I’ve already started sending some hot lunches to school with my kids. It’s currently quite cold on the Gold Coast and my family are starting to enjoy warmer dishes for lunch and dinner. Kids will be going on school holidays soon so here are some hot lunch ideas for when they head back for term three smack-bang in the middle of winter! They will thank you for it. Most of these are good dinner ideas and can be used for lunch leftovers. The kids love having something in their thermos and keeps them warm at lunch time, plus it is something fun and different to the typical sandwiches I give them.
HOW TO USE A THERMOS
- Warm up thermos by filling it with boiling water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, empty water.
- Fill Thermos with hot contents (eg, hot noodles, hot dinner left overs)
- Secure lid tight, place in lunch bag and remember to include a spoon/fork.
WHERE TO FIND INSULATED JARS/THERMOSES
Skip Hop Zoo-Kids Lunchboxes – Insulated Food Jar
The BPA-free, stainless steel, insulated food jar will be perfect for keeping items cold for up to 5 hours, and items warm for up to 7 hours. The food jar comes with a spork and a handy built-in holder for children are ready for meals on the go, with ease.
Size (cm): 9.4l x 8.75w x 12h
Capacity (mL): 325
Thermos FUNtainer Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jar
Smart and stylish insulated stainless steel food jars from Thermos are a great way to keep food fresh and yummy for up to 5 hours and cold for up to 7 hours. The durable stainless steel interior and exterior withstands daily wear and tear. The extra wide mouth is easy to fill, eat from and clean.
Size (cm): 9.7l x 12h x 9.7w
Capacity (mL): 290
Japanese Insulated Food Jars (Large) With Matching Lunchbags
These fantastically crafted Insulated Food Jar range from Japan are great for school lunches – soup, noodles, leftover dinner, stirfries, pasta salad, green salad, rice salads, desserts. Sealed to perfection they will keep your food hot or cold for approximately 6 hours. Available in 4 different colours and 520mLs, 570mLs or 900mLs.
AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE
U-Konserve Steel Insulated Food Jar
Stainless steel lunch boxes get bright and cheery! U-Konserve presents the gorgeous neon coloured insulated food jars that are leak-proof and keep your food hot or cold for hours!! Available in Eggplant, Neon Orange and Neon Pink.
Size (cm): 16.5h x 9w
Hello Kitty Insulated Food Jar
This is a stainless soup jar with an internal second layer. The design is adorable!
Size (cm): 8.5 x 13.4 , Capacity (mL): 300
Thermos-Insulated Snack Jars
Insulated snack jars from Thermos will keep lunches nice and chilled easily and conveniently. This wide-mouth, durable plastic food storage container comes with a collapsible spoon that stores inside. The collapsible, folding spoon makes it easy for you to pack and serve in one go.
Size (in): 4.8l x 4.8d x 4h
Capacity (mL): 240
Ecococoon Stainless Steel Bottle
I’ve been using this bottle for the days the kids aren’t feeling on top of the world, but still good enough for school. I fill it with some hot chocolate. The kids said it was still hot at lunch time which was 6 hours after I made it! It is leak-free and vacuum insulated which means that cold and warm drinks will keep that way.
Size (cm): 7w x 23h, Capacity (mL): 500
AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE
(15% discount using coupon code – Organisedhousewife. Ends 30th June 2017).
Pencil Water Bottle
Made of durable Stainless Steel. This cute Pencil Water Bottle water bottle is not only super cute, but also a practical design. The lid twists on to lock the top on into place, which is lined with a silicon seal.
Size (cm): 5.58 x 20.77, Capacity (mL): 220
AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE
(15% discount using coupon code – Organisedhousewife. Ends 30th June 2017).
Hot school lunch ideas
BEEF CHOW MEIN – A great way for the kids to get some extra vegetables into them! Find my recipe here.
MEATBALLS – A hearty lunch idea. Serve with pasta or vegetables. Idea found via Nom Nom Paleo. Find my recipe here.
PASTA – Pasta bakes or one pan pasta dishes make great re-heatable lunches. Find my pasta bakes here.
CHICKEN NUGGETS – The morning of packing kids lunches, put some nuggets in the oven, pop into a thermos and send to school with a little tub of tomato sauce.
FRIED RICE – This would have to be one of my kids favourites, my recipe is really easy and can use up any vegetables you have in the fridge. Find my recipe here or try Epicurious’ teriyaki fried rice here.
TACO MINCE – Pack some corn chips into the kids lunchbox so they can scoop the mince from the thermos for a little mini taco bite.
RAVIOLI – I don’t make ravioli, I quite like the ones you can buy in the cold section at the supermarket, they also have different flavour of sauces you can easily heat and pour over.
CASSEROLE – Filled with chunky meat and vegetables. Find a collection of casseroles here.
MACARONI AND CHEESE – Make your own or purchase from supermarket. To make it a little more nutritious add some carrot, capsicum, celery and stir through some meat such as ham, chicken or mince. Find a Veggie Mac and Cheese recipe here.
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE – Place spaghetti on the bottom and top with some sauce. Find my sauce recipe here.
PORRIDGE – Breakfast for lunch or morning tea, stir through some fruits such as apple or peaches.
SOUP – Serve the kids with their favourite soup and some bread for dipping. Find my super easy roast pumpkin soup recipe here.
More kids hot thermos lunch ideas:
- Lasagna
- 2 Minute Noodles
- Beef Stroganoff
- Homemade Sausage Rolls
- Homemade Pies
- Stir Fry with Vegetables
- Pumpkin Soup
- Tuna Mornay
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Butter chicken and rice
- Pad Thai
- Curried Sausages
- Chicken Carbonara
- Silverside and Vegetables
- Casseroles
What hot food do you pack your kids?
Note: this post has been updated with new title and photos, it was originally posted on 3rd June 2015.
65 comments
This is brilliant!! I love this idea. My partner is always complaining he can’t take leftovers to work as the microwaves are never available and by the time he gets to it, lunch time is over. I will be using this idea for him going forward.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Your ideas are amazing.
Oohh thank you, Anne.:) It is such a great idea for hubby’s and they too get a nice warm lunch.:) Hope your hubby enjoys it x
Thank you! I use a lot of the kids lunch ideas for myself as an adult to take to work 🙂 Our toastie machine is extremely neglected so it’s hard to find something yummy to bring to work to enjoy on a cold day (like today)!
I agree Hannah, nothng better than taking a nice warm lunch on these oh so chilly days.:)
Love the idea for winter school lunches but wondered if the lids are easy enough for young ones to open if they say you must secure the kids tightly??
Wendy my kids haven’t had any issues with getting the lids off, i think they should be fine for younger ones too. I don’t tighten them overly tight either.
My son is 4.5 and will only eat hot foods. We’ve been using a thermos all preK. Chx nuggets, mac n chz, soup, etc have been our go to bc his school is peanut free.
The niggets don’t get soggy?!?
stick some paper towel in the bottom to soak up any extra moisture. 😀
My youngest has trouble with the lids but the teacher always helps 🙂
OMG! Do you know that I just realised THAT’S how you use a thermos??? I didn’t realise you have to fill it in with hot water to set the temperature first! No wonder the food in my kids thermos didn’t stay hot for long. We’ve abandoned the thermos (sitting in my cupboard) but it looks like it’ll be out again!! Thank you for sharing that tip.
Ooh Norlin don’t worry i didn’t know either! The ones from Kmart don’t come with instructions. You are not alone x
My kids have a hot lunch at least 3 times a week. We started this when we stopped eating sandwiches for lunch. Most days it’s leftovers from the night before, although we do also do lots of fried rice, it’s a family fav. xx
I think it is nice for them to have something warm in their bellies on those really cold days too Nicole.:)
These are all such great ideas and I’ve never seen a lunch thermos before… My little toddler is still a little young for these treats but so perfect to remember for the future x
Absolutley Caley.:)
My son doesn’t like sandwiches so hes been enjoying taking a thermos of hot food. Today meat and vegetables soup just like his Nana makes, with a bread roll.
Thanks for some new ideas, I’m sure he will enjoy them over the next few weeks.
Ooh that sounds like a delicious lunch, Rebecca! I must say my kiddies get over sandwiches too
I’ve never thought of doing this for hubby but I might have to start given how cold it is here in Sydney! 😀
Ooh yes i imagine it is freezing down there, Lorraine! It has been so cold on the Gold Coast the last few days. I am sure hubby will enjoy his nice warm lunches.:)
I’ve never had any success with keeping nuggets warm/hot & not going soggy or rubbery. Any tips? The only things my kids would probably take in a thermos are nuggets, sausages or meatballs, but even the sausages went cold.
Hmm i’m not sure on how to stop the nuggets from going soggy, great question Liisa!
Quick question did you heat the thermos up first? Pouring boiling water in and leave for 10 minutes, it should them stay hot most of the day.
Yes, I always heat with boiling water first. It may just be that Nuggets are unsuitable, as when the steam leaves them but is contained in the thermos, it makes them soggy. If anyone finds a solution is love to know!
Piece of bread in the bottom to absorb the moisture!
slice of bread in the top &/or bottom to absorb the moisture 🙂
Wrap them in paper towel & foil?
I think I actually read somewhere if you put a paper towel on the bottom it helps soak the moisture instead of going to the nuggets, or maybe less. I havent tried it since I dont pack my baby lunch yet, I will soon try it though lol.
Great tip thank you Lexx 🙂
I HAVE discovered how to make the nuggets from going soggy, and it’s very easy.
Just put your piping hot water in the thermos for about 5 mins or more, like usual, then do a quick wipe inside with a paper towel and then take a new, dry paper towel (I use 1 sheet from the select a size types) and wad it up and put it in the bottom of the thermos, then add your cooked chicken nuggets on top of the paper towel. The paper towel absorbs all the moisture and leaves the chicken nuggets moist, but not soggy, just like you made them at home.
My daughter LOVES them and says they are not soggy at all 🙂
Awesome! That makes sense. I’ll definitely give the paper towel a go. Thank you!
Thanks, I will give this a try!!!!
Great ideas, we have been doing hot lunches for a few weeks as already brrrr, cold in Sydney. I love the fried rice idea – just tend to stick to mince and soup, the kids will be thrilled to have me expand my repertoire…I have the thermos range and they are super…I do recall from my Boarding School days on The Coast that it can get mighty chilly up there too, stay warm..x
Thanks Monique.:) Yes the mornings are super chilly.:) My kids love fried rice in their thermos, soups are a big hit too. Just a nice variation and to give them a break from sandwiches, i can’t blame them i tend to get a tired of sandwiches too.:) x
One thing my girls love are marinated chicken wingettes and drumettes. Taste great hot or cold.
Ooh sounds delicious, what a yummy lunch to take to school.:)
Hi. Great Idea. Can you share the recipe? Thanks!
You have inspired me to make extra dinners and send it warmed up for the kids school lunches seeing that its cooking down so much. I’m excited to get this happening! (But I need to buy a thermos). The Bento website says that theirs are out of stock just now. What is the best one to keep the food warm/hot and what size would you recommend for an 8 year old? Looks like it comes in the 240 and 500ml size ..
Hi Emma, the Bento ones are great! You can pre order them but i also know that there is another shipment arriving this week, i would get the 500ml thats the size my kids take.:)
OK. Thermos (x2) all purchased. Gave some leftover spaghetti Bolognese a try today – was a HUGE hit. I think I might try your curried sausages next. I have a quite few recipes on my site that would be good too – some pasta bakes, mild lamb curry, meatballs etc. Thanks for the inspiration Katrina.
wonderful idea! I’m just wondering would it still keep the food at a safe level to be eaten hours later? Would be for a toddler so don’t know if you have to be a little more cautious? Also any experience with particular brands that seem to hold the heat better? Thanks so much
Hi Sarah, i haven’t had any worries with any of mine. The Kmart one is also great too. The food stays lovely and hot most of the day so even when eaten at lunch time.
This is great!
I’ve used the Kmart brand for the last 2 years for my girls (now 10 and 12). They LOVE having a hot lunch. Devilled Sausages are a big fav, and the both really enjoy Chicken and Chorizo Stew. I also use them in Summer, to send smoothies for them. I keep them in the freezer, fill with the smoothie, pop back in the freezer, and they grab them on the way to school.
i love this!! Thank you so much for the ideas and the change of thought process. My three kids are starting at a new school this year that requires us to pack a lunch every day. I have wanted to have some new ideas so lunch isn’t totally boring. Thanks
I love the idea of putting the prepared food into a thermos to satay hot. This way they can still eat their pack lunch hot and fresh.
This is perfect!!my kids do not like the schools food but I hated the idea of them eating sandwhiches daily!! Now they can enjoy a hot meal!! Thanks ladies!!
glad these ideas can help 🙂
Other ideas: Chili. Risotto. Pad Thai noodles.
This question may sound like a,”duh” but I have to ask: ” do you make the hot lunch the night before and put it in the container or wait until the morning to warm and then fill the container”? Thanks
This question may sound like a,”duh” but I have to ask: ” do you make the hot lunch the night before and put it in the container or wait until the morning to warm and then fill the container”? Thanks
We reheat leftovers in the morning typically. You will want to put hot food into a hot thermos to send in the morning, so either cook it in the morning or reheat.
I recently started doing this again for my kiddo. I cook a few meals over the weekends and freeze them in 1 or 2 cup containers. I take one out to thaw in the fridge each night, and heat it up for his thermos lunch each morning. He loves it! Thanks for the different food ideas! I’ve been sending the same 3 or 4 dishes for awhile now and we needed something new.
Home made mini quiches work well also. I heat up the flask with boiling water for 10 mins, wipe dry, put freshpaper towel scrunched up in the base of the flask and fit 3 quiches (that have been heated in the microwave from frozen) on top. Stay warm for at least 6 hours and don’t go soggy as the paper towel absorbs any moisture.
I’m having lunch box envy! Don’t have kids to make lunch for, but I totally wish my school lunches were this delicious all those years ago 🙂
When making macaroni cheese I always stir in either peeled grated zucchini (once peeled it’s invisible) or cooked puréed cauliflower ((also invisible in cheese sauce)
smuggling in the veggies is a fabulous idea Juli!
I know this is an old post, but just wondering about fried rice is it made the night before and nuked in the morning then put in a warmed thermos?
These are all very great ideas. My kid will be starting kindergarten and I know for sure I don’t want him eating school lunch. I’ve been practicing for the past two weeks by placing hot meals in the thermo and making him open it to test it, it’s worked out so far. I think I read 1 mommy say she sends warm lunches a few days a week, I think that is an idea I will def steal as well. Thanks for these delicious meal option, we have def benefit from this.
Have any of you had your child’s yam toy their meal isn’t even warm anymore arty lunch time? I have a 13 dollar Thermos brand, that is supposed to keep hot for 5 hours, but it’s not even warm. I warm up at around 7:20 and lunch is around noon. You would think it would at least be warm. What am I doing wrong?
do you add boiling water to the thermos before adding in the warm food? Empty the water out before putting in the food of course 🙂
Did anyone have luck with the Mac n cheese?
Thanks Kat! I always struggle with prepare the kids lunch as they get bored from taking sandwiches to school almost everyday. Canteen’s hot food are not that healthy. This is a great idea for leftover dinner.
Thanks Vanessa. Glad you have gathered some ideas here.
Hi! My 3 1/2 yr old loves plain rice. I flip the rice cooker on when we get up and load up her little skip hop lunch jar before daycare and add a packet of nori or furikake (sprinkles for rice) to her lunchbox. Also for older kids I heard of putting frankfurters in boiling water and they assemble the cooked hotdog at school- but maybe cocktail wieners for little would work like the chicken nuggets.
great ideas! Thank you for sharing 🙂
My teenage daughter much prefers hot food, especially in the winter. Definitely saving this article!