Stiff latches are the enemy. Get flat clip lunch boxes.

Bentgo Kids is the default answer for kindergarteners, but if your kid has especially weak hands, the Yumbox opens even easier.

The key thing to look for is a wide, flat clip you can push down or pull up from the side. Bentgo Kids has those two big side latches, and most five-year-olds can handle them after a little practice. It also has a handle that makes carrying the whole thing easier, and the compartments keep food separate so nothing gets soggy.

The Yumbox is the better pick if your kid gets frustrated with anything that requires two hands. Its latch is simpler and takes less force. Downside is it costs more and the compartments are smaller. But for a kid who refuses to ask for help, that easy-open latch is worth it.

Avoid zippers, screw-top lids, and anything with a button that has to be pressed while pulling. Those all require more coordination than a tired kindergartener has at lunchtime.

If they can’t open it, they won’t eat it. That’s the whole game.