Laptop Lunchbox Ideas

[leagirl12]

I just bought DD a laptop lunchbox. After getting sick twice this year she has sworn off of school food. She is such a good eater and willing to try new things so I would love to take this opportunity to pack some healthy new things for her for lunch.

Does anybody's kids use these? What is your opinion of them? What are some things you pack for your kids.

Thanks!!!

 

[nephthys43]

I have one. I love it. I tend to bring things I can heat up as I have a microwave at work. But I have brought hummus and pita, pasta salad, regular salad. Did you get her the old style one or the new 2.0 system. The old one is shallower so you have to either remove both large containers or squash a sandwich into one of them if she wants to take a sandwich. The website has some really good suggestions

 

[ShesAPirate]

Just found this - all pics of some good-looking lunches. I may need to invest in one of these myself

http://www.flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches/pool/

 

[Imzadi]

They are also called Japanese Bento Boxes. I always thought they'd be kind of fun to fill up and open later. You could fill them up with a real variety of surprising, nutritious foods.

There was this site from a while back that has ideas. She would cut up the veggies & fruit into cute, appealing shapes.
http://delicious.com/cookingcute/bento

 

[lovetoscrap]

These look really neat. How do you keep the food cold? And does it all say "secure" if turned on it's end or upside down? It looks like it could end up in a big mixed up mess if dropped or stored wrong?


www.familyfun.com has lots of lunchbox ideas

 

[nephthys43]

These look really neat. How do you keep the food cold? And does it all say "secure" if turned on it's end or upside down? It looks like it could end up in a big mixed up mess if dropped or stored wrong?


www.familyfun.com has lots of lunchbox ideas

One of the inner containers has a lid. The others a flush against the top when it's closed. I usually only carry one thing that might leak. As for keeping it cold, you can buy a "set" which has an insulated lunch bag (with a drink bottle). There is a pocket to put one of the flat ice packs in.

 

[lovetoscrap]

DD9 loves to make her own lunches with "fancy" stuff, salads, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, and lots of various things. She isn't a sandwich and chips gal. I think this would make a great Christmas present for her.

Where is the best place to buy these?

 

[Imzadi]

Just found this - all pics of some good-looking lunches. I may need to invest in one of these myself

http://www.flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches/pool/

I was browsing through the different lunch ideas last nite. You can mouse over a picture and most posters have written descriptions of their items. Look at some of these:

This set seems to have covers for almost all the compartments inside:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42542187@N05/3937454696/in/pool-laptop_lunches

This picture shows the mini ice packs that go in the little cotainers.
(Mouse over, one is on the bottom left and there is another one on the far right next to the tomatoes.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendycopley/3901384309/in/set-72157622152083158/


This one has some really interesting salad ideas, very different from the plain old lettuce & tomato. And she has a ham rollup with apple/walnut chutney that just sounds so yummy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginger_elanor/sets/72157601368797142/


Then there's this mom who made preschool lunch boxes in which I said, "I want these, forget preschool!"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendycopley/sets/72157604664251214/

She shows pictures of food stickers, which are food separators, and food-safe food coloring markers which she used for her small child, to make the box more fun & playful. She got really imaginative with her cookie cutters. There is one where she cut out a teddy bear in the back of a Babybel cheese:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendycopley/2470556225/in/set-72157604664251214/

It makes me realise I am really boring with my own food combinations. The different compartments of the Bento boxes really forces one to be imaginative to fill out all the different containers.

 

[nephthys43]

DD9 loves to make her own lunches with "fancy" stuff, salads, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, and lots of various things. She isn't a sandwich and chips gal. I think this would make a great Christmas present for her.

Where is the best place to buy these?

Some stores like wegmans sells them, but you can get them directly from their website. www.laptoplunches.com click on the store button

 

[MomPOM]

We've been using the Laptop Lunches for over two years now. They have a new set that was posted above. The main box doesn't have the raised edges so you can put the containers in whatever combination you want. Also, having lids for all of them is much nicer since the previous sets didn't have them. I just don't want to buy a whole new set because the one we have now is in great shape.

I highly recommend them. They are a huge cost savings and really encourage you to eat healthier.

 

[brittsmum1998]

Do these keep foods cold or warm (soup) ? I've never heard of these before but I'm willing to invest if it gets dd to eat healthier. She loves the idea of them being referred to as bento boxes.

 

[Imzadi]

It doesn't look like they keep things warm or cold. I posted a link in my last post that showed if you want to keep something cold, you need to add mini ice packs.

But, if someone has access to a microwave, they could nuke the individual containers to heat hot foods.

Here's one with spaghetti & meatballs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganruthie/3941137345/in/pool-laptop_lunches

And here is one with soup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginger_elanor/3924244790/in/pool-laptop_lunches

Here's one with cold pizza & soup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaimesara/3917080249/in/pool-laptop_lunches

Here is a mom that that added silicone cupcake baking cups to make extra compartments: