The unofficial end of summer is looming. We can see it. The return of yellow buses running their routes. The mornings of making sure backpacks are packed and ready to be slung over a shoulder as the family herds out the door toward the start of a school day. It’s coming. And with it comes the puzzle of what in the world goes in that lunch box to meet the dietary needs of your food allergic kid.
Yes, parents and students of all ages dance around the debate of what makes a good school box lunch – portability, ease of preparation, hitting the right taste buds while being healthy and filling, and all that other stuff. For those of us managing allergies (and other medical conditions that influence dietary needs), there’s the added challenge of finding something that checks all those usual boxes while also being within the parameters of our child’s safe list of foods.
Falling back on a simple sandwich isn’t a solution when egg allergies rule out anything with a mayo base and dairy allergies nix the cheese, and wheat… well there goes the whole sandwich concept all together! That doesn’t mean you don’t have options. The following tools can help.
Vacuum Flask
Whether you grab the old reliable brand-name Thermos or a different vacuum sealed container, having a couple in your cabinet opens the door to more lunch options than you can begin to imagine. A good quality container can keep things cold that should be cold, and warm that should be warm. Some kid-friendly containers even come with a reusable spoon that snaps into the lid.
Sending in a hot lunch? Boil some water and fill the container with it first. Let it sit (lid on loosely) for about 5 minutes and then empty the water. Add in your hot meal and twist the lid on quickly. Fill the container as full as possible. Adding extra air into the container may cool the food down. This will help preheat the steel walls of your flask and keep the food inside warmer longer.
Sending something cold? Fill your container with water and ice and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Dump the water out, dry the inside and then fill with your favorite cold dish.
Not sure what to fill your container with? In our next article we’ll share some thermos-ready, allergy-friendly recipes.
Bento Box
Sure, bento boxes are a big internet hit. The elaborate mix of tidbits to nosh on reaches almost competitive levels on TikTok and Instagram. You don’t need to get that fancy. However, if you’re working with a food avoidance list, a simple bento box can broaden your options.
There’s space to add some fruit and cut up vegetables. You can drop in bits of precut chicken or other protein. You can add in wheat-free crackers or allergy-friendly pretzels. You can make space for a dip that won’t get all muddled up in the whole lunch once the lid is on tight. There is no right or wrong menu for a bento box.
Fill the individual compartments completely to reduce food bounding around. Don’t overfill to limit the mess. Use lids on small containers for items that are a bit more fluid than solid. But other than that, have fun. Fill with your family’s favorite safe foods.
The Box Matters
If you grew up in the days of brown bag sacks and metal lunch boxes, you know that ice packs and heavy containers weren’t necessarily conducive to those carriers. The good news is today’s options include a lot more versatility without adding bulk and heft.
Store shelves and online retailers are loaded with insulated lunch boxes at a more reasonable price point than you might expect. Not only can these bags do some of the heavy lifting in keeping warm foods warmer and cold foods cooler, they can also manage a small ice pack, your vacuum flask, or your bento box.
