The 3 Essential “Ingredients” of a Great Kids Lunchbox

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If you need to be more creative with your kids’ lunches, the power lies in the lunchbox itself. A great lunchbox is not just about the food; it's about the compartments, the layout, the design, and everything else that makes this box something you want your kids to tuck into come lunchtime, especially if you're trying to help them be healthier. What are some of the things to consider?

Personalizing It

Children can benefit from a lunchbox that's got their favorite character on them, but why don't you go one step further? Giving them the opportunity to personalize their lunchbox will make it feel a lot more like it's theirs so they are more inclined to take a peek at the food inside. There are many ways that you can do this, and one of the simplest ways is to give them stickers of their favorite characters, and let them go to town on them! There are many companies that make peeker stickers and other quirky designs of your child's favorite cartoon characters that can make a big difference to how their lunchbox looks, which will make them far more inclined to make the most of the food inside.

Different Compartments

One of the biggest problems with lunchboxes is that everything is all together. This means that when the child opens up their lunchboxes there isn’t anything that really appeals to them. But this is where something like a Yumbox can really come in handy. This is a very useful lunchbox for picky children. Taking the form of a bento box, it's perfect for portion control, but it also has clearly labeled compartments where you put in vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains, ensuring that your child gets a balanced meal. A lot of children can be very picky because everything is crammed together in a traditional lunchbox. A bento box approach means that your child can pick up what they like the look of and you can swap foods out when they are not so keen on other things, so over time, they are gradually trying new things.

A Little Treat or Surprise

If you want your child to start eating better, the lunchbox is the secret weapon. But when your child is not enjoying anything you’ve put in there, a little incentive is to give them a small treat or a cheap toy. It can be something that they look forward to every lunchtime and this is the perfect way for them to start thinking about the rewards for eating their lunch. Giving them little treats means that you can use this as a reward, but take note, it only works on young kids. In kindergarten, the teachers will keep an eye on if they eat their food or not, so having a little treat is only worthwhile if they eat their food.

If you really want to make a great lunchbox for kids, it's about ensuring that you get the balance just right. Do you want them to eat healthily? These three things can make a big difference.