How to Keep School Lunches Cold

Millions of students and workers bring their lunches with them to school or to the office every day. If you're a parent, you'll want to ensure that your child's lunch remains safe to eat even on hot days. To avoid the risk of spoilage or food-borne illnesses, take precautions to keep perishable items cool, especially dairy products and meats.

Things You'll Need

  • Ice pack or gel pack
  • Insulated lunch box
  • Insulated thermos
  • Paper bags
  • Aluminum foil

Instructions

    • 1

      Use an ice pack or freezer gel pack. Put the pack in your child's lunch box to keep food cool. Place the food you want to stay cold directly on top of or next to the ice pack.

    • 2

      Give your child an insulated lunch box. Putting an ice pack inside an insulated lunch box keeps things cold longer.

    • 3

      Provide an insulated food thermos. This can be used for foods such as fruit cups, yogurts, Jell-O, pudding and other normally chilled foods.

    • 4

      Freeze certain liquids. Bottled water can be frozen overnight and then placed in the lunch box in the morning. The water will work like an ice pack and will be thawed out and ready to drink by the time the afternoon arrives.

    • 5

      Double-bag your lunch if you do not have an insulated lunch box. Then place the freezer gel in aluminum foil within the bag to keep things from becoming soggy during the day.

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