Back-to-school lunchbox must-haves

Lunch box accessories

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Packing light The insulated Tiffin Lunch Set by Aladdin, $25 at the The Container Store (908 W North Ave, 312-654-8450) keeps food hot or cold for four-plus hours.
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An update on the campground classic, the Tiffin Lunch Set comes with a removable divider that lets you separate or combine the contents of the 20-oz. and 12-oz. containers.
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Stack 'em up The OOTS! Lunchbox, $40 at landofnod.com, has a top designed to cradle a water bottle and five BPA-free plastic containers inside.
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The OOTS! Lunchbox containers stack neatly inside the colorful lunchbox, making it easy to transport a multi-course feast.
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Some like it hot The Fuel Duo Container by Trudeau, $17 for a 10 oz. size and $20 for a 17 oz. size at Freehling Pot & Pan Co. (1365 E 53 St, 773-643-8080), is a double-walled vacuum container that keeps foods hot for five hours.
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The Fuel Duo Container also has a two-art lit to hold dry snacks (just the thing for Goldfish crackers to go with that tomato soup), and a fold-up spoon.
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Now you see it ...Aladdin's set of two mini Collapsible Bowls, $11 at The Container Store, are the perfect size for snacks. Twist-off lids pop up to make the leak-proof bowls full size.
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Aladdin's mini Collapsible Bowls flatten once you're done using them.
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Dynamic Duo The Black + Blum Lunch Pot, $26 at the Chicago Architecture Foundation (224 S Michigan Ave, 312-922-3432) consists of two containers that stack on top of each other to form a post-modern lunch pail, complete with "spork" (a clever spoon-fork hybrid utensil).
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After dining, the Black + Blum Lunch Pot's smaller container fits inside the larger one to save space.
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Box lunch The Slimline Quaddie by Sistema, $10 at The Container Store, is a BPA-free plastic container with two levels with compartments to keep food separate.
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The Slimline Quaddie by Sistema also contains a small beverage bottle.
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Just chill The Alex bottle by Nice Reusables, $26 for the 20 oz. size and $30 for the 32 oz. size at The Container Store, untwists at the silicone ring in the center for easy cleaning, making it the perfect carrier for protein shakes and smoothies.
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Store one half of the Alex bottle by Nice Reusables inside the other when you're done. If you have both bottle sizes, you can mix and match.
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Can do One Less Soda Cans by Storebound, $13 each at amazon.com, are made from a corn-based compost material. The double-walled, spill-proof can holds 10 ounces of hot or cold beverages.
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One Less Soda Cans have easy, twist-off tops and are biodegradable to boot.
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The old switcheroo The Klipo Cutlery Set to Go by Sistema, $5 at The Container Store, let you snap a spoon, fork, knife or chopstick head onto one of two handles and say sayonara to disposable utensils.
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The Klipo Cutlery Set to Go by Sistema.
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Lifts and separates The BrightBin lunchbox, $13 at Toys Et Cetera, is a bi-level container created by Evanston mom Stephanie Stiller to hold mac and cheese or a sandwich on top, and three sides on the bottom.
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The BrightBin lunchbox snaps together easily and has a carrying handle.
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It's a snap The Snap Cutlery set by Trudeau, $5 at Ace Hardware Stores, includes a fork and spoon that snap together to keep them from going their separate ways.
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The Snap Cutlery Set by Trudeau.
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The envelope, please SnackTAXI reusable sandwich sacks, $9, and snack sacks, $7 at Green Genes (5111 N Clark St, 773-944-9250), are made or organic cotton, backed with nylon, and come in scads of great patterns.
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SnackTAXI reusable sandwich sack.
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SnackTAXI reusable sandwich sacks, $9, and snack sacks, $7 at Green Genes (5111 N Clark St, 773-944-9250).
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