Get the 2-liter lunch box. Minimum.

For a hungry teenager you want at least 2 liters (about 8 cups) of lunch box capacity. Anything smaller and you’re packing a snack, not a lunch.

Teens eat a lot — more than most adults, honestly. They want a main dish, a side, fruit, and something crunchy, and that adds up fast. A standard adult lunch box holds 4-6 cups, which might work for a desk worker, but it’s not enough for a kid who just had third-period gym.

Look for either a large insulated bag with separate containers or a stacked bento system with multiple tiers. Skip the fancy single-compartment boxes — compartments might be cute for a 7-year-old, but a teenager needs flexibility to fit whatever they’re into that week, whether that’s leftover pasta, a burrito, or a full sandwich plus snacks.

Pay the extra $10 for the bigger one. You won’t regret it, and they’ll actually eat what you pack.