Call & Times

What’s new for lunchboxes? Bright colors, pixels and plenty of sequins.

- By CHRISTINA BARRON

Lunchboxes take a lot of punishment. They get smashed into backpacks. Their zippers get yanked. Their insides are leaked on and speckled with food. So, perhaps last year’s lunchbox is ready for retirement.

When looking for a new one, think about what you like to bring to school. Do you pack sandwiches or something that needs a rigid container? Do you need to chill your lunch? Do you want pockets for napkins and utensils? Of course, style is important, too. We have highlighte­d pattern trends, including sequins, tropical animals and video games. Without a lot of effort, you can find a bag that blends fashion and function.

An Aztec print meets ombré (gradually blended colors) in Lands’ End’s ClassMate EZ Wipe Lunch Box. The molded shape means your chips won’t get crushed. The inside is easy to clean. There’s also an outside pocket and clip handle. ($24.95. Also in solids and several other patterns.)

Yoobi pairs an eye-catching pattern with a rectangula­r shape in its Flamingo Lunch Bag. The size and shape make it well-suited for bento boxes (Try a Russbe 1.6 quart box, Container Store. $8.99). It’s soft-sided with a double zipper and features an interior mesh pocket. ($12.99 at Yoobi and Target.)

Dinosaurs are gone, but dinosaur designs live on. Pottery Barn Kids offers four dino patterns on its Mackenzie Cold Pack Lunch Bag. The large, insulated bag includes a soft freezer pack that velcros onto strips inside. There’s a zipped outside pocket and inside mesh pocket. The outside also has a mesh drink holder, a handle and a clip-on carry strip. ($29.50-$32.50. Also in several other patterns.)

It would be hard to be in a bad mood with Yoobi’s Smiley Face Lunch Bag in hand. The unusual shape is fun and the size is generous (nearly 10 inches in diameter), but make sure your food and drink containers fit inside. The insulated soft bag features a mesh inside pocket. ($12.99 at Yoobi and Target.)

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