Must Have Back-to-School Lunch Gear for Kids

I often receive questions about my preferred products for packing school lunches, so I’m excited to share some of my favorite lunch gear for kids. As any parent knows, the presentation and packing of a school lunch can significantly impact whether it gets devoured or returned untouched! There’s nothing more disheartening than discovering your child’s lunch box still full of the food you lovingly prepared.

With this lunch gear, packing school lunches becomes a breeze and even an enjoyable experience. Not only are these items eco-friendly, but they also offer adorable and customizable options, from the lunch box itself to the delightful treats inside! Say goodbye to those single-use plastic ziplock bags and hop aboard the reusable lunch gear train! I guarantee you won’t regret making the switch.

Lunch Boxes and Lunch Bags

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1. PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box – These bento-style lunch boxes at PlanetBox have been my go-to for years when packing my kids lunch. The different compartments make it easy to add tons of variety. Plus, they last forever, are dishwasher safe and come with magnets to customize the front and increase the cute factor!
2. Bentology Bento Lunch Box – Another great bento-style lunch box that I’ve tested over the years. Super durable and they’re whole store has tons of options for making lunchtime fun (and cute!).
3. Fulton Bag Co. Upright Lunchbox – This lunch box/bag is a great option for bigger kids who maybe need a little more space than what a bento-style lunch box may provide. Plus, it’s a hard shell so won’t get crushed and insulated to help keep food at the right temperature.
4. Bentology Insulated Lunch Box Sleeve – Another great insulated lunch bag that you can add whatever you want. It also fits the Bentology bento-style lunch box. They have tons of options for designs but Chloe always loved this cute kitty cat one!
5. Flower Garden Insulated Kids Lunch Box – I love this insulated lunch box because it’s super duper cute, comes with a side pocket for a water bottle and you can get it customized with your kid’s name or initials.
6. Lunchbots Stainless Steel Lunch Container – Another stainless steel lunch box that I really like. This size is great for a sandwich and two sides.
7. Bentgo Bento Box – This one has slightly larger compartments and is great for kids that are a little older. Around 7 and older!
8. Minted Lunch Bag – Another one that’s great for any age, but especially kids that are a little older. It’s big enough to hold their lunch box, water bottle and an ice pack.

Lunch Box Accessories for Kids

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1. Wean Green Glass Storage Containers – These containers are the best. They come in every size you could ever want with air tight lids. Plus, not only are they perfect for packing school lunch but they’re wonderful for food storage and meal prepping in general.
2. Swell Salad Bowl Kit – This salad container is so amazing. Your salad greens go into the main bowl, then other food items (like croutons or toppings) in the separate tray above with a leakproof canister for dressing. No soggy salads here!
3. Swell Leak-Proof Temperature Controlled Container – This container is a bowl shaped thermos that keeps food cold for 11 hours and hot for 7 hours.
4. Mira Food Jar Thermos – I love sending warm soup in this thermos with my kids, especially during the cold months. It keeps food hot for about 5 hours and cold for about 10 hours. Great for kids who don’t have access to a microwave or refrigerator for their hot school lunches.
5. Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag – I prefer to use these reusable silicone bags instead of disposable plastic bags when I’m packing lunch. They’re dishwasher and microwave safe, and again, come in tons of different sizes depending on what you’re wanting to pack.
6. Silicone Lunch Box Dividers – These reusable dividers are another great tool to have when packing lunch if you want to divide the bento box compartments up even more. This kit comes with adorable animal food picks too for some extra fun!
7. Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Thermos – Another really great thermos that keeps food hot for hours! Soups stay hot for up to 14 hours and cold foods stay cold up to 24 hours.
8. Bentgo Buddies Reusable Ice Packs – Even ice packs can be fun! These are absolutely adorable and have tons of fun shapes like unicorns, dinosaurs and mermaids. Plus, their slim design makes them perfect for adding to lunch bags to keep everything cool.
9. Kids Stainless Steel Cutlery Set – This cutlery set is perfectly made for kids. It comes with a stainless steel fork and spoon plus a slim storage case so it easily fits in a lunch bag.

Water Bottles for Kids

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1. Klean Canteen Kids – I like that this water bottle has a sports cap for kids that are maybe working on their fine motor skills and helps prevent spills.
2. Simple Modern – This 40 ounce tumbler is perfect for older kids and adults. Chloe and I have matching ones we carry around the house like adult sippy cups. Add tons of ice to your water to keep it icy cold for 24 hours+.
3. Thermos – This has been Gemma’s go-to water bottle for the past 6 months. Durable with an easy pop open and click shut top that’s easy to drink from and even easier to clean. 
4. Hydro Flask – This bottle really makes a statement with it’s vibrant colors, straw top and cool factor. They’re also built to last. 
5. Yeti Rambler – This insulated water bottle comes in tons of fun colors and is super durable. Keeps drinks cold until your last sip!
6. Pura Sport Mini Water Bottle – This is another great water bottle for kids because it’s the perfect diameter for little hands to be able to hold.
7. LifeFactory Water Bottle – I love that this water bottle is glass but comes with a silicone cover to protect it from breaking when dropped. The flip cap is perfect for kids too!
8. BKR Glass Water Bottle – This is another water bottle that’s glass with a silicone cover. It comes it tons of colors and designs. I would give this one to a kid that’s a little bit older since it has a screw top.
9. Owala Kids Flip Top Water Bottle – The flip top on this water bottle is great for kids since they can open it using one hand. It’s also leak proof and insulated to keep water cold for up to 24 hours.
10. Bentgo Kids Water Bottle – Any kid would be stoked to have one of these super cute water bottles. They comes in so many kid-friendly designs like rainbows and butterflies, dinosaurs and spaceships!
11. koodee Water Bottle – I have this water bottle for myself, but it’s a great one for kids and even teens too.

Backpacks for Kids

1. State Bags Backpack – I’ve loved these backpacks for a while now. They’re super durable, and with over 50 colors to choose from there’s something for everyone!
2. Lavender Heart Tie-Dye Backpack – This backpack is absolutely adorable and can be customized with your kids name.
3. Hello Kitty Backpack – Because who wouldn’t love to have a little Hello Kitty glow in the dark backpack for school this year? Love this one!
4. PBTeen NFL Backpack – For the kids who love sports and want to be a team player! This backpack is very durable as well and so much fun!
5. L.L.Bean Original Book Pak – These have been a tried and true for many families for as long as I can remember. They really are so strong and can be used for years!
6. JanSport SuperBreak Backpack – JanSport backpacks are as classic as you can get! I love them because they come in tons of different colors and designs.
7. Minted Personalized Backpack – This backpack comes in a ton of fun designs and can be personalized with your kid’s name. Plus it’s super lightweight.