Compartmentalised lunchbox?

conradmum · 28 August 2007 at 8:52AM

Ds3 is off to school for the first time soon

I'm feeling very proud of myself for creating a lunchbox menu chart containing the days of the week and short lists of healthy eating options from five food groups to choose from. Each food group is in a different colour, so he'll choose one brown, one yellow, one red etc. for each day of the week. Some things he likes and some things are new so hopefully curiosity will prompt him to try some new things sometimes.
Anyway, I've been scouring our local shops for lunchboxes with different compartments in them. (I mean ordinary lunchboxes, not impractically bulky Thomas ones for instance.) We've got a Japanese style one from the Poundshop but it's very babyish and not really what I want. It has a thin compartmentalised tray which sits on a single chamber underneath, whereas I really wanted just an ordinary lunchbox divided into three or four compartments.
Sorry for such a long winded request for something so simple, but any ideas would be gratefully received!

Gingernutmeg · 28 August 2007 at 9:05AM

A divided Lock and Lock box? It might be a little big for a small person's lunch but I have a three compartment one that I use as a sewing box, so I know they make them. Or, there is a thread on bento boxes and someone recently posted how they'd got some small boxes from a supermarket which were all differently shaped - perhaps you could get some of these (or baby food/ weaning boxes) and put them in one larger box? Ebay is also good for more 'grown up' bento boxes, which don't have the pictures and cartoons on them - 'Bento's and Beyond', 'Irrashai' and 'Japan Souvenier' all have nice selections (I haven't bought from them though, but their feedback seems positive).

Plum_Pie · 28 August 2007 at 9:42AM

I've seen lock-and-lock boxes that sound like your request on sale in a few supermarkets and independent homeware shops. QVC are doing bulk batches of lock-and-lock boxes at the mo which is cheaper than buying individually, if you need and have space for, lots of them!

Plus, I love your food-choosing plan! Thanks for sharing.

Seakay · 28 August 2007 at 9:56AM

Found this on the Lakeland site - if you have a store near you then you also save on p&p
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!6480

store locator: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/content.aspx?content=our_stores.htm

emeraldbugle · 28 August 2007 at 11:09AM

I remember seeing these a while ago, but I think they are about £20 all in.

http://www.laptoplunches.co.uk/index.html

I like the lakeland cube, bargain.

peb · 28 August 2007 at 11:36AM

I nearly bought some fancy Hellmans mayonaise yesterday at Morrisions (then decided I did not need to pay extra for a squeezy bottle and got Morrisons own) because it came with a free lunchbox with compartments. If I remember correctly there was one large space and two medium spaces. I could not see the lid but surely there would not be a box without a lid. Unsure as to the cost but if you eat mayonnaise it would not be excessive.

HTH

on the ASDA website it is 2.50 for the large bottle - no mention of the lunchbox

seraphina · 28 August 2007 at 11:38AM

Search ebay for bento boxes, you should get quite a few hits. I have even bought a few from the US as the exchange rate is so good.

You might also want to check out this site for ideas (both food and packing related):

http://www.lunchinabox.net

jo1972 · 28 August 2007 at 11:45AM

I had a look on ebay this morning as I intend to do a bento style lunch for my ds when he also starts school for the first time next week. I'd been searching 'bento' on ebay for weeks now but this morning just typed in lunchbox and there were quite a few boxes on there. Some are a bit babyish but they had a few nice ones too.

I'd really be interested in knowing what you have on your menu chart if you have the time to tell us?

conradmum · 28 August 2007 at 1:45PM

Many thanks everyone. There are some great ideas there. I think I'll need to be careful to get him something he can undo easily.

The lunchbox menu can be viewed here if you're interested:

I got it printed onto A3 paper and laminated at my former workplace. I'll get a pen you can wipe off and he can choose each week what he wants for the next week.
If anyone wants to download it and adapt it to their own uses they're welcome (as long as it's non-profit making of course!)

rsdiscos · 28 August 2007 at 1:58PM

www.netmums.com has a good recipe section with a great lunch table with 100s of suggestions of healthly food.

lil_me · 28 August 2007 at 2:00PM

Instore, Poundstretcher and poundland I've seen them in. I can't remember seeing any in Tesco last time I was there but I remember seeing them in Asda a while ago.

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Compartmentalised lunchbox?

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