Get ready for the new school year with these back-to-school lunch essentials from Walmart! They include great lunch boxes, prep tools, and more.
Back to school season is upon us! I’m already thinking about all the lunches that I’ll pack for my son Ollie this fall.
In the last couple of years, I’ve found a few essentials that make packing his lunches SO much simpler. Some of them also come in handy for prepping my own!
Below, I’ve rounded up my favorite back to school lunch essentials that you can get at Walmart. If you’re getting into a new lunch routine this season, check them out! From bento boxes to vegetable slicers to cute water bottles, they all make lunchtime go more smoothly. Plus, they’re pretty affordable.
I hope these picks make your life a little easier as we head into the school year!
Reviews of Back to School Lunch Essentials at Walmart
I love packing my son’s lunches in a bento box, which has individual compartments to fit snacks and sandwiches. It makes lunch more fun! I think this one from Bentgo is the best lunchbox for little kids. It features five compartments of different sizes, including a small center compartment for dips, hummus, or even a treat. My son loves the compartments, and I love that I can pack a variety of foods for him. This bento box is durable, dishwasher safe, and leakproof. If Ollie drops it, the food stays in its place.
For older kids, this three-compartment option can fit larger sandwiches and snacks. It’s both microwave and dishwasher safe, so it can be used to reheat leftovers as well. I love that it’s BPA-free and made of wheat material, so it’s super lightweight.
Buy the Bentgo Kids Leak-Proof Lunch Box:
Buy the Kiddopark Bento Box For Kids:
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This insulated bag is perfect for older kids (and adults!) who like to pack their own lunches. It’s spacious enough to hold fruit, sandwiches, and snacks, and the thick insulation keeps meals fresh alongside an ice pack. I love its minimalist design, the side water bottle holder, and the front slip pocket, which provides easy access to snacks.
These sandwich cutters are a cute way to make any sandwich—from a Caprese sandwich to a classic PB&J—more exciting! The set comes with four different shapes—a dinosaur, butterfly, bear, and unicorn—that work like cookie cutters to de-crust sandwiches and seal them shut. It also includes six smaller cutters that can be used for snacks and decorations. They’re a fun way to get kids involved in prepping their own lunches.
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I’ve found that the best way to get my kiddo interested in different foods is to let him be part of the cooking process, which is why I think kid-safe knives are a great lunch essential. This set comes with seven different plastic tools that have a blunt edge for safety but are still strong enough to cut through sandwich bread and some vegetables. My son loves them, and the variety of sizes in the set makes it a good option for a range of ages.
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A fun water bottle can encourage kids to stay hydrated throughout the day, and these dino-themed ones from Zak Designs are adorable. They hold 15 ounces of liquid and have a comfortable silicone straw for sipping. The top is also leak-proof, so you won’t have to worry if it takes a tumble. I like that it’s entirely BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, and the lid can come off for easy cleaning.
Another great option is this stainless steel bottle from Ozark Trail. I think the dragon pattern is so cute, and it’s made of food-grade stainless steel that is rustproof and has no metallic taste. It holds 12 ounces, and the double-wall vacuum insulation ensures it will stay cold for hours.
Buy the Zak Designs Kelso Toddler Cups:
Buy the Ozark Trail Stainless Steel Kids Bottle:
6. Best Reusable Sandwich Bags: Stasher Bags
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I’m obsessed with Stasher bags—I have them in every size and shape! Each bag is made of food-grade silicone that is safe for the freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and boiling water. They’re one of my favorite kitchen tools, and they’re great for packing sandwiches and snacks in kids’ lunches.
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I’ve tried packing small dip cups in Ollie’s lunch before, but the little containers always seem to get lost! I love using this 2-part Bentgo snack cup instead. The reusable container is made of BPA-free plastic and the top doubles as a smaller container for dips, sauces, or mix-ins. It’s great for pairing veggie sticks with hummus or yogurt with granola.
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These ice packs are ideal for keeping food cool in bento boxes or lunch boxes. They’re super thin, so they don’t take up a lot of space in a lunch bag, and they stay chilled for up to four hours. They’re also BPA-, lead-, and phthalate-free, making them safe for food contact.
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These mini containers are perfect for packing dressings and dips! Each one holds about four ounces of sauce and has a leak-proof seal. They’re made of glass but are protected by colorful silicone grips in case they fall or bump around in a lunch box. They’re also dishwasher safe and can be microwaved as long as the lid is off.
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This insulated food jar is perfect for sending kids off to school with cozy soups and mac and cheese. It has a 12-ounce capacity, which works well for younger kids, and the double-wall stainless steel interior keeps food warm for up to several hours. You can also use it to keep foods like yogurt and sweet treats cool.
Credit: Love and Lemons/Walmart
These Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are my go-to glass containers for meal prep and food storage—I’ve been using them for years! This set comes with two 2-cup and two 3.2-cup containers, which is plenty of space for storing leftovers or my own meal prepped lunches. The locking lids are leak-proof, and the containers are microwave- and dishwasher-safe and can safely go in the oven.
I also love Anchor Hocking’s glass food storage containers. I often use them to store washed and chopped fruits and veggies, which help me quickly assemble Ollie’s lunches during the week. The containers have silicone lids and hold 2 cups each. And at under $10 for a set of 3, they’re very affordable!
Get the Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4:
Get the Anchor Hocking Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 3:
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I have plenty of packable recipes in my own cookbooks, but I still love getting ideas from others for my kid’s lunches. I’ve pre-ordered Megan and Judy’s new book (out August 27th!) for kid lunch inspiration, and I’m a huge fan of their first cookbook Feeding Littles & Beyond, too. Either would be great for helping you mix things up this school year!
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Chopping and slicing can be the most time-consuming parts of lunch prep, which is why I love this handy mini set from OXO. It comes with four grating and slicing blades, including a spiralizer. You can use them directly over bowls or place them over the 3-cup storage container. This set speeds up meal prep so much and doesn’t take up too much space.
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An organized pantry is essential for keeping track of packable snacks and non-perishables. I like this 5-piece system from The Home Edit that has two large bins, two large insert bins, and a 3-tier riser that makes it easier to see cans and snacks. The material is clear so everything is visible—a must when it comes to actually finding things in your pantry!
Prices were accurate at time of publication.