Packing lunches will soon return to your daily to-do list since it’s almost time for back to school.

Making a lunch that your child will actually eat requires packing it in something that will keep the food in palatable, transportable, and, hopefully, appetizing condition, whether you find this to be a tedious chore or something you actually enjoy doing.

The variety of lunch box choices available is mind-boggling, including various sizes and styles (lunch bag, box, bento-style, single compartment), as well as different materials (BPA-free plastic, stainless steel, bamboo) — not to mention how you’re going to keep the food insulated and safe to eat. It’s a tricky culinary problem! Read more to learn do bento boxes keep food warm.

But most parents would agree that we want to choose the best lunchbox to inspire our children to eat enthusiastically and healthily every day, as well as one that’s easy to clean and won’t make a mess at the bottom of a school bag.

Yumbox, a US company that makes bento-style lunch boxes that have grown in popularity with Australian parents, is one that makes all of the aforementioned promises. Here, CHOICE parents discuss the Yumbox and a few other factors to think about when choosing the ideal lunchbox.

What is a Bento-style Lunch Box?

Traditional Japanese bento boxes—single-serve meals packed into a box, typically centered around rice or noodles—serve as the inspiration for bento-style lunch boxes like the Yumbox.

They are essentially boxes with an inner tray that has numerous compartments for various types of food, which open and close with a single latch. To avoid spills, some have silicone seals as well.

They are marketed as a good option for both picky and adventurous eaters because they make it simple for parents to include a variety of tastes, textures, and portion-controlled food groups for kids’ lunches.

Australia offers a wide variety of bento-style lunch box brands, including Yumbox, b.box, Bentgo, Hippo Blue, Stuck on You, Seed & Sprout, and Smiggle, in addition to several inexpensive options from Aldi, Kmart, and other retailers.

What Size Lunch Box Or Yumbox Should You Buy?

The amount or type of food that will satisfy a given child may vary. Therefore, when choosing a lunchbox, think about how much you’ll need to pack (and thus how big it needs to be) and what kinds of foods you’ll need to fit in it.

Do you need room to pack a sandwich, wrap, or bread roll, for instance, or does your child prefer to have a wide variety of options?

Do they like the fruit best when it is whole, cut into smaller or larger pieces, or neither? You may need to think about a different type of lunchbox or an insulated lunch bag for that since none of the Yumbox options have room to pack bulky whole fruits like a banana or apple.

What to Look for When Buying a New Lunchbox

Whether you decide to splash out on a Yumbox or another brand/type of lunch box, here are some tips for what to consider before buying:

• Size

What age is your child and what kind of food does he or she enjoy eating? Think about the fact that you’ll need to pack something for Crunch ‘n’ Sip (if they’re in primary school), recess, lunch, and possibly a snack for after school. If your child prefers it, is there room to pack a yoghurt pouch, a fruit box, or whole pieces of fruit?

• Insulation

Does a freezer brick or cool bag come with it? How can the items in the lunchbox be kept chilled? Is it big enough to fit in an insulated lunch bag if not? Will you require an insulated item to keep wintertime meals warm, such as hot soup or pasta?

• Cleaning is relatively simple.

Since you’ll have to clean it every day, being able to throw it in the dishwasher is the best option. Watch out for any tiny cracks that could trap food.

• Ease of use

Are they able to open it themselves if you have younger children? The opening of a single box might be simpler than many smaller containers.

• Material

Be sure to purchase BPA- and phthalate-free plastic if you plan to purchase any. Bamboo, which is thought to be more environmentally friendly than plastic, or stainless steel, which can be more expensive but is robust and non-reactive, are two alternatives to plastic to take into consideration. There are also fabric lunch bags/wraps, or if your child is older and more mature, you might consider glass (although it is more fragile and heavier).

• Durability

How likely is it that the lunchbox will hold up if it is dropped or jostled inside a school bag? Is the lid integrated or independent? Will it be simple to lose it or fly off? If there are removable dividers that might disappear, can you purchase replacements?

• Is it leakproof?

If you’re worried about leakage from things like dips or yoghurt, look for high-quality silicone seals.

• Would you like to purchase more than one?

If you want to buy several lunchboxes that you can pack ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer, the cost might become more of a consideration.

How Does Yumbox Compare With Cheaper Alternatives?

We are aware that not everyone wants to spend a lot on a lunchbox. A lunchbox can be purchased for a few dollars at the grocery store or places like Kmart or Big W.

Additionally, if your child has a history of misplacing or breaking things, this might be a better choice.

CHOICE mum of three Margaret has a tip: “Thank goodness, I’m past the lunchbox days. However, we had a rule in our home that the children could select a new lunch box at the beginning of each year, but if they lost it, I sent them to school with their lunch in a plastic bag for the remainder of the term before they were given a cheap plastic box from the supermarket. They were able to be responsible thanks to it.”

Are Yumbox Lunch Boxes Worth It?

With a suggested retail price of $44.95 for the Yumbox Original Bento Box Lunchbox, this is not a cheap option for storing your child’s Vegemite sarnie (for that price, you might be wishing it magically made the lunch for you, but sadly it isn’t so).

What do you get for your money, then?

Depending on the model you purchase, the Yumbox has a removable inner tray that has multiple compartments of varying sizes and is dishwasher-safe.

Conclusion

Although the Yumbox is expensive, many kids will enjoy using and eating from it despite the fact that it is a high-quality, adaptable, and durable lunch box. Giving your kids a wide variety of foods for lunch (or snacking) is simple with the bento-style, and the various styles and sizes available add even more flexibility. They also reduce waste and costs by doing away with the need for plastic wrap and many packaged foods.