Drinks in lunchboxes?

[brymolmom]

The metal Thermos brand drink containers (FunTainers or something like that) are expensive, but so worth it! My DD has been taking water or milk in one for a couple years now. We've definitely gotten our money's worth out of it.

I agree 100% - spend $15 now and it'll last and save you $$ for at least a couple/few years.

Bought one for ds when he was in K last year (btw- I didn't realize I would want one until about October or November - and they are VERY hard to come by then - get it now while all the school supplies are out on the shelves) - and even if he didn't drink all his milk - it was still cool (not cold) when he got home - and this is with FULL DAY Kindergarten. THey really work!!!

DS's is still in perfect working condition (just be sure to keep up on rinsing them ASAP each time it is used) - so I just bought another one for dd, who is starting K in Sept. I figure with hers - I will rotate with milk and buying a big jug of apple juice and putting some of that in. Way less expensive than the boxes - you'll make your money back in a month!!

I know the price tag looks high - I thought so too when I got mine last year - but go for it and buy the metal thermos!

 

[stsomewhere]

What do you guys give your kids to drink in their lunchboxes and what do you put it in? My twins are starting kindergarten at a charter school, so buying lunch or milk there is not an option. Juice boxes seem so expensive and wasteful, but I had bad experiences with leaking bottles for dd. Any good water bottles or thermos out there that will fit in a small lunchbox without leaking all over? They had the metal ones at the store, but they were $15 each!

My kids go to a charter school and they have an outside serrvice that does hot lunch. Also, a snack counter where the kids can purchase milk, yorgert.,etc(healthy snacks)

 

[problemchild718]

I too use a water bottle filled with water/milk. As an aside, I have 3 kids, my 2 older guys (now 15 and 17) have battled weight issues. With my 3rd (now 8) I learned from my mistakes-no chemical filled, high calorie snacks and drinks. Her weight is normal and food choices healthy. I wish I had been more dilligent with my boys.

 

[mantaz]

The metal Thermos brand drink containers (FunTainers or something like that) are expensive, but so worth it! My DD has been taking water or milk in one for a couple years now. We've definitely gotten our money's worth out of it.

We also have these. I did pay the $14.99 for the first one, found the 2nd one on clearance at Target for 3.24. LOVE these. They don't leak and I feel it makes DD a big girl. She was 3 when she started using them. I hated to send her to school with a sippie cup so this was the next best thing. Although they are expensive, they do come with a replacement straw. To me they are worth there money as they will last!

 

[badblackpug]

Check with the school about what you are ALLOWED to send with your kids (I will try not to get too worked up)

We live in NJ and we are currently "fighting childhood obesity" what we are allowed to pack in the kids lunches is very resticted. ANy type of Kool aid or Capri sun is not allowed. Neither is flavored milk. We are allowed to send only the small (toddler) size juice box, water or low fat milk. (I really want to go off on a tangent....but I am resisting)

I don't care for the bottle water because the bottles get thrown away and they are SOOOOO bad for the environment (no to mention bottled water is not flouridated)

 

[tripletots]

Yep... that's what we use (http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd210003) We generally fill them with milk or apple juice. I've had the same 2 for 4 or 5 year now and they are still going strong- no leaks. You can order replacement straws for them too (10 for $3.00), which I thought was a great idea.

That's what my triplets have been using since kindergarten. They are now going into the 5th grade. We only put water in it. When they were in pre-school we used them and put milk in it and it had that milk smell in it. So we only put water in it and if they want milk they can buy some for .60 cents. They rarely buy milk. When they have field trips where they have to bring 2 drinks I give them bottled water and as a special treat they can get capri suns (100% juice).

 

[GoofyFairie]

I use the rubbermaid juice box. They work great- I haven't had any leaks. I use an ice pack to keep them cold and I put milk in lunch- no juice and I don't buy any carbonated drinks or juice made with syrup.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

My 6 and 8 year old only want to drink water. I usually buy a 24 pack of water each week and add a new water bottle each day to their lunch box. It travels great and its the best for them. They open it at lunchtime, and have some left to drink after recess. I also put one in their back pack to keep on their desks at school.
I have a rubbermaid ice pack that i put in their lunchbox.

 

[java]

I bought both DD's the Sigg water bottle with the sport cap I use it mainly for water and never had a problem w/ it leaking. I also buy the Organic Horizon chocolate milk boxes to switch it up a bit

I occasionally do the regular juice boxes w/ no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweetners (sucralose, aspartame, splenda, etc)...

Us too! (Plastics freak here) The Sigg's work great. No leaking problems here. Also I do sometimes use the horizon chocolate milks- Or the 100% juice Capri suns Berry Blast is the one my kids like(and no HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP in there!! my other passion)

 

[java]

Has anyone used these? I was thinking of getting these because I would have 1 for soup and 1 for drink. Anyone have any ifo? BTW, I plan on snding Kool-aid made with splenda, milk, and roarin waters.

http://www.landsend.com/pp/UniformI...62082_185349_-1.html?CM_MERCH=PGGT_0000039176

OK I forgot the link the first time I posted..

I have not tried those but I have used the THERMOS brand ones that look just like that(Target always puts them on sale right around back to school time so I paid less than the $15 they want I think it was $7) And the Thermos ones work great. No leaking problems but I used it only for soup. For a drink I think I would lean toward more of a sports bottle type of thing to avoid spills- not from just your own child but all the other kids at the table.

 

[bmoncher]

my ds who is going ot Kindergarden in the fall will take Milk in boxes by Horizon or Parmalat for lunch. His private school provides water for snack time. This summer, during summer came, I still send milk boxes for lunch. I am not a milk drinker and my ds thinks of it just like everyone else's juice box.
I am not a big fan of juice period... so my children drink milk, water and yogurt drinks...

Beth

 

[jnzimm]

Rubbermaid short bottle . Top has hard plastic fold down straw and short straw attaches to inside of top and is reusable. Has not leaked in 5 years. It also comes with blue removable sleeve you freeze every night.

 

[Brer Shay]

I agree with PP about the metal Thermos containers. DD has a Tinkerbelle one and DS has a POTC one. They never leak and they keep cold. We've used them through two school years. Well worth the $15 each.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I am a pre-k teacher and I recommend the smallet sized drinks if buying juice boxes, or a good container that does not have to be unscrewed.

Most 4-5s cannot or don't want to finish a full box or carton of milk so half gets thrown away. We try to encourage them to drink more but if they are full, they are full and that's that.

I can't tell you how many times a thermos spills in their lunch boxes because they don't put the lid on right. Something with a flip up top is best because they can open and close it themsleves. And if the liquid spills all over the rest of the lunch, they usually won't eat that either.

 

[sk!mom]

DD12 has always taken a bottle of water. Sometimes flavored and for the past year sometimes a Crystal Light packet to add.

I wish that she would take the time to buy milk but for her standing in the milk line defeats one of the purposes of bringing a lunch- avoiding the line so that you have more time to visit.

 

[Dizneydaz]

When DD8 takes lunch (she just started 4th grade ) I use one of those sports bottle that have one of those refreezable insets that attaches inside the lid. I put in 100% apple juice or ice tea, most of the time. I have 2 so I know one of the inserts is always ready to go. We haven't had any problem with leaking. We have 2 different sizes as well but the ones she takes to school fit into her lunchbag. They're about 6-7" tall. I bought them about 4 years ago at either Target or Walmart.

Besides the cost of juice boxes, Capri sun, Juicy Juice boxes, etc. I hate all the waste produced by the boxes, etc. as well as the fact that most of them are very low on juice percentage. (Except Juicy Juice is 100% )
Save the planet, save the world. Saves money too.

 

[lg3]

DD doesn't drink any juice or soda. For summer camp activities I pack a small water bottle in her lunchbox. You can buy them in bulk. I usually keep some in the refrigerator at all times, but when we first get up in the morning we take one and put it in the freezer. That goes into the lunch box when leaving for school, so it is just the right temp by then. For school I have a milk account set up with the cafeteria so they bring it to their rooms at lunchtime (kindergarten).

 

[marcyinPA]

Yep... that's what we use (http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd210003) We generally fill them with milk or apple juice. I've had the same 2 for 4 or 5 year now and they are still going strong- no leaks. You can order replacement straws for them too (10 for $3.00), which I thought was a great idea.

It's nice to know that they sell the replacement straws! Thanks! We've had ours since my oldest DS was about a year old....so it's about 12 years old now! And still very much usable!

 

[marcyinPA]

Now DD is in MS and DS in HS so everythign needs to be able to go to the trash or recycle bin becasue if it were reusable it would be piled high in the locker and completely unusable after that!

Oh, I hear you! My oldest is 13 and going into 8th grade, and it is SO not cool to carry a lunch box!! Everything must be disposable or he won't pack lunch. Of course, he hates buying too So, brown bags and Capri Suns it is...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS takes an organic juice pouch every day. Those flavored milk boxes have staggering amounts of sugar in them! The unflavored milk boxes are probably fine, but DS doesn't like the way they taste.