Field Trip Lunch Bag

Updated on April 20, 2013
P.G. asks from San Antonio, TX
20 answers

So kindergarten field trip to the zoo is coming up and a bag lunch is required. Because of zoo rules, no insulated lunch bags, etc., are allowed. It has to be something they can throw out. I'm not sure if they mean brown bag or if it can be a plastic bag (a la Target).

If it can be a plastic bag, I'm going to freeze a couple of yogurt tubes and a juice box to keep food cold. But if it's a brown bag, how do I keep it from tearing?

Has anyone dealt with this and what were your solutions?

Thanks!

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Featured Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

We always use just a plain brown lunch sized paper bag for field trip lunches (write his/her name on it).
A PBJ sandwich needs no refrigeration - just place it in a zip lock bag.
Add a banana and a juice pouch and you're all set.
After they eat the paper bag, zip lock bag, banana peel and empty juice pouch go in the trash.

3 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Unless it's going to be REALLY hot move the juice box from the freezer to the fridge the night before, so it's only partially frozen. My kids often complained that their juice box was still too frozen to drink :-(
ETA: we never had a problem with paper bags tearing, but you could do a grocery bag, or a ziploc, anything disposable.

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

F.W.

answers from Danville on

Hey!

With my 'delayed' kiddo, for bag lunches, I send in PB&J sandwiches...I give a few box juices...a container (or two) of pudding/applesauce...a banana...and then throw in a yogurt in the AM before she goes.

I send a plastic spoon and a napkin.

I let her 'decorate' the outside of her brown bag.

I staple the bag shut (double bagged...her 'creation ' on the outer bag...)

Never have had a problem!

best...

6 moms found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Detroit on

I just had to do this for a field trip. I used a grocery store brown bag. They are thicker than the "lunch bags" they sell. Bigger also, to fit all the stuff in.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

For my son's school trips we are supposed to put their lunches in a gallon ziplock type baggie with their name on. Then the chaperones put all the lunches in a couple big coolers. Maybe this is the plan for your school?

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M.K.

answers from Columbus on

Dealt with this many times!! Double bag the brown bag and make sure you put a name on it. Don't worry about keeping food cold unless that's all your child will eat. If that's the case, double-bag the plastic bag. I've seen kids use both - as long as everything can be thrown away. But I would try to pack something simple that won't spoil and a bottle of water. After all, it's just one lunch!!

Good luck; hope your child has a fun day!!

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

For field trips, my kids always get Subway sandwiches. It's just a nice treat If one kid gets a field trip, they all get a sandwich. We pack out orn fruit/veggie, chips/pretzels, drink, and dessert, but they get a sandwich from Subway in the morning. The field trip kid uses that bag. Always. I've been doing this since my daughter was in kindergarten. Now she is in 4th.

2 moms found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Any disposable bag (paper bag, plastic grocery bag or ziplock), just so they don't have to carry it around for the rest of the day.

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O.O.

answers from Kansas City on

I've gone on these field trips. "Brown bag" just means a throwaway bag. A Target bag is fine. I always do a double ziplock with ice cubes to keep it all cold.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

You can double up the bag.

Some things that I send in brown bag are
juice box or water or gaterade
cheese and crackers
chips
applesauce pouch
frozen go-gurt

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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I have sent both brown bags and walmart type plastic bags with the kids for field trips. Make sure you write in permanent marker your childs name on the bag that way if it gets mixed up with all the other kids stuff they know which one is your childs. My kids never reported to me that their brown bag tore open, so not sure what to tell you on that. Hope the zoo is fun!!

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Brown bag. I always have them around but if you need a one of and don't want to store them next time you are at the grocery store ask them for a freezer bag. At least here that have these thick brown paper bags that you slip ice cream into to keep it cold on the trip home. They are always happy to give you one.
_____________________________
Okay I feel like I must add, ask your child or other moms in your school what they think. I know for a fact plastic bag kids get laughed at here. No not an issue of budget, you can pick up a 100 lunch sacks for under a dollar, it just isn't the norm so kids will laugh.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

A brown bag will work fine. Been using them for years. Put his name and class on it and send him off. He will have a blast.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

The child doesn't actually carry the bag around so one brown bag works fine. At school the teacher puts it all in her class "box" and it gets shipped separate. Pack simple: Bottle water, crackers, fruit jello... Stuff that isn't hot or cold.

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Just double bag the brown bag--shouldn't give you any trouble:)

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

Didn't read all your responses, but I always wrap cold stuff in one or two layers of paper towels to keep them from tearing the bag.

O.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Plastic grocery bag, lunchable, fruit cup and a frozen go-gurt and then throw it all away.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

Ahh we just did the kindergarten zoo trip:) Surprisingly it was the coldest day EVER - Texas - go figure.
I don't typically freeze unless I know it is going to be Hotter than hades.
As a volunteer, they split the kids up in groups of three of four and give the lunches to the chaperones in the drawstring backpacks of three or four lunches. No coolers. Check with your teacher, too.

Anyways. Target bags are good - ziplock bags. I have done ziplock bag of ICE inside the brown bag to keep things cool. The items really don't sweat so much that it tears the lunch sacks since they are really only in there for a few hours.

Also, for future reference the zoo is ok with insulated bags, it is the school that doesn't want (nor should they) keep up with a lunch box all day:)

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J.F.

answers from Dallas on

We have our kids put their lunch in a zip lock plastic bag. That way everything is right there and the teacher takes a cooler for the drinks.

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Double bag the small brown bag. Put his name on it.

You can also include one of those small frozen ice cube round things.

Use tupperware you don't care about or put in wax paper/plastic bags.

Give him plasticware & enought snacks/food so he's not hungry. Overload it. It will okay if he has to toss it.

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