Well…… it’s almost that time again! School is BACK and it’s time to dig out that old lunchbox to see if it will survive another year of being thrown around and left in the bottom of the school bag. We’ve got A LOT of school aged kids here at Kids in Adelaide, so between us we’ve been through our fair share of lunchboxes so we thought it would be helpful to share which ones we’ve tried, tested and LOVED. Here’s our pick of the best kids lunchboxes and lunchbox accessories for kids.
Nudie Rudie Lunchboxes
Grab the kids a new lunchbox AND support a local S.A business, that’s a win/win!
Nudie Rudie Lunch Box is owned by accredited and practicing Adelaide based Accredited Practising Dietitian, Julia. Crafted for lasting sustainability, these leak-proof and dishwasher-safe lunch boxes are designed with non-toxic materials, ensuring a safe and eco-friendly experience.
We’ve got the Nudie Rudie Lunch Box Five compartment stainless steel lunch box which comes with five airtight and leakproof compartments including two removable snack pots and also the Nudie Rudie Lunch Box 3 compartment Hot n Cold Hero Box which is Australia’s only stainless steel lunchbox that includes a food jar for hot and cold foods – it’s the perfect size for noodles, pasta or leftovers and it fits right into the lunchbox.
Both lunchboxes have the perfect amount and sized compartments. Not too many that you’re cutting food up into tiny pieces to fill them, but enough that you can offer a good selection of different foods without them touching and also without the need for any cling wrap.
We also love that the top quailty stainless steel is dishwasher safe and the clasps have been designed with little hands in mind, both lunchboxes are easily opened and closed by my 5 year old.
Check the range online at www.nudierudielunchbox.com.au
b.box lunchbox
Decor
For price, variety and availability you can’t go past Decor. They have a great range of colourful lunchboxes, lunchbox accessories including snack bags and tubs, icewalls, insulated lunch coolers and in particular, a great range of kids drink bottles – perfect for school. They’re also available at your local Woolworths and BIGW so they’re easy to find or throw in with your weekly shop.
We particularly love their “Design Your Own” range of lunchboxes and drinkbottles that let kids go wild personalising their gear with the cute stickers provided. Easy to open and not too many sections to fill, just the perfect amount for a sandwich, snacks and some fruit. They’re also a great price for a bento at only $26 and matching drink bottle for $12.
Shop the Decor back to school range at your local Woolworths or Big W
Check the range online at www.decor.com.au
b.box drink bottles
We absolutely love our b.box insulated drink bottle for its practicality and style!
Available in 690ml or 1-litre sizes, it’s the perfect drink bottle for school, keeping kids hydrated all day long. Its double-walled stainless steel design keeps drinks icy cold for hours, and you can customise it with a handle and bumper for extra durability and grip. With a variety of fun colours to choose from and the option to get it engraved for a personal touch, it’s both functional and stylish.
I may have “borrowed” it from my kids on a recent weekend away, and my water stayed refreshingly cold the entire time – definitely a family favourite!
The Zero Waste People
If having the most GORGEOUS lunchbox in the class will get your kid to eat their lunch, then you need to check out the range from The Zero Waste People.
They have an enormous range of silicone bento boxes (in three different sizes), round containers, rectangle containers, drink bottles and accessories that come in the most stunning colours. We LOVE the Rainbow boxes, but the Paddle Pop, Splice and single colours are very cool too!
Everything is leak proof, drop proof, dishwasher and microwave safe which is a big win for us. They even personalise items, so they won’t end up in lost property!
Check the range online at www.thezerowastepeople.com.au
Shop local at Have you met Charlie?
If you love brands like Kollab, The Somewhere Co, Ever Eco or Rex London take a look at the lunchbox, drink bottle and accessory range from Adelaide store Have you met Charlie?
If you prefer to shop in store rather than online you can pop in and browse their range to find the perfect products for you.
shop online at haveyoumetcharlie.com
or visit them in store at Adelaide Arcade or Jetty Rd, Brighton
Get EVERYTHING you need from one online store
Lunch boxes, lunch bags, bento boxes, containers to keep things hot or cold, big, small or in-between My Green Stuff can take care of all your lunch needs. Made from recycled or recyclable materials in a huge range of colours and sizes, there’s something for everyone.
Take a look at their huge range at mygreenstuff.com.au
home. by Foil Me.
And now for the cutest way to wrap a sambo (and pretty much anything else) check out Foil Me’s foil sheets which will keep your lunchbox food fresh and also plastic free! These foil wraps come in boxes of 100 individual sheets in medium or large size and can be wiped clean and reused or if they’re ready for the bin, simply scrunch them into a ball and throw in your recycling.
20c from each packet is donated to Animals Australia to assist Australian animals in need so you can rejoice in your choice to wrap your food with a practical, socially responsible, environmentally friendly, and adorable Australian product.
shop online at homebyfoilme.com.au
Wrap’d
Just like peeling a banana…with your wrap inside!
Wrap’d is the perfect and fun solution to keep your kids wraps fresh and tasty. It works a bit like peeling a banana! It encases your wrap to store, and while you eat, it eliminates mess and acts as a hygienic barrier between your hands and food. Perfect for little (and big) hands, Wrap’d is fully reusable, dishwasher safe and easy to use.
$19.95 online at www.adventureawaits.com.au
Goodful Stackable Lunch Box
The Goodful Stackable Lunchboxes are a great option for kids who would prefer a salad or a deconstructed sandwich that won’t go soggy! The container is 100% leak-proof and includes 4 lift out trays to make it easy to divide ingredients without touching. It’s even got a small cup you can use for salad dressing, mayo or a small treat.
Comes in 5 colours.
Yumbox Presto.
Kids love a Poke Bowl or Salad but don’t like it going mushy before lunchtime?
Try the brand new Yumbox Poke Bowl.
Using the removable divider makes it easy to create a poke or salad bowl and keep foods separate until it’s time to mix and enjoy! Or keep the divider inside to separate cut up sandwich, snacks, fruit etc.
All ages will love this one! Loads of colours available.
$34.95 online at www.adventureawaits.com.au
Yumbox Presto.
It’s the famous Yumbox – stainless style.
The brand new Yumbox Presto swaps plastic for stainless steel. It still offers absolute convenience in its moulded tray with pre-portioned compartments. And it’s still simple to use, thanks to Yumbox’s child-friendly single clasp. Easy to clean, super durable, heat-resistant, non-toxic and won’t corrode, even when storing acidic or briny foods.
$69.95 online at www.adventureawaits.com.au
The Hive Wrappa
Technically not a lunch box but a perfectly convenient eco friendly alternative to plastic cling wrap. Not sure about you but our kids are becoming fiercely passionate about these changes. Does any one else’s school reward kids for nude food and plastic free lunch boxes? Our kids take great pride in their various sized beeswax wraps and so we were stoked to find this beautiful little SA hand made product. If you haven’t ever tried beeswax food wraps, now is a great time and they are relatively inexpensive given they are made for multiple, multiple, versitile use.
You can find them at local markets like Stirling Laneways on 24th Jan 2021 AND their new website is almost ready to go here: www.thehivewrappa.com.au
Give them a follow on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE
Seed + Sprout CrunchBox
I’ve had a Seed and Sprout Crunchbox since 2020 and it’s still going, this thing is TOUGH
Love it’s deep and large compartments that will fit a regular sized sambo so you won’t have to origami the bread to make it fit. It also comes with 2 x leak-proof pots that come with the lunchbox and can be used for anything liquid-y. Tried and tested, they are indeed leakproof.
Available in a range of sizes and colours. Easy to clean and very durable.
Available online at www.seedsprout.com.au
Fridge to Go Cooler Bags
We swear by the medium fridge to go cooler bags / lunch bags for our kids. They are perfect for fitting a lunch box inside that will stay cool for up to EIGHT hours and there will be no condensation. You simply freeze and insert a thing lightweight freezer panel that zips into place in the morning. It’s like magic.
The quality is brilliant (we simply wipe it clean or occasionally pop it through the washing machine on a gentle cycle) and we are only just now replacing one that’s four years old! Don’t want to put a lunch box in it? No worries, we pack whole fruit, yoghurts and wax wrapped sandwiches or snack pouches directly in to the fridge bag.
The medium lunch bag is $42.95 and comes in awesome plain colors and fun patterns – plus you can personalise it if you wish.
Buy it here: www.fridgetogo.com.au
Econo
Looking to lift your ‘nude food’ game this year? Don’t forget the fork! For a truly zero waste alternative ECONO have a perfect solution for little fingers. This handy bamboo travel spork is perfect for everything, from lunch on the go to a spontaneous ice cream at the beach. They come as a set of three with a cute carry pouch which makes it easy to keep your clean sporks separate from the dirty ones.
If you have older kids, send them to school in style with ECONO’s stunningly designed matte black travel cutlery set. The set comes with everything they could possibly need, including straws and a drawstring pouch and dishwasher safe carry box, making it nice and easy to keep their dirty utensils separate… actually… maybe a set of these could save Mum from the disappearing teaspoon dilemma at the office too!
Check the range online at www.econo.com.au
Smiggle
And of course for something more fun Smiggle is always a winner with kids. We love their Limitless Double Decker Lunchbox two-tiered design helps to separate lunch from snacks, leaving plenty of space for a perfectly balanced lunch. Insulated and BPA free lining also keeps lunch fresh and ready for when hunger hits!
$36.95 online at www.smiggle.com.au
And once you’ve chosen your lunchbox below are some ideas on how to fill it!
Easy Lunchbox Recipes
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Make Your Own Sushi
Did you know that making sushi doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated? Our kids love rolling…
Double Chocolate Scones
Nothing like your Grandma used to make and every thing like the chocolate mud scone that you will…
Some (not all) of the lunchboxes mentioned above we received free of charge for the purpose of this review however as for all reviews from Kids in Adelaide the above is honest and in our own words.