Hot Lunch Ideas + Tips and Tricks
On a chilly day, a hot lunch can make all the difference. There's something genuinely comforting about opening your lunch to find a favorite comfort food warm and ready to eat. The parents on the PlanetBox team have gotten pretty creative over the years with what goes into the Hot Food Container, and we're happy to share our go-to ideas, favorite foods, and a few tips that make things easier.
What to Pack
The Hot Food Container holds 10 oz and works like a thermos — heat your food on the stove or in the microwave, pack it in hot, and it stays that way until lunch. Here's what we love to pack:
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Soup (tomato, chicken noodle, lentil — all great)
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Chili
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Mac and cheese
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Fried rice
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Rice and curry
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Pasta
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Dumplings or gyoza
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Small Burrito (under 4.5" in length) or a breakfast burrito
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Chicken nuggets
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Oatmeal — steel cut oats hold up best
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Leftovers
A favorite combo worth calling out: tomato soup with a grilled cheese cut into dippers and packed on the side. Classic, kid-approved, and genuinely delicious.
For oatmeal: pack toppings like brown sugar, berries, or granola separately in a Dipper or Day Tripper so they stay fresh and don't get soggy before lunch.
Tips for Keeping Food Hot
Pre-warm the container.
This is the most important tip and the one that makes the biggest difference. Before packing, fill the container with hot water and let it sit for several minutes. Dump it out, then add your hot food. Starting with a warm container means the food stays hot significantly longer.
Pack it the morning of.
Always pack the Hot Food Container the morning of the day it will be eaten — not the night before. Food packed too early will lose heat long before lunchtime.
Add a small paper towel for crispy foods.
For things like chicken nuggets or dumplings, tuck a small folded paper towel into the bottom of the container before adding the food. It absorbs condensation and helps keep things from getting soggy.
Round out the lunch with other containers.
The Hot Food Container is great for the warm main, but pair it with a Shuttle, Trailhead, or Dippers for fruit, veggies, and snacks to make it a complete lunch.