West Coast Kids
You start out with the best intentions: sandwiches cut into the shape of your kids' favourite cartoon characters, homemade, nut-free cookies and snack containers filled to the brim with uniformly cut fruits and vegetables. Your kids' lunch would make Martha Stewart proud… at the beginning of the year.
If you, like most parents, suffer from school lunch fatigue, try investing in one of these fun and environmentally-friendly lunch containers. These are sure to keep you inspired from September through June.
Best Lunch Bags For Kids
Boon Bento Lunch Box(01 of11)
This cute-as-can-be bento box doubles as a carrier. With a rubberized handle, this bag not only makes it easy for small hands to hold, but the webbing acts as extra storage for cutlery or love notes from mom and dad!Get it here: West Coast Kids, $26.99 (credit:West Coast Kids)
Yumbox Lunch Box(02 of11)
We'd buy the Yumbox based solely on looks, but the icing on the cake when it comes to these sleek, colourful bento boxes is that the interior is divided into six leak-proof compartments. This is a necessity for those discerning kids who don't like their foods touching. Get it here: Fenigo, $37.97 (credit:Fenigo)
Happy Jackson Lunch Box(03 of11)
This lunch box has a sense of humour! The bento-style box is held together with a striped elastic band that conceals a hidden message. There's enough room inside for a sandwich and a snack. Get it here: Well, $12.98 (credit:Well)
Skip Hop Zoo Lunch Kit(04 of11)
For the smallest "brown-bagger" in your household, the Skip Hop Zoo lunch kits are available in a variety of animal designs that they are sure to love. Most importantly, they'll feel like a big kid when they are able to manipulate the large, easy-open clips (in the shape of beehives here), all by themselves!Get it here: Toys R Us, $11.99 (credit:Toys R Us)
Snack In The Box(05 of11)
This convenient pack makes snack time a no-brainer. Fill one of the chambers with their snack and one with their afternoon treat so that there's no confusion (some schools require that their youngest students' meals are labelled "snack 1," "snack 2" and "lunch"). Snack In The Box is BPA and Phthalate free and comes in three colours. Get it here: West Coast Kids, $14.99 (credit:West Coast Kids)
Bento Lunch Box(06 of11)
We love this bento lunch box because unlike most others, the interior compartments are made up of individual containers – each with its own lid – that can be lifted out for on-the-go snacks. Get it here: Mastermind Toys, $29.99 (credit:Mastermind Toys)
Gel CooMa Polar Bear Bento Box(07 of11)
It's a toss-up who will love this adorable bear bento more – you or your kid! We love it because it has an ice pack built right into the lid (just throw it in the freezer overnight) that will keep contents cool until lunchtime. Plus, the interior dividers can be configured in different ways to create either four square chambers or three long chambers (or no chambers at all), depending on what you're packing in their lunch that day! Get it here: Fenigo, $49.97 (credit:Fenigo)
Monbento Tresor Lunch Box(08 of11)
This compact stacking bento comprises of a bottom compartment and two microwave-safe food cups. While we love the tone-on-tone colour scheme, what we really fell in love with are the cute, matching accessories that are available. We'll take one of each of the snack box and the 100 per cent biodegradable cutlery set, please! Get at Indigo: Lunch Box, $29.95; Monbento Gram Snack Box, $21.95; Monbento Pocket, $12.95 (credit:Indigo)
Goodbyn Bynto(09 of11)
This affordable set by Goodbyn is the whole kit and caboodle. The Bynto is a stacked container with room for snacks in the top compartment, while the middle compartment can either hold more food or the companion eight-ounce water bottle (sold separately). The bottom has room for a sandwich. The container fits upright into the brand's streamlined lunch bag. Get at Well: Goodbyn Bynto, $12.99; Insulated Lunch Sleeve, $17.99 (credit:Well)
Lunchbots Stainless Steel Divided Lunch Container(10 of11)
A favourite lunch system around here is Lunchbots. Speaking from experience, stainless steel containers still look like new after nearly a year of everyday use, making them well worth their cost. This set is available in divided containers and round containers that include things likes screw-ons and leak-proof lids. These Lunchbots have everything you need no matter what kind of lunch you are sending the kids off with! Get at Safety Superstore: Lunch Container, $34.95; Lunchbots Thermal Insulated Food Bowl, $49.95 (credit:Safety Superstore)
BONUS: Mini Box Of Lunch Notes(11 of11)
Just because! These cute cards will brighten your child's lunch hour (and remind them that you're thinking of them) with their funny sayings and stickers! Get it here: Mastermind Toys, $14.99 (credit:Mastermind Toys)