I try to pack a Hot Lunch for my son at least once a week. Just because you are packing doesn't mean it has be to cold. When packing hot lunches including foods like soups, pasta, corn dogs, chicken nuggets or even a pizza pocket you should always pre-heat a thermos. To pre-heat simply fill it with boiling water. Use a hot pot, microwave or stove-top to boil your water then pour inside the container. Pour the water out and dry. Then fill it up with your hot food. To keep it hot don't open again until lunch time.
We have done this with spagettiO's, ramen noodles, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, corn, soup, corn dogs and more!
I love to use this Homemade Chicken Nugget Recipe or Homemade Corndogs recipe and pack them in the thermos. My son loves to eat a hot lunch at school.
You may want to check out this step by step video on how to pre-heat your thermos too. It is shot by my 6 year old 🙂
Other Lunch Box Ideas:
Lunch Notes - Sending Your Children Off With Love
Quick Tips for Better Sack Lunches
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First Day of School Pancakes
Transitioning from Summer to School
After School Snack Ideas
Tips for Homework Success
Creating a Homework Station
Melissa is a soccer mom who has been married to her best friend for 21 years. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.
anna
I wish my kids would eat hot food. Seems like the only hot thing they like is pancakes. What's wrong with my kids? Or is it me? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's me.
Angela Symes
Your kid is pretty steady. Better than many adults I have seen.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Thanks! 🙂
Christy
How long does it stay warm after you close the lid?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
3 hours. My son eats at 11:00 am. I did it at 8:00 am.
Mary
What were you putting in there?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Pizza Pockets 🙂 I went to lunch that day with my son and they were still warm and not soggy.
Tracy
I love the idea of Pre-heating the thermos! Where did you get such a cute thermos? I'm having such a hard time finding one that isn't way over priced. 🙁
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Kroger - It is great to look "off season" - around November/December time to find them on clearance.
Wendy Sweedman
Awesome idea and thanks for sharing
Jeffrey
I've never done a hot lunch for my kids, not sure they would like it. maybe I should try!
Cathi
you can put hotdogs in the hot water and they are perfect at lunch time!!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
I love that!!! He loves hot dogs! I could pack the bun separate!
julie
Great ideas, I will have to remember them for my sons lunches next year
Hannah
Good to know! 🙂
May
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Geri
Great idea~thank you!
Angela
I use this method all the time for soup, but never tried corn dogs!
Susan
My son says that the fishsticks or corndogs are soggy? WHat am I doing wrong?
Brittany
You have to wipe out the thermos before you put the chicken nuggets etc. in. make sure it's completely dry then try.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Wipe it quickly with a paper towel.
Kim B
I had the same problem. I wonder if wrapping them in a paper towel would help?
Leslie Ramey
You are my hero (and now my son's hero too). He has has a cold lunch for almost 2 years now at school because I had no idea how to keep his food warm. Thank you a million times!! I am now going out to buy a thermos. And by the way, I just loved your site, always good information!!!!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Awe...thanks 🙂 You made my day!