Kids lunch box tips: choosing, packing and cleaning

Choosing a lunch box

• Easy to open: let your child try opening and closing it. Small children struggle with very tight clips.
• Steel inner tray: stainless steel does not hold smells or stains as easily as plastic and is easy to wash.
• Size: big enough for one meal, small enough for the school bag.
• Compartments keep wet and dry food apart.
• A design your child likes makes them more likely to use it, and helps them spot their own box.

Packing ideas

• Mix a main item (paratha roll, sandwich, rice), a fruit, and a small snack.
• Cut food into small, easy pieces for younger children.
• Send water in a separate bottle.
• Avoid very runny food unless the box is leak-proof.

Hot weather and food safety

• In summer, pack food that stays fresh at room temperature for a few hours, or add a small ice pack in an insulated bag.
• Pack food just before leaving, not the night before, unless it has been kept in the fridge.
• Do not put a steel lunch box in the microwave.

Cleaning

• Empty and wash the box the same day with warm soapy water.
• Wash the lid and rubber seal too; food collects there.
• Dry it completely before closing it, to avoid smells.

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