Finding the right lunch box can feel like a small thing – until you’re packing snacks at 7 a.m. for kids rushing to school, prepping meals for work, or organising food for a weekend road trip. Over the past few weeks, we’ve tried a mix of bento-style boxes, insulated lunch bags, fun kids’ designs and roomy containers that keep food fresh on the go. From unicorn-covered lunch pouches to practical stackable boxes for hearty meals, here’s what we loved most about each – and why these picks might make your school mornings and family outings a little easier (and a lot more colourful!).
Family Favourite: Durable Stainless Bento Lunch Box
We ordered this stainless-steel bento lunch box for our back-to-school prep and it’s already the most-used one in our kitchen. The build feels solid and long-lasting, with a smooth stainless-steel interior that’s easy to clean and free from any plasticky smell.
The clever two-layer design really works for family lunches:
- The design is genuinely practical for school mornings. Up top, there’s a flat shelf with a dock for the sealed stainless soup/dip cup and room for the matching spoon, a sandwich or wrap, and biscuit packs. It’s perfect when you want a couple of items kept totally separate.
- Down below, the 304 stainless-steel tray is divided into four compartments, so cut fruit stays away from crackers, and mains don’t slide into snacks. It’s easy to lift out for cleaning and has no fiddly corners.
- Everything stayed put in our bag test – no leaks from the soup cup, no crumbs in the fruit, and the clips are child-friendly but secure. After a week of use, the teal shell still looks great and the steel tray comes up spotless in the top rack of the dishwasher.
We’ve used it for both kids’ school lunches and office meals, and it’s been great for weekend picnics too. The leak-proof seal has handled yoghurt and curries without spilling a drop in the backpack – a big relief for busy mornings.
Another Favourite We Tried: The Purple 5-Compartment Bento Box
After a week with the teal stainless-steel bento, we decided to test a lighter plastic option too – mainly for the younger one who likes something colourful and a bit easier to carry.
This bright purple lunch box turned out to be just as practical in its own way.
Safe and Sturdy for Everyday School Runs
Made from BPA-free, food-safe PP plastic, it feels solid enough to survive the rough-and-tumble of a school bag yet light enough for little shoulders.
I also liked that there’s no odd plastic smell even on the first wash.
Smart Layout for a Balanced Lunch
Inside, the five compartments make it easy to pack a proper lunch: a sandwich or wrap in the big slot, fruit and veggie sticks in the smaller ones, and a removable little sauce cup in the centre for dips or dressings.
There’s even a slim slot in the lid that holds a matching fork and spoon – a tiny detail that’s been surprisingly handy on picnic days.
Leak-Proof and Secure
The four locking clips are simple enough for little fingers to open but hold the lid firmly shut in the backpack.
We packed yoghurt in the small cup one day and it stayed put all the way to school – no sticky surprises at lunchtime.
Right Size for the Younger Kids
At about 1300 ml capacity, it’s roomy enough for a balanced lunch but not bulky or heavy. It slips easily into the standard school cooler bag.
Easy to Heat and Clean
This purple box is microwave-safe (lid off) for quick warm-ups, freezer-safe for make-ahead snacks, and goes straight into the dishwasher at the end of the day. That alone makes my life a lot easier on busy weekday nights.
🛍️ Shop the Purple Bento Lunch Box
Our Third Pick: The Bunny-Print – Bento with Matching Lunch Bag
By the time we tested this one, the kids were already excited – mostly because of the storybook bunny print on the lid.
This set quickly became the favourite for school excursions and chilly mornings because it comes with everything in one bundle: the lunch box, a soup cup, utensils, and its own insulated bag.
Fun Design That’s Practical Too
The lunch box is available in a few playful prints, but we picked the green floral bunny design. The colours stay bright even after a few washes (food-safe UV printing means it won’t fade), and the kids love spotting “their bunny lunch” in the classroom lunch trolley.
Smart 4-Compartment Layout
Inside the box, there’s a 4-section divider system with deeper compartments than standard lunch boxes, which means no more squashed sandwiches.The silicone sealing rings around each section lock in liquids really well – we’ve had no strawberry juice leaking into the sandwiches so far.
The Stainless-Steel Soup Cup is a Winner
This set includes a 300 ml double-walled stainless-steel soup cup that keeps broth or warm pasta sauce cosy for at least two hours – a big hit on cooler mornings. It also comes with matching BPA-free fork and spoon, which tuck neatly into their own slots, so there’s no hunting around for utensils at the bottom of the school bag.
Comes with Its Own Insulated Bag
One of my favourite things about this set is the coordinating insulated lunch bag. It’s roomy enough (around 5 L capacity) to fit the bento box, snacks, and a water bottle. The bag is made from water-resistant Oxford fabric with an easy-wipe lining and has a detachable strap that converts it from a hand-carry to a cross-body – perfect for day trips.
