My 14 Favorite Back to School Lunch Essentials at Walmart

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Summer is coming to a close, which means it’s time to start thinking about going back to school! While there’s a lot that goes into getting your kids ready to return to the classroom, one of the most important is making sure you have a plan for packing delicious and nutritious lunches. While you certainly don’t have to get fancy—the simpler, the better in my opinion—there are several back-to-school lunch essentials that I find can make your life a little bit easier.

To help you out, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite back-to-school lunch essentials at Walmart. From lunch bags to food containers to sandwich cutters, all of these supplies can make lunchtime (and prep) go a little more smoothly. I’ve also included some of my favorite healthy snacks that are parent- and kid-approved. Below, find everything you need to make lunchtime a success this year! 

My Top Picks

1. Best Bento Box: Bentgo Kids Lunch Box – $19.98 at Walmart
2. Best Lunch Bags: Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Bag – $24.99 at Walmart
3. Best for Hot Food: Thermos Insulated Food Jar with Folding Spoon – $16.97 at Walmart
4. Best Food Containers: Mainstays 14 Piece Rainbow Plastic Food Storage Set – $5.97 at Walmart
5. Best Water Bottle: Owala Kids Flip Water Bottle – $11.50 at Walmart

The Best Back-to-School Lunch Essentials at Walmart

1. Best Bento Box: Bentgo Kids Lunch Box

Bento boxes are equally great for general organization and for picky eaters who can be averse to their food touching. I like this one because it combines one large compartment for the main course with several smaller compartments for snacks and sides. It also has a separate area for dressing or sauces. It has a leak-proof design with snaps to keep it secure, and the whole tray pops out and is dishwasher-safe for easier cleaning.

2. Best Lunch Bag: Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Bag

This double-insulated bag is one of my favorites because of its versatility: It comfortably fits a standard-size Bento box, or you can use it as a traditional lunch bag with separate food containers. It has both a hand strap and a body strap, so if your kids’ hands are full they can throw it over their shoulder for easier carrying. There’s also a mesh pocket to securely store a water bottle, and the whole thing is water-resistant so it’s easy to wipe away spills and other lunchtime messes. It also comes in fun prints, from a dog motif to the always-classic dinosaurs.

For older kids who need a lunch bag that can keep food fresh through after-school sports and activities, this insulated tote from GPED is an excellent alternative. There are two separate compartments so you can store the main meal away from snacks or more delicate options. 

Buy the Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Bag:

Buy the GPED Insulated Lunch Bag:

3. Best for Hot Food: Thermos 16oz Insulated Food Jar with Folding Spoon

This insulated food jar from Thermos is definitely a back-to-school lunch essential if you’re planning on sending soups and other cozy meals to school with your kids. It has a 16-ounce capacity, which works well for all ages, and the double-wall stainless steel interior keeps food warm for up to seven hours. (It can keep food cool for up to 9 as well.) There’s a hidden, foldable spoon in the lid so you’re never without a utensil, and the wide-mouth design makes it easy to fill and clean. 

4. Best Food Containers: Mainstays 14 Piece Rainbow Plastic Food Storage Set

A reliable set of food containers is a necessity when packing lunches. This set from Mainstays has 7 different-sized containers that range from just under 1 cup to over 23 cups. They’re great for storing meal prepped foods and for portioning out smaller servings to pack into lunches. They’re plastic so you don’t have to worry about them breaking at school, but they’re also BPA-free for peace of mind. The lids also come in several fun colors so they’re easy to find in your cabinet. 

5. Best Water Bottle: Owala Flip Kids Water Bottle

This 18-ounce water bottle from Owala is compact and easy to stash in a lunch bag or a backpack, making it a perfect companion for those long days back at school. The durable Tritan plastic can stand up to a lot of wear and tear, plus it has a flip strap that opens easily with the touch of a button. It’s also leak-free when securely closed, so you don’t have to worry about spillage. It comes in a couple of fun patterns to match your kid’s unique personality.

6. Best Utensils: Bentgo Kids Utensil Set

Instead of sending your kids to school with disposable utensils (or no utensils at all), try this set from Bentgo. It comes with a mini dishwasher-safe fork and spoon that stack into a snappable storage case so you don’t lose track of them. They’re recommended for ages 3 and up and come in a bunch of fun designs that match the Bentgo lunch boxes.

7. Best Snack Containers: GoBe Kids Snack Container Snack Spinner

This snack spinner from GoBe Kids makes snack time fun! It has five compartments to keep foods separate, and kids can hit the center button to spin the container and rotate the options when munching. Each compartment holds about one-fourth cup, which makes portion control easier, and it has a leak-proof snap lid, so you don’t have to worry about spillage. It also makes for a great storage container if your kiddo doesn’t finish their snacks—it’s airtight and you can pop it right into the fridge or cabinet. 

8. Best Snack Bags: Stasher Reusable Silicone Bags

Instead of using plastic snack bags, try these reusable silicone bags from Stasher! These self-sealing bags work just like sandwich and snack bags, but there’s an added benefit: They can handle heat and cold, so you can put them in the microwave, refrigerator, and freezer,, and they’ll stay as good as new! Plus, you’ll save money over time, and you’ll be doing something good for the environment by using less single-use plastic.

9. Best Ice Packs: Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers

Ice packs are a must when packing perishables. I like these Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers because they’re super thin so they don’t take up a lot of precious space in a lunch bag, but they stay chilled for up to four hours. They’re also completely safe for food contact. They’re BPA-, lead-, and phthalate-free, and are easy to wipe down for a quick wash. Plus, they come in four eye-catching colors that my kids love.

10. Best Sandwich Cutters: Winerming Sandwich Cutter and Sealer

For a fun twist on a basic sandwich, try these sandwich cutters and sealers from Winerming. This set comes with four main shapes—a dinosaur, butterfly, bear, and unicorn—that quickly de-crust sandwiches and seal them shut. They also have smaller shapes so you can cut out fruit or veggie pieces for a fun snack. They work just like a cookie cutter, so there’s no learning curve. They’re so easy (and fun) your kids can even help prep lunches with them!

11. Best Veggie Chopper: Vidalia Chop Wizard Pro Max Onion and Vegetable Chopper

This vegetable chopper from Vidalia Chop Wizard is one of my favorite lunch prep tools! I like to include healthy snacks, like chopped carrots, cucumbers, or peppers, and this handy tool makes the process nearly effortless. It has interchangeable slicing blades so you can alternate between slicing and chopping, plus integrated measuring cups so you know exactly how much you’re portioning out. It’s also dishwasher safe, so cleanup is as easy as the prep. 

12. Best Dressing Containers: Ello Duraglass Reusable Glass Condiment Containers

This 3-pack of mini containers makes it so easy to portion and pack dressings, dips, hummus, sauces, and more. Each one holds about four ounces and comes with a twist lid so they’re completely leak-proof. I love that they’re glass but they’re still protected by a silicone grip in case they fall or bump around in your kid’s lunch box. They’re also dishwasher-safe and can be microwaved (without the lid).

13. Best To-Go Bowls: Bentgo Bowl with Snack Compartment

If you like to pack yogurt, soup, or overnight oats for your kids, these Bentgo Bowls will make your life so much easier. They’re separated into two compartments—the main bowl area and a separate snack space—so you can keep yogurt and granola or soup and crackers separated until lunchtime. A secure inner lid prevents leaks, and it comes with a foldable fork and spoon so you don’t have to worry about packing extra utensils.

14. My Favorite Back to School Snacks

Having healthy snacks on hand is a must to prevent hanger and ensure your kids have enough energy to tackle the school day. I always make sure to have fig bars, apple chips, granola bars, crackers, and fruit snacks in my pantry to pack in my kids’ lunches and have for them after school. Check out some of my favorites below:

• Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar Minis – $8.92 at Walmart
• Bare Snacks Bare Fruit Apple Chips – $10 at Walmart
• MadeGood Granola Bars – $8.49 at Walmart
• Crunchmaster Crackers – $7.98 at Walmart
• Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks – $9.98 at Walmart

Why You Can Trust Me

Hi! I’m Yumna, a recipe creator and the founder of Feel Good Foodie, which I started 11 years ago. When starting Feel Good Foodie, my goal was to make healthy meals for the family as easy and fun as possible—and that goes for school lunches too! I’m all about simplicity and finding tools that can make busy days and lunch prep simpler. 

To come up with this list of back-to-school lunch essentials, I thought about and included everything that makes my life easier when preparing lunches for my kids. I also considered customer reviews and chose popular items that have positive ratings among parents and kids!

Prices were accurate at time of publication.