, cell phones, car & plane trips, crayons, toiletries, iPods, cameras, hiking, camping, travel, beach gear & more
• FDA approved, BPA Free, Lead Free, PVC Free
• Machine wash in cold water with like colors, no bleach, line dry recommended
• Zipper closure and PVC free waterproof lining
• New original prints introduced throughout the year

Perfect For

These reusable snack bags are great for lunch boxes, or snacking on the go, and the high quality zipper ensures that the snacks will not spill all over their lunchbox or the bottom of your diaper bag. The bundle set is a great price point and is ideal for families with multiple children, or for gifting.

Leafcutter Designs Notebook “Paper” Napkins & DIY Tiny Mail Kit

Brand

Based out of Berkley, CA, the Leafcutter Designs studio was created and is run by Lea Redmond and her brother Devin. This creative duo began dreaming in a larger scale when their whimsical, homemade gifts became more widely popular and requested outside of their circle. Home of The World’s Smallest Postal Service, Leafcutter Designs provides such fun and creative products as tiny mail kits from their Curious Gifts, seed coins and trade tokens from their Unique Promotional & Custom Products and many fun Participatory Social Art Projects!

Products

Notebook “paper” napkins are just about the coolest thing you can include in your child’s lunchbox this year. Made from organic cotton, these authentic designed cloth napkins add a little bit of childhood nostalgia and quirkiness to any meal. These napkins are 8.5 x 11 inches – just like a real sheet of notebook paper and have three perfectly-stiched button holes down the left-hand side.

From The World’s Smallest Post Service comes the DIY Tiny Mail Kit! Complete with all of the essentials to create miniature letters and packages, this kit will be a hit for both kids and parents this school year. You can write tiny letters to your kids, seal them with the tiniest stamps and stickers and leave them in their lunch boxes or book bags. Or place a tiny treat or memento into one of the miniature boxes, wrap it in paper and tie it with twine. This DIY Tiny Mail Kit is truly the sweetest way to say “I love you” – miniature style!

Features You Will LOVE

Notebook “Paper” Napkins

• Made in the USA with organic cotton
• Authentic notebook paper design and details
• Available in sets of two or four

DIY Tiny Mail Kit

• Comes with all of the materials to create 24 mini letters, 6 mini packages and 1 mini mail box
• Includes tiny stamps, stickers, envelopes, boxes, paper, twine and much more
• Magnifying glass and fine-tip pen included for precise detail

Perfect For

Leafcutter Designs’ Notebook “Paper” Napkins make the perfect addition to any lunchbox for school-aged children and teens. They also make unique teacher’s gifts! The DIY Tiny Mail Kit will provide creative fun for parents and children alike as they create tiny letters and packages for each other. They make the perfect affectionate notes to add to lunch boxes or book bags.

Use code DMOM15 for 15% off anything in Leafcutter Designs’ online shop!

Lunch and Snack Accessories by One Step Ahead

Brand

One Step Ahead is a family-owned company of picky parents who have done the research and testing for you; to bring you only the best, safest and most useful children’s products and gear. If the folks at One Step Ahead cannot find a suitable product to meet a current need, their in-house design team gets to work creating a new and ingenious kid product that you won’t find anywhere else!

Product

Throughout the school year, thousands of plastic bags will be used in school lunches and discarded, leaving tons of waste that could (often) otherwise be prevented. Reusable lunch containers, for everything from sandwiches to snacks to drinks, solve this problem and promise a school year with less waste, and more fun! We love these bright and adorable snack and lunch accessories by One Step Ahead, which are kid-friendly and parent-approved. Each piece has a tethered lid, which makes storage a breeze, and since food will be in a sturdy, hard container, sandwiches do not get smashed and snack pieces remain intact. Stainless steel water bottles and thermoses leave food and drinks fresher for hours, and their cute sets of ice packs will keep lunches cool all day long.

Features You Will LOVE

• Non-toxic
  
• Bright and colorful, kid-approved!
• Waste-free and reusable
• Tethered lids for easy storage
  
• Thermos is double-walled to keep food cold or warm for hours
  
• BPA free, phthalate free, and recyclable

Perfect For

One Step Ahead lunch products are suitable for children ages 3 years and up. The variety of styles are sure to delight school-age children of all ages and make lunch time fun and convenient – for children as well as their parents!

Vapur Quencher

Brand

California-based Vapur was started in 2009 by three avid outdoorsmen who wanted to eliminate plastic waste and make hydration something lightweight and portable enough to take with you on any adventure. Enter the game-changing Vapur Anti-Bottle.

About 87% lighter than typical rigid bottles, the slim, flexible Anti-Bottle only packs water weight. It also uses less energy to make and transport than rigid bottles, so not only is the Anti-Bottle light on your load, its environmental impact is also pretty light. Vapur now has multiple product lines of Anti-Bottles, ranging from the highly-technical Element to the Quencher line for kids.

Product

The kid’s Vapur Quencher is a reusable water bottle designed to stand when full and can be rolled, folded or flattened when empty, making it easy to use. The endless customization options will keep youngsters entertained while allowing them to create their own unique bottle.

Features You Will LOVE

• Ultra-portable size of 0.4L capacity
• Reinforced grommet and 3-ply construction
• Made from a BPA free plastic
• Original pop cap for safe and leak proof use
• Taste-free and odor resistant
• Dishwasher safe
• Included carabiner makes attaching these water bottles to belt loops, packs or book bags quick and easy
• 4 available monsters for your child to love: Bo, Lolli, Fuse & Splash

Perfect For

Vapur Quencher is the perfect water bottle for your child to clip on to their backpack or lunchbox. It’s easy and fun to use, and takes up half the space of a traditional bulky water bottle.

Lunch Accessories By Eco Vessel

Brand

Eco Vessel is located in Boulder, Colorado at the very base of the Rocky Mountains. They develop products using only safe and sustainable yet sturdy materials. In their products they use only high quality, non-leaching materials. They are also BPA, phthalate free, recyclable and environmentally friendly. Eco Vessel has something safe and eco-friendly for everyone from babies to adults. This is a company that likes to give back. They have a mission and a passion to help in supporting organizations that work to provide clean drinking water around the world. Two of these such organizations are Water For People and The Unicef Tap Project.

Product

Eco Vessel has some great water bottle options for your child’s lunchbox this year. Two of our favorites are the Scout Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Straw and the Frost Triple Insulates Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Spout.

In addition to water bottles, they also offer great options for your child to carry their snacks in. Their 8 ounce Collapsible Snacker Silicone Food Container is perfect for packing small snacks!

Features You Will LOVE

Scout Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Straw

• Premium Stainless Steel
• Flip Drinking Spout and Inner Silicone Straw for Tilt-free Drinking
• Convenient carry handle
• BPA & Phthalate Free

Frost Triple Insulates Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Spout

• Premium Stainless Steel
• BPA & Phthalate Free
• TriMax Triple Insulation Keep Drinks COLD and Fresh for 36 Hours
• Flip Straw Top and Inner Silicone Straw for Tilt-free Drinking
• Integrated Carry Handle

Collapsible Snacker Silicone Food Container

• Food Grade
• BPA Free Silicone
• Collapses Down For Easy Storage & Carrying
• Dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe

Perfect For

Eco Vessels products are the perfect fit for a family who is in search of supporting a company that not only makes high quality, eco-friendly products but also gives back to the community. Their water bottles and containers are the perfect chemical free way to make sure your child’s lunch box is complete with everything they need.

Lunch Accessories by U-konserve

Brand

U-Konserve offers people everywhere waste free and reusable food storage solutions. Two women saw a need for a company that helped the environment. As parents they saw just how much they were contributing to garbage landfills, pollutants and how this was sending the wrong message to children. With that in mind they set out to create reusable products that would ultimately cut down on the amount of trash we produce on a regular basis.

Product

U-Konserve offers so many options that are great for packing lunches. Here at Daily Mom we are big fans of glass due to its sustainability features. Their glass containers with silicone sleeves are great for storing lunches in the fridge or sending kids off to school with.

In addition to great glass containers they also have great food kozy wraps that are the perfect plastic bag alternative for sandwiches.

Features You Will LOVE

Glass With Silicone Sleeve

• Ideal for on the go lunches and snacks
• Stylish glass and silicone bakeware
• Glass containers and silicone sleeves are oven safe up to 425 degrees
• Dishwasher Safe
• Silicone sleeve helps protect against breakage
• Free from BPA, Phthalates, PVC and Lead
• 13oz containers nest inside 36oz. containers

Food Kozy Wrap Bundle

• Eco-Friendly alternative to plastic baggies
• Free from BPA, Phthalates, PVC and Lead
• Perfect for sandwiches
• Great storage for snacks and leftovers like cut meats, cut vegetables and blocks of cheese
• Non-toxic

Perfect For

These are perfect for families looking to cut down on waste of plastic bags and reduce their use of plastics. Glass is a great alternative and these containers, with their silicone sleeve can be used for many things. They can be used to carry lunch to and from school or even store leftovers in the fridge.

Silikids Silibag Snack Bags

Brand

Silikids is a company you can feel great about – started by moms who were looking for something better than plastic for their children, the company uses glass and silicone to create kid-friendly, toxin-free mealtime products. They offer a full range of products, from spoons, to glasses, to snack bags, and more.

Product

One of the biggest factors of waste during the school year is packaging. We’re all guilty of throwing snacks and sandwiches into disposable sandwich bags, but did you ever stop to think of how many children are sent to school with those same bags – and those same bags all end up in landfills across the country. Silibags are an incredible way to cut back on waste – and – even better, a toxin-free way to store your child’s food.

If you’re looking to cut back on the amount of plastic that your child comes into contact with, Silibags are a great place to start. Toss your reusable toxin-laden plastic containers aside, and pack your child’s lunch in a toxin-free, durable Silibag – perfect for sandwiches, fruit, veggies, or snack foods.

Features You Will LOVE

• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Can be written on with washable marker or pen
• Bag stands up for easy snacking
• BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalate free
• Non-toxic, hypoallergenic, does not promote bacteria or fungus growth

Perfect For

Silibags are great for all kids who bring lunch or snacks to school with them. Because they’re reusable, we recommend sending them to school with older children who are responsible enough to bring the bags back home each day, or even with little ones in a daycare or preschool setting, where teachers can help pack the Silibags up after snack or lunchtime.

KidzShake Nutritional Shakes for Kids

Brand

The company KidzShake was founded by Doctor Rach, who is a mom herself, and nutritional expert. She wanted a kid’s nutritional shake that had ZERO sugar in it, and nothing artificial, so the idea for KidzShake was born. She wanted to have it packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Not just a little but a real BANG of the good stuff they need. Finally, it had to be delicious. It needed to use natural sweeteners found in nature, not developed in some laboratory. It tastes as good as any milkshake you can buy or make at home.

Product

The KidzShake Nutritional Shake is an easy to mix powder that can be added to any drink or smoothie, and is geared toward appealing to younger children. It is packed with vitamins and minerals that have been proven to improve brain function and alertness, immunity and digestion, as well as bone and muscle development. It reduces bad cravings and provides essential vitamins and minerals.

The KidzSprinkles is a complete children’s vitamin that is a great source of omega 3’s, and can be sprinkled on top of any food (or in drinks) without detection of children, since it’s tasteless. It contains probiotics and added iron, to give a nutritional boost to any food.

Features You Will LOVE

• KidzShake comes in four yummy flavors: Chocolate Cream, Vanilla Cream, Orange Cream, and Strawberry Cream.
• KidShake is gluten free, lactose free, nut free and totally free of Trans Fatty Acids.
• There is zero sugar, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
• It contains digestive enzymes, probiotics, omega 3 and trace minerals to support healthy growth and development.

Perfect For

KidzShake is the perfect “chocolate milk” substitute for those chocolate milk obsessed kids, and is great to send in lunch bags and backpacks. Simply have the child dump in the pre-measured powder and mix with water, and they are on their way to a nutritious lunch beverage that they are sure to love.