How to Choose a Lunch Box

Your choice of lunch box reflects your inner self. Are you strong and quirky like an old metal lunch box? Light and colorful like a plastic lunch box? Or soft and cozy like a lunch bag? Here are some things to consider when choosing your lunch box.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Brown Paper Sacks
• Lunch Bags
• Thermoses
• Napkins
• Plastic Food Containers
• Plastic Forks
• Plastic Spoons
• Ice Packs
• Lunch Boxes
• Ice packs
• Plastic food containers

1. Consider what you'll use the lunch box to carry. Use a tough metal or plastic lunch box to protect foods that can bruise, break or smush. If you plan to pack your foods in plastic containers, a soft lunch bag is fine.

2. Choose a lunch box or lunch bag that is large enough to accommodate all your items without having them move around when jostled.

3. Consider how you'll be handling your lunch box. If you'll have to fit it in your backpack or book bag, a hard exterior will keep your food from being squashed.

4. Purchase a soft-bodied, insulated lunch bag if you'll be carrying items that need to be kept cool or hot. Few hard-shell lunch boxes offer insulation.

5. Purchase an insulated beverage container (either with the lunch box or separately) just in case you decide to bring along a little soup, coffee or another beverage.

6. Think about the image you'd like to project to your coworkers and companions, and choose your lunch box accordingly. Most plastic and metal lunch boxes will carry images of some sort, including superheroes, cartoon characters and even political figures.

Tips & Warnings

• The time-tested brown paper sack is an alternative to lunch boxes. Though it is practical - it never needs to be cleaned - it may not be the most ecologically sound choice.

• When purchasing a vintage metal lunch box, be aware of the lunch box rating system: 10 equals mint condition; a 9 has little apparent wear; 8 equals some wear or damage to the rim; a 7 will have a few dents, scratches and dings; 6 means dents, rust and chipped paint; a 5 will have serious damage.

• Lunch boxes often become collector's items, so hold on to yours even if you don't use it anymore.