
Hot School Lunches for Kids - Tips and Ideas for Food Jars
During the cooler months, the kids might enjoy a hot lunch!
Here are some tips and ideas for making kids' school lunches in a food jar.
Whether you call them a thermos or an insulated food jar, they keep food hot for hours so the kids can have a nice warming lunch. We stock both the MontiiCo and the Cheeki food jars.
Tips for Lunches in a Food Jar
- Add boiling water to the empty food jar and let sit for a few minutes, tip out, add heated food and quickly close the lid. This is the best way to make sure the food stays at a nice hot temperature.
- Don't worry about heating the food too hot, as it will cool a little before lunch time and be at the perfect temperature.
- Don't forget to add a spoon or a fork. Don't send your best cutlery though because it might not make it home. The RePlay forks and spoons are fabulous for this!
- Food jars also keep food cold as well as hot, so use them in summer to keep salads and cold lunches chilled.
Keeps food hot up to five hours
Vacuum Insulated, Double Walled Stainless Steel
Wide opening for little hands
Size: 12.5cm
Capacity: 400ml
Ideas for School Lunches in a Food Jar
Okay, so what to put in the food jar? Well, it depends on what they will eat! Here are some things that work really well for a hot school lunch in a jar.
1. Leftovers
A great time-saver! Make extra of the kids' favourite dinner and simply heat it up in the morning and add to the food jar. The ultimate mum hack!!
2. Soup
Nourishing and healthy, make a batch of soup on the weekend for easy meals throughout the week. Adding a protein and a carb (think chicken noodle) is a great way to keep the kids full and satisfied.
3. Pasta
Pasta or noodles work really well in a thermos and it's usually something that most kids love to eat! Try spaghetti bolognaise, macaroni cheese, ravioli or even two-minute noodles.
4. Meatballs, Nuggets and Wings
Kid food! Meatballs can be made in bulk and frozen and you can easily sneak some vegetables in there. Cut chicken wings in half and take off the tip before you cook for a good fit in the jar. Nuggets are easy to heat up and if you cook a homemade batch, you can make them really healthy and nutritious.
5. Pizza
Yes, you can put pizza, sausage rolls, quiches and similar in the thermos. Just add a small piece of paper towel in the bottom of the thermos to catch any condensation and to avoid soggy bottoms.
6. Fried Rice
Fried rice works so well in food jars! Its a great way to use up leftover rice, meat and vegetables and it's healthy and nutritious.
7. Breakfast for lunch
Think baked beans, scrambled or boiled eggs and bacon. All of these make a great hot lunch!
8. Sweet Ideas
Lunch doesn't have to always be savoury. Stewed fruit with custard, bircher muesli or hot porridge makes a nice change!
Keeps food hot for up to 8 hours
Food grade stainless steel, BPA-free, leak-proof lid
Double walled, vacuum insulated
Size: 16cm
Capacity: 480ml
We would love to hear from you!
What do you make for the kids' hot lunches? What do they love the most?
Let us know in the comments below.