Looking for a lunch box that will go the distance? One that won’t crack if dropped, won’t grow a tiny village of mould and will actually excite your kids to eat ALL their lunch (even the strange-looking dip!).
We’ve rounded up our top choices for school lunch boxes that will keep up to your kids, all Mum Central approved and ideal for daycare, big school and beyond!
Avanti Dry Cell Airtight Stainless Steel Food Containers
One of the leading names in lunch boxes is Avanti, and we know why! These lunch boxes will withstand it all. Great for school, work, picnics, and everyday outings, these lunch boxes are built to last. There are a few different sizes to choose from – 420ml, 550ml, 780ml, 1 litre, and 1.25 litre, all with a sleek stainless steel look.
Avanti lunch boxes are BPA-free, food-safe, air and watertight, non-porous, non-toxic, non-absorbent and anti-microbial. Definitely a sound choice for your entire family’s lunch box needs.
PRICE: $28.95 for the 420ml container
BUY NOW: You can check out the whole range of Avanti Dry Cell Airtight Food Containers at Howards Storage World.
Stuck On You Personalised Bento Boxes
Revolutionise lunchtime with Stuck On You, the Winner of the Best Lunchbox at the 2020 Junior Design Awards.
There’s so much to love about these adorable bento boxes. Not only are they personalised (no need to ever dive through the Lost & Found again!), but they also come with a 3-piece design for easy cleaning and 6 compartments with an optional 4-compartment sandwich tray.
Made of leakproof silicone, they are dishwasher-safe, free of BPA and phthalates and designed to keep food fresh and crisp. They come in two sizes – large and mini.
PRICE: From $34.95.
READER OFFER: With awesome sales every week in the lead up to back to school, Stuck On You is all you need to send your little ones back to the classroom in personalised style. Check out the current special offers to save.
BUY NOW:Be prepared for anything with your name on everything! Visit the Stuck On You website and never miss a deal by signing up to the mailing list for all the latest news and updates.
b.box Lunchbox
Another great contender, the b.box Lunchbox is ideal for daycare, kindy, school, even work. The large compartment fits a whole sandwich or bagel/roll and you can remove trays to use for pasta or salads. You can customise the dividers to suit all sorts of snacks and the leak-proof silicone is ideal for wet foods and easy cleaning.
We also love the gel cooler pack that sits underneath to keep food cool and fresh (perfect for school!). b.box lunchboxes are easy to open, easy to clean, freezer safe and BPS, PVC, BPA and Phthalate free. They come in heaps of great colour options too.
PRICE: Starting at $29.95
READER OFFER: Shop now and get 20% off. Use BBOXMC20 at checkout! Terms and Conditions Apply.
BUY NOW: Pick up your b.box Lunchbox at b.box.
Russbe Inner Seal Bento Lunch Boxes
Another great option for kids’ lunch boxes is Russbe’s Inner Seal Bento Lunch Box. What makes this one so cool is the inner seal which is airtight, leakproof, and easy to clean. It comes with hinged lid locks and in three different sizes – one with three compartments and two different models with two compartments each (ideal for our lunches on the go too).
Russbe lunch boxes also come with silicone partitions to seal each compartment and stop food from mixing, plus they’re BPA-free too!
PRICE: Starting at $19.95.
BUY NOW: Check out the whole range at Howards Storage World.
Sachi Kids Insulated Lunch Tote
Get ready for the ultimate lunching experience with the Sachi Kids Insulated Lunch Tote! It’s big enough to fit ALL their food and even comes with a mesh inner pocket for smaller snacks, napkins, utensils or tuck shop money. So cute and handy!
With ample space to keep their snacks and lunch cold or warm, this Insulated Lunch Bag is made with quality materials that are food safe as well as PVC, lead and phthalate-free. Other big bonuses – it’s non-toxic and wipes clean. Plus, there are so many pretty colours and funky designs to choose from, and even a shoulder strap and handle for little lunchers.
PRICE: Starting at $26.95.
BUY NOW: Check out the Sachi range at Howards Storage World.
YumBox
If you’ve made a promise to yourself to make 2021 a healthier year for the whole family, then the Yumbox lunch box can certainly help keep you on track for school lunches! This clever little lunch box comes with six compartments, each designed for a different food group (and with a cute picture too). Great for picky eaters and for instilling good eating habits, the YumBox is ideal for toddlers and kids up to eight.
Other features of Yumbox include leakproof lids, lightweight, easy to open, and easy to clean. The Yumbox has also won heaps of awards and comes with lots of great reviews.
PRICE: $39.95
BUY NOW: Find your Yumbox at the Mini Hippo.
Thermos Funtainers®
Thermos offers a massive range of fun food jars that are ideal for extra special lunches. Their FUNtainers® products are made from durable stainless steel and designed to withstand the daily wear and tear that comes with being owned by children.
You can fill them with hot or cool foods – pasta, salads, fruit, yoghurt, soups, sausages etc, and get out of the sandwich rut. They keep foods hot for five hours and cold for seven! Plus they come in heaps of cute characters and funky colours, which is another big tick for kids!
PRICE: Starting at $29.99.
BUY NOW: You can check out the whole range of FUNtainer® products at Thermos.
Little Lunch Box Co Bento Lunch Boxes
Another cute bento option is this one from Little Lunch Box Co. They are just the right size for kids and come with both a five-section, three-section or two-section layout.
Dishwasher safe, easy to clean, and with a child-friendly latch, Bento Two, Three and Five are all great additions to your child’s backpack. Pair your Bento box with a cute insulated bag.
PRICE: Bento boxes start at $29.95 and insulated bags are $39.00.
BUY NOW: Check out the range at Little Lunch Box Co.
Omiebox Bento Box
For the smartest lunch box of 2021, our top pick has to go to the Omiebox Bento Box from Trendy Lil Treats. It’s the first insulated bento box on the market, allowing you to store food at two separate temperatures. Cool snacks, hot lunch, all in one bento box. How amazing, right?
Omiebox is stylish too and great for little fingers. It comes with a leakproof design, a cute carry handle and is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and complies with all FDA and CPSIA requirements.
PRICE: $70.
BUY NOW: Check out Trendy Lil Treats for the range of Omiebox lunch boxes.
Nude Food Movers
Our final best lunch box of 2021 goes to Nude Food Movers from Smash Enterprises. This is our top budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on quality.
Nude Food has a whole heap of different lunch boxes and containers to choose from but our top pick is the simple and rubbish-free Nude Food Movers Lunch Box. With three separate compartments, removeable snack pods and dividers, this lunch box is a no-muss, no-fuss, no rubbish way to keep lunches fresh and secure. And for under $10 too!
BUY NOW: You can get the Nude Food Movers from several major retailers including Big W, Coles, Target and Kmart. Check out the range at Nude Food Movers.
Looking for more school picks? Check out our back to school checklist.
