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Back-to-School Lunch Gear

Last Updated on July 14, 2025 by Carrie Korem, FNTP

With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear. So you’re all set with ideas for healthy back-to-school lunches, but what do you pack them in? With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. My girls are now 10 and 12 and we’ve tried and tested many items over the years. Here’s our list of favorites.

With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear.

Lunchskins – These are by far the handiest bags I’ve found. They’re sturdy and dishwasher safe, available in many different sizes, and come in the cutest patterns! Lunchskins recently released a new line at Target and my kids love the bright neons and polka dots! We pack foods like grain-free granola, grapes, muffins, and beef jerky in these bags. They’re practical, fun, and reduce waste. I can’t say enough about these little bags!!

 With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear.

Stainless Steel Containers – Our stainless steel containers are over two years old and still holding strong! They’re perfect for yogurt, berries, or anything wet. The tops seal very well (we haven’t had one leak yet) and since the bowls are stainless steel, they’re pretty much indestructible.

 With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear.

Water Bottles – I have three favorites – Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle, Life Factory Glass Water Bottles and Klean Kanteen Water Bottles. The Hydro Flask is fantastic because it’s stainless steel and insulated. Those cold drinks stay cold for many hours. If you’re wanting to stay away from stainless steel, the Life Factory water bottles are a great choice. I was a bit skeptical thinking they would break, but ours have lasted for over two years without any breaking or chipping.

With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear.

Insulated Thermos – I bought one of these on a whim last year and fell in love. This thermos will keep soups, stews, or reheated leftovers hot for many hours. In fact, my kids asked that I not heat their soup up so hot because at lunch time, the soup was still too hot to eat. Wow! I bought three additional containers so each of us can use one. They’re perfect not just for school but for work, road trips or when you’re out running errands all morning.

With all the plastics, BPA, aluminum and other materials that can leach into food and drinks, it’s hard to decipher which containers, bags and bottles are best. Here's a great list of back-to-school lunch gear. Lunchskins has offered to giveaway a $100 collection of Lunchskin bags to one lucky reader! Please see widget below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I am a Lunchskins brand ambassador this year. Lunchskins is donating the giveaway to one lucky reader. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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327 Comments

  38. Emily R.

    My husband and I alternate lunchboxes, but our favorite is probably the big, simple one we got from ReuseIt.com. I don’t see them available for sale anymore, but they have lots of other choices on their site. We also own one of the Built neoprene lunch bags, which is nice, if a bit small. We also use the ReUsies sandwich/snack bags, which are very similar to Lunchskins. I’d like to learn to make them myself, since they’re all kind of pricey. I’d still like to buy a few, but make the rest.

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  48. Jenni

    I would love some LunchSkins! My son is starting preschool in a couple of weeks, and we’re loading up on his back-to-school lunch gear. We got him a pretty simple, but cool, insulated lunch bag and a Spider-Man decorated Thermos-brand food jar (Thermos is always good quality), but I’ve been looking for reusable sandwich and snack bags. We don’t use paper towels or paper napkins in our house, and I don’t want to use daily plastic bags!

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  206. Maria

    I used Laptop Lunches. Very convenient and most of the kids were envious. More for the younger kids. Now that my daughter is older it would be nice to use the products you listed here.

    Side note: Although the update to your website is nice, I really miss and loved your other color scheme and interface. I love your information and pics regardless. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. 😉

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  244. Jennifer

    Thank you for this giveaway opportunity!
    My favorite items are glass jars. I usually use different sized canning jars and old kombucha jars. I know the glass will break, but our child is grown now so it is just us adults and we are careful. I would love to use stainless steel and we do have thermoses, but I really don’t trust what is really in the metal when made in China. I haven’t found any where the stainless steel itself is made in the USA.

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  277. Adina Gepfrich

    We used the bento-type boxes for lunch in the past. The last year or so, I’ve been looking for something easier without so many pieces to clean or keep track of. They kids have complained that I send too much food, so I am trying to simplify things all around. The Lunchskins seem ideal. Are they easy to clean? I have three kids and a husband who take lunch, so how many would you recommend I have on hand?

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  303. Barbara Love

    I love the Thermos brand container that I purchased last year to tote soup, chili, etc in for work or school lunches. This year we purchased two different kinds of lunch bags for my boys. One from Eddie Bauer and the other from LL Bean for my youngest. They hold up very well through the school year. I currently am using an Igloo brand lunch bag that is holding up very well (2years) with daily use. Pack our lunches everyday and feel some guilt over using plastic baggies for lunch snack etc. I do use the ziploc divided containers for lunches. However there’s always a little something additional to pack and I use zip close lunch baggies for this. Would love to have some Lunchskins to use instead. Thank you

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  307. Valeria

    I began a healthy lifestyle about 5 years and I honestly couldn’t be happier! I even spontaneously switched my major from nursing to nutrition, got into the program and it’s the best decision I have ever made!
    Just found your website, I am in heaven. Also, I have never heard of LunchSkins until now!!!!!! I want some urghhhh!
    College + Crossfit + 5 year old + healthy lifestyle = $$$$$$$$$$$$$ 🙂

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  317. Riya@Sprout'd

    Like most kids, my nephew likes to have a snack at the park and Lunckskins make it convenient to carry anywhere. He just tucks it away in his pocket once he is finished. These pouches are so easy to clean and reuse over and over again. Another thing I like to use with my nieces and nephews are Eco- friendly stainless steel straws, kids are absolutely fascinated by them.

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