My middle schoolers love their PackIt freeazble lunch bags. The sides of the lunch bag have blue ice so the whole bag is a blue ice to keep the food cool. No blue ice packs to keep in the bag and you don't have the uneven hot/cool from things that are near or far from the blue ice.

We put the lunch bag in the freezer at night. We make the lunch and put in the fridge. In the morning before school we take the lunch containers out of the fridge and put in the PackIt lunch bag and hand to the kids. The kids like them. They are especially great when the kids go to an outdoor camp/event where they bring their lunch in the morning and the lunch sits outdoors until they eat. The blue ice in the bag lasts about 3 hours and is just completely thawing out by the time they sit down for lunch.

Thanks everybody. I'll show here these and see if one of them fits the image in her mind that she hasn't been able to explain in a way I can find.

At my kid’s middle school, everyone wants a Scout.

Anonymous wrote:These are great: https://www.landsend.com/search/S-xea?initialSearch=true&q=lunch

We have this one and it is in perfect condition after 2 years

Anonymous wrote:Adidas lunch bag. Fits in backpack well.

This is what we have as well

Adidas lunch bag. Fits in backpack well.

Search "lunch box for adults" on amazon, and let your kid scroll through the choices and pick one.

Anonymous wrote:Mine used a neoprene bag with a handle and zipper. Washable, not too bulky, keeps ice packs cold. Much less smelly than the insulated lunchboxes she had in ES. Held up well—she still uses it in high school.

Like this: https://a.co/d/fJMmtVt

This is what my DD uses. Also less bulky that the insulated lunchboxes so better for squeezing into her backpack

We use LL Bean expandable lunch box.

Fulton Bag Co. at Target has some good choices. https://www.target.com/p/fulton-bag-co-upright-lunch-bag/-/A-87334503?preselect=53338810#lnk=sametab

These are great: https://www.landsend.com/search/S-xea?initialSearch=true&q=lunch

Mine used a neoprene bag with a handle and zipper. Washable, not too bulky, keeps ice packs cold. Much less smelly than the insulated lunchboxes she had in ES. Held up well—she still uses it in high school.

Like this: https://a.co/d/fJMmtVt

Get something in a plain color. But also be prepared that she'll switch to the Lululemon bag. Don't ask. I get they're impractical but that seems to be the trend at our public MS.

https://www.amazon.com/adidas-Santiago-Insulated-Lunch-Jersey/dp/B09645YLT1/ref=asc_df_B09645YLT1/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=698946667325&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1076288272132736874&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021712&hvtargid=pla-2302723745913&psc=1&mcid=3a7bc68ce07e397e992b925ad906637d&hvexpln=dealasin&gad_source=1

This is what she wants

My DD wants a new lunch box. She can't exactly describe what she wants, other than maybe a sac/bag of some sort. I'm not quite sure what she's looking for.

What does your middle school DD bring her lunch in? DD will be packing 4-5 lunches per week and usually brings things that require an ice pack.