Our writer Jennifer D. received a sample of this product to facilitate her review and was compensated for writing it.
I’ve been packing my kids’ lunches a lot more the last couple of years than I used to. I like being more in control of what they eat, as opposed to them buying a school lunch which they barely pick at because they don’t like the mushy vegetables. I know which fruits and veggies will go over with them, so when I pack it, they eat better.
They like variety, which is often hard to come by, especially when they are bringing their lunches more frequently.
I was so excited for the chance to review Lava Lunch, which promises to keep hot foods hot, and my kids were excited too. I asked my high school-aged daughter what she wanted to try first. We had some leftovers from one of her favorite sides. “Can I have mashed potatoes?” she asked. Can do!
I set some of the leftovers aside and packed it up for her on Monday morning. I followed the instructions that Lava Lunch recommends. I purchased a stainless steel container set, because that was their recommendation to keep it the hottest (though it’s safe with all materials). When I saw Amanda after school, I asked how it was. “It was incredible!” I was practically speechless hearing a teenager express that much appreciation. “They were warm, not cold or lumpy at all!”
One concern I had was that the orange I packed would also be warm. I wrapped it in a few extra napkins and put it away from the heat packs, and she said it wasn’t warm. There is a roomy outside sling pocket where I put her drink. You could put something else in there as well, but I didn’t want anything to fall out in her backpack.
Since it was a hit with my 15-year-old daughter, I tried it out next on my 9-year-old son. I packed Kyle a tin of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich (wrapped in foil). His verdict, “It was awesome!”
We’ve since used it at least half the time they’ve had lunches. I’ve packed warm pastas and soups. It does take a little more effort in the morning, but I love the options it gives us.
You might wonder how it works or if it’s safe for young children. You microwave the “lava bricks” heat packs and put them inside the mesh in the lunch kit. Right out of the microwave, they are very hot to the touch, but they wouldn’t burn you. Since they’re enclosed in the mesh in the lunchkit, they aren’t available for little hands to accidentally get burned. I think it’s marked that it’s not acceptable for kids under 3, but they aren’t usually eating their lunches independently. My 9 year old son hasn’t had any problems.
I was sent one of each of the types of lunch boxes. My high school daughter, who carries around all of her stuff in her backpack all day, prefers the Blue Fire lunch box. It’s more of the traditional lunch sack style. The other style is the one I use for my son (and I actually prefer). It’s the lemon lime and is more of a solid rectangular shape. The pictures of the interior (in collage above) are from this model. It costs $5 more, but it is what I would purchase as a replacement, but my daughter thinks it’s “too big” for her backpack, since it’s not as flexible, I guess.
Win it!
One of you will win the Blue Fire lunch box.
spaghetti, my daughter loves it.
My daughter’s been begging to bring soup and hot sandwiches
I would pack chili or soup for my husband to take to work.
My boys would love to bring chili. Thank you
Chicken and noodles
I would like to pack a hot vegetable soup and grill cheese sandwich
I would pack Chili for my son, it’s his favorite food.
I would take soup.
i want to pack a hot grilled cheese and a bowl of soup
I’d pack up the thai noodles my mother in law makes for my daughter
I like to bring pasta and sauce.
i would pack a hot roast beef sandwich
I would love to send my grandson to school with my veggie chili!
I would like to pack beef stew.
a piece of lassagna
Soup on these so cold days.
I like packing hot leftovers from dinner the night before.
Wings would be delicious!
I’d love to be able to pack oatmeal or soup.
This would keep some soup nice and hot!
I would pack some chili.
Leftover chicken and rice!
I would pack leftovers for my husband’s lunch. We usually have casserole, soup, or stew.
Hot beef. Yumm! id love to try it and see if it really stays warm.
I would love to bring gen tso leftovers in it. This sounds great.
I would pack my kids a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
I would pack my famous extra cheesy macaroni and cheese
for me it would be fried rice. yummy.
I would pack some hot pasta dishes.
I will pack spaghetti!
Grilled cheese, hot ham and cheese, chicken noodle soup… the list goes on and on. My son would love this!
quesadillas (I haven’t typed enough words apparently) quesadillas
nice item to gift to my granddaughter or daughter
I would pack my husband leftover spaghetti.
I would pack either Soup or a Casserole.
Hot dog for lunch , love it !
The hot lunch I would like to pack would be veggie lasagna.
curry would be great
Homemade chicken noodle soup.
My son is always complaining he tires of sandwiches so I am always coming up with new things to send. This would open up a whole new world of things…soup, spaghetti..his favorite. Chili…oh how exciting!
I would pack soup
working 3rd shift, I really need a lunch box like this. most of the breakrooms are locked and I usually can’t get to a microwave. I’ve been just eating snacky foods just cause I hate eating cold food. This would be AWESOME!!
Chicken and noodles.
I would pack my husband fresh veggies and fish for lunch
I would like to pack soup and sandwiches for my husband
I would like to pack grilled chicken.
Thanks for the chance!
I would pack chili
Lentil soup and leftovers would be great in the Lava lunch bag!
Leftovers such as meatloaf, pasta, salads, soup..etc
I’d pack hot soup!
Leftover spaghetti would be great!
Beef Stew is what I would pack
I would pack casserole leftovers or black beans and rice.
My daughter always wants me to pack her soup, so this would be great to keep it warm.
I would pack soups or rice
I would take my leftovers from the night before!
I’d like to pack soup and quesadillas.
My housewide famous chili!
I would pack enchiladas.
Chicken Parm! I love it leftover for lunch but hate it has to be cold!
leftover food like spaghetti
I would pack soup, mac & cheese, pasta, etc.
Potato kale soup for my kids
My husband works 3rd shift so it would be great for him to eat our dinner hot every night. Soups and pasta are his favorites!
I would pack some hot soup!
I would like to pack some tamales for my lunch. Thank you for the chance.
Soup! It’s about 15 degrees here today, so that sounds lovely.
A pasta dish.
This is exciting to think of all the non PB&J options I could send to school!
I’d pack rice and stirfry.
I would love to try this lunchbox for my work! If I won a $100 gift card I would buy presents!