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These lunch containers are so convenient for home or school.

This school year might be looking a little different, but packing your kids' lunches is something most parents will have to face at some point in the near future. Instead of a brown paper bag, opt for one of these cute kids' lunch boxes this back-to-school season, whether they're heading into the yard for a picnic or bringing lunch to school.

Many of these lunch bags, boxes, and totes were top performers when tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab. We also included styles that were road tested and are best-sellers from brands our Lab experts trust. Just don't be surprised when you find yourself wanting to "borrow" their new bag. Here are the best kids lunch boxes to buy in 2021.

Thanks to a freezable gel liner, this was the only bag to stay below 40°F (a safety benchmark for perishables) for five and a half hours in our test. It's super spacious, comes with a long strap for easy carrying and is available in dozens of fun colors and patterns. We recently tested PackIt's Everyday Lunch Box Cooler, too, which is a new, cubed shape, perfect for stocking up with goods for picnics. Both fold up for storage – and taking up minimal room in your freezer!

These Bentgo lunch bags were specifically designed to fit an assortment of bento boxes (but you could still use 'em separately!). It's insulated, and it claims to keep food warm or cold for up to four hours. There's even an interior mesh pocket and an exterior pocket, too.

Bento boxes are great for kids because they get a little taste of everything, with various lunch and snack portions. It only has one latch, so little hands can open their lunch box with ease. Plus, these lunch boxes are available in a variety of different colors.

The Mackenzie bag is super spacious and the rigid walls keep delicate foods from getting crushed. There are zippered pockets inside and out, and its double zipper won't come open if shaken or dropped. Plus, you can get it customized with your little one's name.

This five-piece set is the ultimate lunch box starter kit — it comes with a lunch bag, food box, reusable ice pack, water bottle and even a mini white board so you can leave him a new note each day. If your kid isn't into race cars, these lunch box sets also come in other patterns.

This simple and affordable Thermos lunch box comes in 35 different variations based on your kids' favorite movie and TV-show characters. Some designs even come in different forms, like one actually shaped like a police car. They zip open and closed to reveal one main compartment to stash lunch and snacks.

The Bentology lunch bag set is a great pick for kids who like to customize their lunch. The separate plastic containers mean your child can eat various snacks with their lunch.

This lightweight lunch box has a smooth plastic interior that lets you clean up sticky spills easily. Plus, it won't stain, even if you leave grape juice on it overnight. 

The Flip-Top was one of the only bags we tested that proved totally leakproof and stain-resistant. It didn't break when dropped and earned perfect scores for ease of packing. 

This bento box style lunch box from OmieBox is insulated and comes with a removable leak-proof container for liquids. The rectangular compartments come with dividers that you can use with or without to make larger or smaller.

The Planet Box Shuttle lunch carrier might be pricey, but it comes in fun themes, like this unicorn one. The set includes the stainless steel lunchbox, a cylindrical container for sauces, decorative magnets for the top of the box and a colorful carrying case. 

This set is totally leakproof and freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe, making it a smart option for kids who love leftovers for lunch. It comes with three colorful plastic containers that snap onto an ice pack: The largest holds a sandwich and the smallest is ideal for snacks.

The Flatbox is a soft-sided lunch bag with a comfortable handle on top. When you unzip the sides and lay it flat, it becomes a placemat, making it a great companion at picnics and other venues with messy surfaces (field trips!). It's also machine washable.

The fun animal exterior of this insulated backpack makes it even more lovable. The interior is a smooth plastic, so it's easy to hand-clean. It also comes in Allen Alligator, Delancey Doggie and Lafayette Ladybug. 

The Gourmet Getaway Lunch Tote from Built is super lightweight, plus the polyester and neoprene material is flexible enough to fold up for storage after lunch. Careful with liquids, though, as this bag leaked in our testing.  

Hang it or hold it flat: this double insulated lunch bag gives you the versatility of a standard lunch bag, with its top handle that can be attached to your kids book-bag or can be laid flat like a standard bento box. What makes it even better is that it comes in 12 colorful prints and opens all the way, perfect for fitting the Bento leakproof box with perfect portion sized sections for you kiddies!

The popular brand Hyrdro Flask is bringing more than just their well known water bottles to lunch. According to the company, the two layers of insulation keep food cold for hours. The lightweight bag is available in four bright colors and the fully lined inside makes cleanup a breeze.