Particularly in warm climates, it is important to keep your child's lunch cool until lunchtime, espcially when you are packing highly perishable foods such as luncheon meats or egg salad sandwiches. But how can you do that?

First, start with an insulated lunch bag. These specially designed bags keep food colder much longer than a traditional paper bag or regular plastic lunchbox will.

Second, add a frozen reusable ice pack to your child's lunch. Or as a fun alternative, freeze their juice box. By the time lunch comes around, it would have unthawed, or it is a fun frozen slushy instead.

Some schools have a refrigerator available for student's use, but they don't always let parents know of this fact (can you imagine trying to find fridge space for 300 lunches?) You might want to ask your child's teacher or the school secretary about the possibility of a student use refrigerator.

If you are concerned about safety, always follow the rule of when in doubt, throw it out. Skip the mayo or the luncheon meat for a veggie-filled pita instead.

Also check out our lunchbox snack ideas on a budget.