Find my most trusted lunch containers for kids and adults to make sorting through the options much easier. These picks for lunch boxes, thermoses, dip containers, water bottles, and insulated bags are durable, affordable, and easy to clean.
Lunch Containers
I know firsthand that shopping for kids lunch boxes, kids thermoses, snack containers, insulated lunch bags, and water bottles can be daunting due to how many options there are. To help take some of the work out of this process of choosing the right one for your family, this post has my narrowed-down list of favorite lunch containers.
These work for kids for school lunch recipes and as toddler lunch ideas, yes, but they are also the ones I use when I need to pack myself a lunch.
There is a mix of containers here that are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, BPA-free plastic containers, stainless steel and more. You can use them to pack soups, salad, sandwiches, snack lunches, simple proteins, and more.
(You may also like Pizza Lunches, Pasta Lunch Ideas, Lunch Wraps, and baby lunch boxes.)
Table of Contents
Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!
Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Favorite Lunch Box
For the past 8 years or so, these classic Easy Lunchboxes have been the main lunch containers my family uses for both packed lunches and travel. I love them because they are durable, affordable, and easy to clean. And the compartments in these food storage containers are sizable enough for an adult, yet workable for a younger child.
Snack Box
The same company as above makes a snack-box size, which has smaller compartments that work well for packed snacks or for toddler or baby lunches. They are similarly durable, affordable, and easy to nest for storage. These are one of my picks for best lunch containers for little kids.
Thermos
Having a thermos lunch container can be a total game changer as far as options for lunches go because it allows you to safely pack hot foods (that still taste good come lunch time). The size you need may depend on the age of your child, but we have both the 8-ounce size and the 13-ounce size of the Lunchbots thermos and use both regularly.
A thermos is one of my top picks to ensure you have a wide range of options to pack for lunch.
Favorite foods to pack in a thermos include pasta in tomato sauce, mac and cheese, soup, scrambled eggs, pizza, or other leftovers.
Bento Box with Thermos Insert
The Omielife Bento Box comes with a round compartment bowl that’s a thermos, which means you can pack hot foods together with cold foods in the same lunch box. Amazing! When I pack hot foods alongside cold foods, I still pack the entire box in an insulated lunch bag with ice packs.
This lunch container has a movable divider for even more customization among the lunch component, and the lid security is great due to a tight latch and silicone inserts in the lid.
You can pack a range of foods, including dessert like cookies or a side like fruit or freeze-dried fruit chips.
Leakproof Lunch Container
If you regularly pack foods like yogurt, applesauce, or purees in a lunch box, this Bentgo Kids option is the one for you. It seals incredibly well yet is still easy enough to open for a toddler. (You can also place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the food before sealing the box for extra insurance against leaks.)
It latches securely and fits easily into a lunch bag or small tote.
Meal-Prep Containers
For weeks or days when I want to meal prep lunch for myself or to pack a few lunches at once, this set of Meal Prep Containers from Bentgo has been so incredibly helpful. The set is affordable and spacious for packing food, and it washes up easily. I have the pink set, but it comes in a few different color ways, too.
Insulated Lunch Bag
To keep food cold and safe, I recommend packing lunch boxes with two ice packs in an insulated bag. I like Bentgo ice packs and their insulated lunch bags, as well as the lunch bags from Lonecone.
Favorite Snack Containers
I love using the Beaba Clip Containers for packing snacks, as well as compostable Ziploc paper bags and fabric snack bags from Bumkins Baby. You can find the full list of my favorite snack containers for reference, too.
Dip Containers for Lunch
To easily pack dips or condiments, you can buy single serve packets of them. Or you can use a dip container like the stainless-steel ones from Lunchbots, the dip containers from Omiebox, or the stainless-steel ones from WeeSprout.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Easy Lunchboxes are my favorite since they are most versatile for a wide range of ages. My other picks are on this page, too.
A thermos is a great option to keep food hot long enough to make it to lunch time.
For food safety and freshness, pack lunch in a lunchbox with ice packs in an insulated lunch bag, Or in a thermos in an lunch bag.
Easy Lunch Ideas for Kids
- Hot Lunch Ideas
- Easy Pizza Lunches
- Sandwich Ideas for Kids
- Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
- Lunch Ideas for One Year Olds
Related Posts
This post was first published August 2023.
