Which is better..Lunch bag or Lunch box?

FamilyTree_2

Hi all,

not sure if this has been discussed before but,we are going on a self catering holiday in a few weeks time and I'm planning on packing a lunch for drive and I would like to get my DD her own lunch box/bag so that I can pack her her own special lunch , but I don't know which is best....lunch box ( you know the one with the handle etc) or lunch bag ( the lined kind).

I want her sandwiches and fruit etc to stay cool and not go all warm and unappetising and it would be handy to use during the week if we were going on any picnics, the other thing is that she's starting school this year and it will be used then too. I've never used either before, does anyone have any preferences or experiences that they can share.

P.S. that same goes for cool bags and boxes, I need one of each any recomendations?

sassy17

I have always used the soft cool bag type, but do find they are hard to keep looking clean on the outside (surprising- where does that grime come from?). No problem with performance- they always keep the lunch nice. The hard sort i think are more costly, but i imagine easier to clean.
Hope that helps.

FamilyTree_2

Thanks sassy.

debtfreenewbie

I have two kids that have packed lunch.Tescos normally do a nice small lunch bag for a pound which is easy to keep clean on the outside but inside can be messy.
I like the box types but find that they never keep things cold.
I tend to buy the yougurt tubes and freeze them,they then keep the lunch cold and are nicely defrosted by lunch time.
I always tend to use a small box for sandwiches as they get squashed.
I use cool bags as they are easier to store.
have a nice holiday.

maryb

My daughter regularly gets yogurt all over the outside and inside of her mini cool bag (I think she uses the bag as a weapon and doesn't wait until she's eaten what's in it!!!). I just stick it in the washing machine and it comes out fine

FamilyTree_2

Thanks guys, debtfreenewbie the frozen yougurt tubes sound like a great idea I think I will try that. I like the idea of the boxes too but though that it wouldn't really keep her lunch cool, thought it might with a frozen tube. I like the idea of packing a box in the style of a bento box though for practicality maybe the cool bag style is better with a wee box for sandwiches.

maryb, I think my DD will manage to get it covered inside and out, the thought of your DD using it as a weapon made me laugh, why do food things always look like they've been through the wars!!

kunekune

These aren't the cheapest, but they are fantastic quality:

http://www.concentrate.org.uk/index.php?page=2

The little pots are water tight, so you can put fruit in juice or yoghurt in them, as well as dry things. The shape makes it easy to fit in an apple or banana. We have the coolbags with them, too, and they can be washed in the washing machine so they stay nice. After 18 months, the whole thing is still working well.

hilstep2000

Lakeland do small lunch box ice packs.
heres the link: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/mini-ice-packs/F/keyword/cool+packs/product/3495

sistercas

kunekune wrote: »

These aren't the cheapest, but they are fantastic quality:

http://www.concentrate.org.uk/index.php?page=2

The little pots are water tight, so you can put fruit in juice or yoghurt in them, as well as dry things. The shape makes it easy to fit in an apple or banana. We have the coolbags with them, too, and they can be washed in the washing machine so they stay nice. After 18 months, the whole thing is still working well.

I had a look at this website its brilliant
will definitely get a couple of lunch boxes
thanks for the link

onetomany

bags my boys always broke the plastic ones

Bunny200

sistercas wrote: »

I had a look at this website its brilliant
will definitely get a couple of lunch boxes
thanks for the link

I'm fancying one of these as well, might be good for OH taking packed lunch in his rucksack, he's always complianing about things having to be the right size to fit in his particular box! He can have the camo cover to feel all macho! DD1 has had 2 soft bags and I'm not impressed as the cover gets pierced but something and then you get nasties growing in the foam insulation :eek: so I might invest in 2!