Magnetic latches are the lunch box hack for little kids

Magnetic-latch bento boxes are the easiest for little kids to open and close on their own, and the Yumbox is the one to get.

The latch is the whole game. Yumbox uses a magnet instead of snap clips, so kids just pull the lid open. No squeezing, no prying, no “MOMMY HELP.” That matters at lunch, when they’re tired and surrounded by wrappers and have thirty minutes to eat. It’s also leakproof with separate compartments, so you’re not sending a pile of Tupperware.

If you need to pack something hot, the OmieBox uses the same kind of magnetic latch and has an insulated container built in. It’s heavier and more expensive, but it’s the best option for soup or mac and cheese. For older elementary kids, Bentgo Kids is fine and cheaper, but its snap latches are not as one-step easy.

If your kid is under six, skip anything with clips or a screw-on lid. Get the magnet. This is not where you save eight bucks on a character box that feels like a lockbox.