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  1. #1
    mackmama is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
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    Default Insulated lunch box questions

    I am new to packing lunches/snacks, so please excuse the novice questions.

    DC has an insulated lunchbox (Beatrix).
    https://www.beatrixny.com/lunch-boxe...ari-the-poodle

    Do I still need to put an ice back in the bag to keep the food safe and cool (like berries and cheese)?
    Do I need to chill the insulated lunchbox in the fridge or freezer before packing it?

    If I do need an ice pack - what do people recommend that is nontoxic and sweat-free?
    I don't want anything soft that DC could puncture.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Kindra178 is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Default

    I use an ice pack in insulated lunch boxes. It's probably not necessary though. Check out Target and Amazon. There are many different kinds.

  3. #3
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    Does your DD's school put the lunch boxes in the fridge? My son's does, so I don't worry about it. It also depends on what you are packing in the lunch box. I think berries and cheese are fine for a few hours unrefrigerated. If you are sending deli meat or yogurt, then I would use an ice pack. We have the Igloo brand ice packs from Target and they are fine. I don't know how you would find an ice pack that doesn't sweat if it is exposed to warmer temperatures?

  4. #4
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    Someone posted this article a few years ago, and it really opened my eyes about ice packs and lunch boxes:

    http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/0...nch-extra-ice/

    That being said, during the winter months, I don't worry too much about stuff like berries and cheese (hey, some people purposely leave cheese out for a couple hours to develop flavor anyways!). When I do need ice packs, these have worked great for DS1's lunchbox: http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Fresh-Cool...4408205&sr=8-1
    DS1 2006
    DS2 2009

  5. #5
    mackmama is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by wencit View Post
    Someone posted this article a few years ago, and it really opened my eyes about ice packs and lunch boxes:

    http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/0...nch-extra-ice/

    That being said, during the winter months, I don't worry too much about stuff like berries and cheese (hey, some people purposely leave cheese out for a couple hours to develop flavor anyways!). When I do need ice packs, these have worked great for DS1's lunchbox: http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Fresh-Cool...4408205&sr=8-1
    Thank you so much for posting that article. That's exactly what I've been looking for. I have some of those ice packs, too, so I think I'll just buy more of them. I wish they weren't so thick, but I like them much more than the gel packs.

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