Choosing the Best
Lunch Bag for Your Child

The saying goes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that doesn’t mean it gets to eclipse your child’s midday meal. In fact, once you’ve dreamt up a way to make your child’s favorite meals both portable and healthy, all you have left to do is find a lunch bag that your little one will love. Pottery Barn Kids has countless options featuring vibrant colors, fun graphics and exciting characters that children will love. Check out our tips for how to choose a lunch bag that will fill your child with enthusiasm once lunchtime rolls around.

Consider the size

Before you select a lunch bag, think about the proper size. A preschooler doesn’t have the same appetite as a fifth grader, and he also might not have the same amount of backpack space. Select something smaller, such as one of our perfectly portable My First Collection lunch bags, to hold smaller snacks and sandwiches for the younger crowd. Easy to tote and coated in environmentally friendly materials to shield against spills, these bags also feature appliques of beloved animal friends to make lunchtime familiar and fun. Similarly, bigger kids need larger sandwiches and more snacks, so a bag with several compartments or pockets fits the bill.

Consider the right type of insulation

Next, it’s time to think about what kinds of foods you usually pack for your child. If she usually gets a main dish from the cafeteria and you pack some supplemental snacks, you might not need a lunch bag with extra space for an ice pack or with thick insulated sides. On the other hand, if you send your child off to school with a full meal, it’s a smart move to select a sack that holds a thermos to keep soups hot or a gel cooler that chills leftovers and string cheese.

Make sure it’s washable

Accidents happen. Whether you didn’t snap that soup container shut all the way or your child’s lunch bag served as an impromptu football for some before-school playtime, it’s only natural that liquids get spilled. Banish drippy disasters and choose a bag that’s easy to wipe clean or toss in the washing machine to make cleanup a little easier on everyone. Many of our durable lunch bags are fashioned with molded vinyl interiors that provide easy access to all those little nooks and crannies that harbor lurking leftovers, so you’re sure to remove every last crumb with a quick swipe.

Don’t forget the accessories

Help your child enjoy lunchtime by giving her the proper tools and useful storage components to savor a delicious meal. Water bottles emblazoned with favorite superheroes and beachy designs keep drinks cool, while utensils with colorful carrying cases tuck neatly into bags’ pockets. Be sure to pick up some eco-friendly patterned cloth napkins and a few sets of nesting food storage containers to keep your kitchen (and your kid’s lunch) organized.

Remember style too

Lunch isn’t all about business, and a lunch bag with some personalization and style can make all the difference when it comes to reminding your child that he or she is special. Picky eaters might be more tempted to dive into a lunch bag that’s bright and cheery, and any kid can get a kick out of a trusty sack embroidered with his or her name. Don’t forget your child’s interests when selecting a bag; style is one of the most enjoyable elements of the task.