Packing lunch for school has many advantages. In addition to being cost-effective, this is a simple way to ensure that children enjoy a nutritious meal that can provide them with sufficient brain fuel. In order to make bagged lunches as environmentally friendly as possible, please buy children’s lunch boxes.

Children’s lunch boxes usually have interesting colors or friendly characters, but this is not all they can provide. Many of them have waterproof linings, dedicated beverage racks or snack storage bags. First choice, the Bentgo luxury lunch bag has an external compartment for storing utensils.

Considering how many styles, designs, shapes and sizes there are, it is easy to be spoiled in the world of lunch boxes. Some of the most common styles include mini coolers, classic rectangular lunch boxes, tote bags and soft foldable bags. There are also lunch boxes shaped like animals or characters from popular children’s TV shows or movies.

Lunch boxes may last for several years of daily use, but this depends largely on how well they are made and how harsh the kids are on them. Well-made lunch boxes are usually made of abrasion-resistant elastic materials, such as high-grade polyester, canvas, or plastic. The low-quality structure is fragile, the material is light, and the zipper or seal is cheap.

There are some lunch box accessories worth buying, including items that can be used for road trips, trips or picnics.

The shell material of the children's lunch box is polyester, nylon, Oxford cloth or plastic. Polyester and nylon lunch boxes are waterproof and suitable for all-weather use. The Oxford lunch box is sturdy and durable, with high tensile strength, but it is light and flexible enough to fit into a backpack. The plastic lunch box adopts a rigid structure, which is particularly effective in protecting the contents due to its anti-extrusion design.

In the soft lunch box, the inner lining is made of several layers of insulating material, and the food can be refrigerated for several hours. Some of these lunch boxes have pockets or compartments with "extra" insulation to keep certain foods colder than others, such as yogurt or fruit. Unfortunately, a soft lining like this can easily get caught by the zipper.

Hard shell lunch boxes may have various insulation layers, from styrofoam to patented temperature-regulating materials. They can effectively refrigerate food for a long time. Although these lunch boxes are popular because of their long-term refrigeration potential, their structure and lining materials make them heavier than soft lunch boxes.

Some lunch boxes are now equipped with beverage holders in the form of mesh pockets, elastic bands, or belted compartments. In most cases, they are large enough to hold bottles and jars weighing up to 20 ounces. Some newer lunch boxes have external drink holders for easy access to drinks; however, they are rarely insulated.

Children’s lunch boxes provide one or more carrying methods, including handles, shoulder straps or cross-body straps. Some lunch boxes have carabiner or clip-on devices that can be fixed to a backpack or gym bag for hands-free carrying. Some larger lunch boxes may also have backpack straps.

Smaller single-compartment lunch boxes cost $12 and below, and you will need to spend close to $20 to get a better quality design with more storage and organization features. A well-made lunch box that can be used for several years, and the price is 25 to 40 US dollars.

Answer: Some soft lunch boxes can be machine washed for quick and easy cleaning, while others need to be wiped clean. For these lunch boxes, you can use surface cleaners or disinfecting wipes. There are also several child-safe surface cleaners and wipes that are non-toxic and do not contain harsh chemicals.

A. Many people pack fresh snacks into special food storage containers or reusable lunch bags. It may be helpful to put foods with high water content such as cucumber slices on paper towels to prevent them from becoming too wet or sticky.

Bentgo Deluxe Lunch Bag: Available on Amazon

Our view: This Bentgo lunch bag is made of tear-resistant material and strong design, durable and popular with the public.

What we like: The lunch box is spacious enough to hold food storage containers and beverage bottles, and there is space. It has a practical external pocket for napkins, hand sanitizer or cutlery. The leak-proof lining makes daily cleaning quick and easy.

What we don’t like: The lunch box comes in many colors, but there is no print or design suitable for children.

Fit & Fresh Thayer Classic Vertical Insulated Lunch Bag: Available at Kohl's

Our opinion: This insulated lunch bag is widely praised for its compact design and can be easily put into a backpack or gym bag.

What we like: This spatially intelligent design has an external beverage bag for quick access. Its wrap-around zipper design is convenient for loading food containers and snacks. The PEVA lining adopts Sanifor antibacterial treatment to prevent the growth of bacteria.

What we don’t like: The external beverage trough may be too loose to hold certain types of bottles.

Amersun Children’s Lunch Box: Available on Amazon

Our view: This lunch box has a highly ordered design and can be used to package meals and a variety of snacks.

What we like: The lunch box opens like a book, with a spacious main compartment and a mesh pocket. The nylon webbing handle has a clip for fixing the lunch box on the backpack or gym bag. It has many designs and colors suitable for children.

What we don’t like: Some buyers have encountered problems with zippers stuck on the lining.

Sian Babish is a contributor to BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company whose mission is to help simplify your buying decisions and save you time and money.

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