Kershaw Kids: The ideal lunch box system

I've been packing lunches for my kids for the past nine years. Like most parents, I started out with an insulated lunch box like the ones above and filled it each morning with such things as cling film wrapped sandwiches, a piece of fruit, and a yogurt. Each afternoon it would come back smeared with a cocktail of crumbs, yogurt, banana skin and apple core - yukk! And however carefully you sponge clean these things, after a few weeks at school they take on an unpleasant aroma that is hard to shift.

So I went on the lookout for something else to contain the lunch that would be easier to clean.

Inspired by the laptop lunch idea which consists of an insulated bag and bento style containers I assembled a cheaper alternative using things readily available in the UK at the time. And here it is:

Insulated lunch bag - the standard rectangular bag found in most supermarkets, John Lewis etc. Approximate size 23 x 20 x 6cm.
Addis Clip and Close 1.1l with inserts - available in Robert Dyas, Tesco and online. It has one main compartment (great for sandwiches, pasta, rice etc.) and two side compartments (salads, snacks, puddings etc.)
Sistema twist n sip 330ml bottle - available in most supermarkets and online.
Mini lidded storage pot, approx 100ml - the one shown was made by Buchsteiner and was purchased at Lakeland. Similar available on ebay - search for 'mini storage pot'.
Bento accessories - lots of small coloured pots available on ebay along with rice moulds, egg moulds, picks. I occasionally make use of these for ketchup, mayo and dips.

I have four of the main containers, two of which I have had for more than six years and they are still going strong (except for one broken flap caused by forcing the container shut with an apple inside). The containers all go through the dishwasher without problems (some minor warping has occurred to the inserts). The insulated lunch bag stays fresh and can survive at least a couple of years of use (my kids are trained to stick all their rubbish inside the container and to shut the lid). And I hardly ever use cling film now.

A typical lunch - tuna mayo pitta, cherry tomatoes, yogurt with fruit, water. No cling film for this one.

The main container has a leak proof seal and I have never had one fail. However, the inserts do not create a tight seal against the lid, so it is possible for food to transfer from one compartment to another. For most foods this is not a problem and for the others I just wrap some cling film over the top.

Sadly the smaller pots pictured are no longer manufactured. I found some very similar pots on ebay, but they have not been quite so reliable and we have had some leakage. So the hunt continues for a suitable alternative.

Having got the lunch box system sorted, what should you pack in it? Here are a few ideas - more coming in future posts.