ThisNext Blog

For me, September is the new January. There is something about the whole process of “going back to school” that gives this month that same sort of renewal energy that we all have on Jan 1 when we swear we’re really going to loose 10 pounds, lay off the sauce and finish putting shelves up in the garage.

Whether you’re really going back to school or not, it seems to me everyone gets in on the act. I mean, who doesn’t love school supplies (any excuse to buy Sharpies!), giant handbags – I mean book bags; and, during back to school season (for a brief month or two at least) the idea of actually taking your lunch to work seems like the ultimate in worldly discipline.

A brown bag lunch is no good unless it is housed in the perfect lunch box; and at ThisNext, our shopcasters are all over lunch boxes like peanut butter on white.

The major box du jour is Ogg Studio’s Custom Photo Lunch Box where anyone can have their own image placed on a classic metal lunch box for just $35. Ann Douglas thinks Ogg’s lunch box is “the coolest lunch box ever” and suggests taking a superhero picture of your kid for the photo.

Our very own David is thinking about using his wife’s paintings as the images and getting the lunch boxes for all his kids.

Tot Trends Weekly suggests Zookies lunchtime fun boxes which come with a smiley face sandwich case and snack holders. PLUS these contagiously happy lunch boxes have a chalkboard exterior so you can write a note to the little one before they trot off to school. Cute!

So maybe you don’t want to bring smiley faces into your corporate snack room, but no one will balk at amoore’s pick of this Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar: “ Mr. Bento encourages me to take a responsible sized portion of 4 different foods, then keeps them warm (or cold) until lunch. Plus, it’s not as lame as those soft, insulated lunchbox bags that everyone else at work has.”

Still not convinced you’ll earn style point with a Bento Box? eins dares to disagree: “ This bento box is the star at my lunchroom. Nothing quite beats the tension in the air as a tableful of coworkers holding their breath as I reveal each individual compartment in the bento. Ah….who know brown bagging could be so cool.” And we thought hanging with the cool kids was just a recess phenomenon!

For the eco-conscious, rlsally has put together a great shopcast list called Fearlessly Green – Back To School which features a Mimi The Sardine eco-friendly lunch bag.

Says rlsally, “ The colorful cotton, kid-pleasing prints are non-toxic and Oeko-Tex certified. They never utilize chlorine and only use water-soluble dyes. They also happen to be extremely durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean.” Fabulous.

And finally, if you’re just a purist and don’t want any of the bells and whistles Kara likes Urban Eco Inc’s canvas lunch bag. Keep it plain and simple white, or paint it up yourself and add a little art esprit to your ham sandwich.

So, what did we learn today, class? That brown paper bags are so out, and fun, affordable, reusable and of course stylish lunch boxes are so, so in. For young and old alike, taking your lunch to work or school doesn’t have to be a drag (unlike putting shelves up in the garage).

And if you don’t agree with Aunt Beep – you can just ask the Lunch Lady what she thinks.