Top lunch boxes ready to take on the school year
For meals of all sizes and temperatures
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Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
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We’ve certainly come a long way from brown paper bag lunches. Now, it feels like there is a lunch box style for every kind of meal, and there’s just something about a good lunch box that makes packing lunch less daunting.
Ranging from bento boxes to stackable boxes to even heated ones, the options are endless. I especially love the ones with pre-portioned compartments because they help guide the amount of food and snacks to pack. Check out some of those, plus other best lunch boxes to order in Canada, below.
Summary of best lunch boxes:
Best budget lunch box:Sistema To Go Collection Bento Box
Best splurge lunch box:YETI Daytrip 3L Lunch Box
Best stackable lunch box:Bentgo Classic – All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunch Box
Best heated lunch box:Salton Portable Electric Lunchbox
Best kids’ lunch box:Bentgo kids’ lunch box
Best salad lunch box:Sistema Salad TO GO Lunch Box
Best lunch boxes explained
Best budget lunch box: Sistema To Go Collection Bento Box
Key specs:
- Size: 6.9 cup | 1.65L
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Microwave-safe: Yes (without lids)
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes
- Insulated: No
Why buy: Featuring multiple compartments, this lunch box makes it easy to take along lunch, snacks and sides all in one. It can hold a sandwich, fruit, cheese or your snacks of choice and even has a screw-top great for yogurt, salad dressing and or sauces. Easy to open and close with locking clips and a flexible seal. It is simple, but effective.
Fine print: The lunchbox is available in an assortment of colours, and when ordered online, the colour will be randomly selected.
Best splurge lunch box: YETI Daytrip 3L Lunch Box
Key specs:
- Size: 3L
- Dishwasher-safe: No
- Microwave-safe: No
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes (pre-chilling the box and its contents is recommended for maximum performance)
- Insulated: Yes
Why buy: Equipped with Coldcell Flex insulation, this lunch box is especially great for longer days and or trips. The technology helps hold the temperature for longer, keeping lunch fresh for hours on end. While there are no compartments with this one, it does have a pocket to help keep utensils and condiments against the lid. The exterior is water-resistant and easy to clean, plus rock-solid protection for both the food and the bag it’s placed in.
Fine print: The liner is leakproof, but the magnetic closure is not, so using the YETI ice block over regular ice is recommended.
Price: $100
Where to buy: YETI
Best stackable lunch box: Bentgo Classic – All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunch Box
Key specs:
- Size: 3.5 cups
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Microwave-safe: Yes
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes
- Insulated: No
Why buy: For those who prefer separation between their meals, and or even need to pack more than one meal, this stackable design could cover all the bases. It even comes with a built-in utensil set.
Fine print: The centre divider should not be put in the dishwasher or microwave.
Price: $20
Where to buy: Amazon
Best heated lunch box: Salton Portable Electric Lunchbox
Key specs:
- Size: 1.5L
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes (only the inner containers and utensils – top rack only)
- Microwave-safe: No
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes (only the inner containers)
- Insulated: No
Why buy: If you like your food to be hot, this electric lunch box allows you to warm up your food on the go. With both a standard outlet and a car socket, you can truly have a warm meal anywhere. It’s also a proudly owned and operated Canadian company, so win-win.
Fine print: The heating base should never be submerged in water and should only be stored in a dry, cool place. It should only be wiped clean.
Price: $29.98
Where to buy: Walmart | Amazon
Best kids’ lunch box: Bentgo kids lunch box
Key specs:
- Size: 2.4 cups
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes (only the removable tray)
- Microwave-safe: Yes (only the removable tray)
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes (only the inner containers)
- Insulated: No
Why buy: Perfect for kids aged three to seven, this five-compartment box is portioned out, making it easy to pack meals for kids. It is easy to open, leak-proof and drop-proof. This thoughtful design is what makes it the number one lunch box brand, plus the amount of colour and design options is also a bonus for the kids.
Fine print: The outer shell should be hand-washed.
Price: $30
Where to buy: Amazon | Staples
Best salad lunch box: Sistema Salad TO GO Lunch Box
Key specs:
- Size: 37.1 oz | 1.1L
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes (top rack only)
- Microwave-safe: Yes (without the lids)
- Fridge/freezer-safe: Yes
- Insulated: No
Why buy: Gone are the days of soggy salads. This is not your average salad lunch box; it has a lidded compartment for salad dressings and even divided areas to keep salad ingredients separate until ready to toss. The inner seal and easy-locking clips further help keep it fresh.
Fine print: Using abrasive cleaners or scrubbers can dull the finish.
Price: $13.47
Where to buy: Walmart
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