Making sure your child grows up healthy is easier said than done. It’s almost impossible to keep an eye on our children 24/7, and the least we can do is make sure they’re eating right even at school. Of course, what we use to pack their lunch is also important. Will the lunch box keep the food warm until lunch? Can it survive being dropped or tossed around by your child?
These are just some of the things we need to pay attention to when picking our kid’s lunch boxes. Whether you're looking for the best lunch box for kindergarten or for your high schooler, we're here to help you with our top 10 recommendations and a guide on how to choose the best product!
Quick List - Top Kids' Lunch Boxes
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
When buying a lunch box for your child, it is important to look for one of good quality so that it can take a beating and can last until the end of the school year. Kids can get tough on their things, so getting a durable lunch box is better. Look for a lunch box made with safe and good materials.
Most widely available lunch boxes are made from plastic. They are affordable and are usually microwave oven safe and dishwasher safe. Plastic lunch boxes are ideal for young children, as they don’t break easily, especially if they accidentally drop them.
However, you must ensure that the plastic used for the lunch box is free from BPA, phthalates, and harmful chemicals. Most lunch boxes have BPA-free tags on their packaging, so it is easy to identify which lunch boxes and bags are safe.
A stainless steel lunch box is another good material option because it is non-toxic, eco-friendly, long-lasting, and durable. Another good thing about a stainless steel lunch box is it can keep your child's food warm or cold longer than those made with plastic.
Also, look for lunch boxes with smooth surfaces, for these are easier to clean and have less risk of contamination due to bacteria build-up. However, it can be heavier than a plastic lunch box and is prone to dents if dropped.
There are a few things to consider when choosing the size of your kid’s lunch box. To figure this out, know the amount of food your child can eat and see if it can fit inside their school bag. It would be better to get a bigger lunch box that can fit what your child usually eats if you plan on letting them use it for years since your child will consume more while growing.
Lunch box sizes are usually measured in milliliters, corresponding to how much volume it can hold. For reference, 1 cup of rice is 250 mL, so if your kid usually consumes more than this, you should opt to get a lunch box with bigger compartments. Also, ensure it’s not too bulky, so your child won’t have a hard time carrying the lunch box around.
There are lunch boxes with fixed compartments or containers where you can put different kinds of food and dividers to separate the meal. Check the number of compartments if they are enough to suit your needs. If you plan only to put rice and viand for your child’s lunch, you can go with a lunch box with two compartments.
For a lighter meal, you can go for one with more compartments. If the lunch box only has one compartment or no dividers, you can use cupcake liners to separate the food in your child’s lunch box. You should only put the right amount your child can eat to avoid wasting food.
Most Filipino dishes have sarsa, so getting a leakproof lunch box is better to ensure that there will be no leaks and spills and to protect the other things in your child's bag. It can get messy if the soup is in your child's lunch box and the container is not leakproof.
Most lunch boxes have leakproof silicone lids, so you might want to look for those. Make sure that the silicone lid fits perfectly to avoid unwanted leaks. To be sure, putting the lunch box in a separate bag is better to protect your child's things in case of food spillage.
For food to stay cold or warm until lunchtime, the lunch box must have insulation or be placed in an insulated bag. Vacuum-insulated lunch boxes have double-walled stainless steel construction, but some lunch boxes can have a plastic exterior and stainless steel interior. These lunch boxes can effectively keep your child’s food warm for up to 6 hours.
Another option is to buy lunch bags with a foil interior and an inner foam layer to keep the food warm or cold. You can also purchase these separately, available in different shapes, sizes, and designs. However, lunch bags aren’t as effective in keeping your food’s temperature compared to insulated containers.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zojirushi Lunch Jar|SL-GH18 | ![]() | Heavy-Duty Insulated Lunch Jar With a Built-in Strap | |
2 | Slique Premium 2-Layer Stainless Steel Insulated Lunch Box | ![]() | Affordable Insulated Lunch Jar | |
3 | Tiger Lunch Box | ![]() | Durable and Compact Lunch Jar for a Complete Meal | |
4 | OmieLlife OmieBox | ![]() | An Innovative Lunch Box With Hot and Cold Zones | |
5 | Slique Premium Stainless Steel Insulated Lunch Box | ![]() | An Affordable yet High Quality Stainless Steel Lunch Box | |
6 | bbox Insulated Food Jar with Spork | ![]() | A Colorful Lunch Jar for Young Children | |
7 | YUMBOX MiniSnack | ![]() | A Popular Choice for Sandwiches and Snacks | |
8 | bbox Whole Foods Bento Lunch Box | ![]() | Perfect for Finger Foods and Snacks for Toddlers | |
9 | Lock & Lock Thermal Insulated Lunch Bag Set|HPL756S | ![]() | A Complete Set for Your Child's Baon | |
10 | Lock & Lock 3-Tier Lunch Box|HPL770 | ![]() | Ideal for Meals With Soup or Sauces |
This lunch jar doesn’t need a bag to carry around since it comes with a shoulder strap! You also won’t have to worry even if your child accidentally drops this because the jar is made of durable, stainless, and odorless 18/8 grade steel.
It has three microwavable inner bowls that are fully insulated and can keep the food warm or cold for 12 hours. They all have a special internal coating that protects against material corrosion, odor, and discoloration. With its quality and volume, your active older kids can ensure they have enough to eat while in school.
Insulated lunch jars can be quite expensive, especially if they’re from a well-known brand, but this one is quite affordable despite having vacuum insulation. It may look small at first, but the containers can hold up to 1300 mL of food. It also has a built-in handle so your kid can easily carry it to school.
This is ideal if your child prefers soups because the containers are leakproof and can keep the food warm. Although this is free from toxic materials and BPA, it is not advisable to put it in the microwave. Additionally, you should avoid using steel wool or steel brush to wash the lunch jar to prevent damaging the material.
This lunch jar can keep your food warm for up to six hours, so you can be sure the food is still warm and fresh until lunchtime. It has a compact design and is suitable for children who eat more during their stay in school. This lunch jar is also durable, and you can be sure of the quality because it is made in Japan
It has a soup jar in case your child wants to have some soup for lunch. The containers are microwavable and are easy to clean. You also do not have to worry about the contents spilling because the containers are secured in the jar! It also comes with a free bag with enough space to fit a slim thermos or water bottle. This is a good investment if you want to keep packing lunch for your child.
This lunch box is a great choice for smaller kids because of its design. It has four compartments inside, and you can combine different food combinations to jazz up your kid's meal with various healthy choices. The dividers ensure that the food doesn't come in close contact with each other, so that's one less worry if you put sauce-y food.
It is also easy to clean, and the compartment tray is removable plus it is microwave oven safe. This lunch box is made with food-grade materials, so it is free from harmful chemicals. It is sturdy, so it can take a beating if your child gets a little rough. However, note that the compartments are small, so it might not be ideal for older kids.
If you prefer not to have any separate layers or compartments, this lunch box is perfect, as you can just remove the removable container. It’s simple, plus it can keep your food warm for a few hours. It’s also completely leakproof, so you can also use it for soup or other food with sauce.
It is made of high-quality stainless steel, so it is stain-free and BPA-free, and your kid's food will stay safe and fresh. It also has a built-in steam vent to release the moisture from the lunch box when it is put in a microwave. If you're looking for an affordable lunch box that can last long, this is a good choice.
Eating food is better when it's served at the right temperature. With this lunch box's insulation feature, your kid's soup will still be warm after 7 hours, and their fruits will still be as fresh even after 5 hours. It is also easy to clean, does not retain odor, and it comes with a very handy spork.
Although you can only pack one kind of food with this, it makes for a very compact option. Meaning, this won't take up much space in your child's bag. It is also designed with grip handles and lid stoppers for added convenience.
This lunch box has an ingenious design with its three compartments separately sealed off with just one cover. The possibilities are almost endless with its build, for you can pack sandwiches and fries, veggie sticks and mayo, and even rice and fried chicken! It also has a small compartment just for sauces and dips.
Preparing proper meal portions for a healthy and balanced diet for your kids will surely be hassle-free with this lunch box! What’s more, is that this is leakproof and made with food-grade materials, so it can also give you peace of mind.
Your kids will indeed look forward to eating snacks when they own one of the four cute colors of this lunch box. The main compartment is suitable for sandwiches or rice balls, then you may use its other customizable compartments for vegetable sticks or other food your child loves! With its built-in flexi whole fruit holder, you can also store large fruits.
Although this is not insulated, it comes with a cooler pack to help keep the food cool and fresh for longer hours. There’s also no need to worry about your child’s exposure to harmful plastic, as this lunch box is also BPA-free. With this lunch box, their snacks will be as fresh as if they did not leave their homes!
This lunch box set from Lock & Lock includes two food keepers, a lunch bag, and a water bottle. The two BPA-free food keepers are enough to fit the food your child needs. The container is not insulated, but the included lunch bag is, and it can keep your child's food warm for up to three hours.
It is also airtight and leakproof, so you do not have to worry about spilling. The BPA-free water bottle can also fit inside the lunch bag. This lunch box is ideal for your older kids who are eating more or are staying in school for longer hours.
If you aren’t sure how much food you plan on packing for your child, why not try out this stackable lunch box? There are 3 stackable containers where you can put different kinds of food. You can also use them individually if you plan to pack less, so it is ideal for all ages.
The containers are BPA-free, microwave oven safe, plus they are leakproof, so the contents inside will not spill. It also comes with a strap to keep the containers secure. If you want something customizable and practical to use, this product would be a good choice.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Yes! It is advisable to use a separate lunch box for your bento box, especially if your bento box is not insulated enough. A separate lunch box will help in insulating the temperature of your meal.
Opt for insulated bento boxes or thermal lunch bags. If both options are unavailable, serve the hot food wrapped in aluminum foil to insulate the heat and keep it warm for a longer span of time.
A kid's meal should both be presentable and healthy. Fill their lunch box with the right amount of carbohydrates and proteins. You might also want to add flavor to their meal by putting colorful vegetables or fruits for dessert.
If you are already planning what to put in your child's lunch box, there are some products that you need to have. We also have some articles about some items that you can find useful. Click the links below to see them!
Author: Och
Re-editor: Rian Pilarca
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Zojirushi |Lunch Jar|SL-GH18
No. 2: Slique|Premium 2-Layer Stainless Steel Insulated Lunch Box
No. 3: Tiger|Lunch Box
No. 4: OmieLlife|OmieBox
No. 5: Slique|Premium Stainless Steel Insulated Lunch Box
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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