laptop lunchboxes

sunnth · 19 September 2006 at 7:52PM

Hi, after seeing a thread where some of you said you had bought the laptop lunchboxes I had a look at the website. I really like the idea but the boxes are very expensive especially as I now have 3 kids all having packed lunches. I was wondering if they are really as good as they look - are they easy to clean? Do they last for years? Basically do you think they are worth the money as I still have to convince my OH and he is not too sure. I haven't bought my kids lunchboxes as we still have some old tescos ones that came free with milkybars one christmas that a relative gave each of them so they could do with a new one really.

These are the boxes but I'm not thinking of getting the carry case.
www.laptoplunches.co.uk

thriftlady_2 · 19 September 2006 at 8:14PM

Hi sunnth, I bought these for my 3 plus husband. They cost £81 altogether(postage was £11 odd) :eek: I know, my OH was a bit alarmed too. I bought the whole kit for each person ie; box, containers, cutlery, drinks bottle, book of ideas and carry case. So with all that I think they are actually pretty good value.If you were to buy it all separately I think you would spend quite a bit.

So far (2 weeks of use) we love them. I find they make me more imaginative when planning the lunches. You don't have to use all the containers together, you can move them about or leave them out. The only thing I would say is that my OH's standard 2 rounds of sandwiches don't fit in - in fact the box doesn't work as well for him as it does for the kids.

I would recommend you get the carry cases as they are easier to transport when they are zipped up. I have a feeling the box might fly open all too easily outside of the case. They look really good too, my kids have personalised their cases with key rings and whatnot. My dd has put her allergy stickers on the box too.

They are easy to clean, but all the containers take up a bit of time drying :rolleyes: .I can't tell you if they will last for years yet

. I'd be a bit concerned that very rough treatment might snap the hinge on the box - depends on the child i suppose.The cutlery is very good quality and the large lidded container seals really well. We haven't tried a really wet food in them yet, but I will report back tomorrow as I've put yogurt in

(I pack them the day before)

For inspiration for what to pack take a look here
http://www.flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches/pool/

HTH:)

tiff · 19 September 2006 at 8:21PM

If money is tight I dont think they are worth the £20. I bought one for my son, my daughter didnt want one. It does make life a lot easier and the quality of the pots that go inside the lunchbox are like tupperware. I'm not so sure whether the lunchbox itself would last for years, I'm concerned about the hinge bit where you open and shut the box itself.

I'm glad I got it and will get one for my daughter in time. She has one of those pink cool bag ones that has a zipped bottom, I bought one of those Tesco lock n lock boxes to go in the bottom of hers and some mini plastic pots from Asda smartprice. It used to annoy me how much waste there would be at the end of the day, just from their lunch boxes.

The result of getting the laptop lunch was that my son nearly always eats everything in it. I think I made it more interesting, he used to leave his apple, but now I cut one up and put it in one of the pots, he is 8 and a lazy so and so lol

Hope this helps you decide.

phizzimum · 19 September 2006 at 9:06PM

I've never heard of these before so I'm glad you posted.

What I find interesting is the fact the hard case is easy to clean but the insulated cover will keep the food cool - the best of both worlds.

Have to agree they are expensive but it looks like you can buy all the bits separately, think the actual box was about £6.99 so if the hinge broke it's no more expensive to replace than average.

oh dear, something else I want to buy now!

dzdoris · 19 September 2006 at 9:21PM

I also love the look of these but couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a lunchbox?!

I have just bought a lock and lock divider container from Lakeland that cost £4.99 (I have the 1.6 litre square with 4 sections) and is pretty much the same thing (although you don't get the carrier I just used DS's old Dennis the Menace lunch bag)

Here's a link http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/!9258_9259_10367_8072_8076_5437

You can't see from the link very well but if you happen to be passing a Lakeland have a look, at a quarter of a price that's a big saving and for lunch box ideas there's plenty on here :money:

Nikki x

Becles · 19 September 2006 at 9:26PM

Mine just have a 2L rectangular tupperware style box. They cost 99p each in a sale.

They cheap and work for us. I'd never spend £20 on a lunchbox :eek:

sophistica · 19 September 2006 at 10:10PM

Do you have a Japanese shop near you? Mine sells very similar lunch boxes for around £2.50 and you can pick up a cold bag in loads of places...I have just bought one for £1 and voila your own laptop lunch box system. I think that these look like marketing hype - someone making a fast buck on the back of Jamie Oliver.

tiff · 19 September 2006 at 10:26PM

Not quite, the ladies that produced these lunchboxes actually lived in Japan (or one of them did) and liked the idea of Japanese Bento boxes so designed these for the American market. You can get good Bento boxes on US Ebay.

Here are a few
http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-2-tired-BENTO-Lunch-Box-w-pouches-Blue-Cute_W0QQitemZ250030382034QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4003QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&item=130025167261&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

prettypennies · 19 September 2006 at 11:03PM

I bought mine for my twins at the beginning of the year and have just ordered one for myself and my niece. Yes they are pricey but they are worth it.

I find they work fabulously. The different tubs help me to cover all the food groups when packing them.

When I am out shopping I find myself thinking "ooh that can go in the green compartment this week!"

I also bought some food flasks for colder days.

I bought myself a cheap bentstyle box from Morrsions and it lasted about a week before the hinge snapped off. So now I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Laptop Lunch Box.

I don't buy any prepacked foods for the kids lunchboxes as it is so easy to find things in the cupbaord of fridge to go in the tubs.

I invested in some fancy cutters so I can make crinkly carrots and star sandwiches etc.
I also picked up some fruit shaped cool packs from TK MAXX to slip into the mesh pocket.

On a Friday the twins have a "flabby Friday" lunch when they can have a treat like a kinder egg in their tub. I also pop in a few jokes and a homemade 'lunchables'.

It's worth trying to persuade a few friends to but boxes at the same time as postage is free over £100.

tiff · 19 September 2006 at 11:08PM

Did you buy the food flasks from the laptop lunch website?

prettypennies · 19 September 2006 at 11:25PM

Yes, I got them from the American site https://www.laptoplunches.com

I bought them at the same time as I bought the kits and used the discount code "Parents" to get 10% off (had to enter it after adding each item).

I have seen similar stainless steel food flasks in TK Maxx and Home Bargains though.

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laptop lunchboxes

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