Bento Box Review: Do Kids Actually Need One?
A bento box is worth it if your child eats better with food kept separate, and skippable if they mostly take a sandwich. The bento is the tray that portions the food. The insulated lunch box is what keeps it cold and carries it. Most families end up using both.
What a bento box actually solves
- Portions stay separate. No more crackers soaking in apple juice.
- It sets the amount. The compartments do the deciding, which helps with a picky eater.
- Fewer little bags. One tray instead of four zip bags every morning.
What it does not solve
A bento box is not insulated. On its own it will not keep yogurt or deli meat safe until noon, so it needs to ride inside an insulated lunch box with an ice pack. Here is how to keep a packed lunch cold.
What to look for in one
- Leak-resistant seals. Test them at the sink before the first day of school, not after.
- Dishwasher and microwave safe, or you will be hand-washing it about 180 times a year.
- BPA-free.
- Small enough to sit flat inside the lunch box, not just next to it.
The lunch box it goes in
Every Fenrici insulated lunch box is 10.8 x 8.5 x 2.8 inches, holds a bento tray and a drink, wipes clean inside, and carries a two year kid-proof warranty. Free shipping on every order.
See all kids' lunch boxes, or read what to look for in a school lunch box.
Every Fenrici purchase gives back to pediatric rare-disease research.