Top 5 Recommendations for Keeping Food Fresh and Cold

Packing school lunches (or even family day-trip snacks!) can feel like a big job—but keeping everything fresh and safe is easier than you think. With the right lunchbox accessories, you can wave goodbye to soggy sandwiches, lukewarm yogurt, or mushy fruit. Here are my top 5 must-haves to keep food fresh, cold, and ready to enjoy.

1. A Good Quality Ice Pack

An ice pack is the unsung hero of every school lunch! A sturdy, non-toxic, reusable ice pack will keep food cool for hours, especially when paired with an insulated lunch bag. For best results, freeze your ice packs overnight and pop them straight into the bag in the morning. I always recommend having a couple on hand so you can rotate them daily.

2. An Insulated Lunch Bag

Your ice pack works best when it’s paired with a high-quality insulated lunch bag. These bags lock in the cold air, helping fruit, sandwiches, wraps, and snacks stay fresh until lunchtime. Look for bags that are easy to wipe clean (because we all know spills happen!) and roomy enough to fit lunchboxes, snacks, and a drink bottle.

3. Omie Yogurt Pouch Cover

Yogurt pouches are a favourite with kids, but they can warm up quickly. Enter the Omie Yogurt Pouch Cover—Simply pop the OmieChill pouch in your freezer for a minimum of four hours, and you're all set! When you're ready to go, slip your food pouch into the OmieChill, and enjoy your snacks at the perfect temperature.

4. Insulated Food Jars

Insulated jars aren’t just for hot meals—they’re also brilliant for keeping fruit, yogurt, or even salads nice and chilled. Pop in some fresh-cut watermelon, grapes, or a dollop of yogurt in the morning, and it will still be cool and delicious at lunchtime. These jars are also leakproof, which means no messy spills in the school bag.

For best results fill your food jar with ice and leave for 5-10mins, then empty the ice and add the coldfood.  

5. An Insulated Water Bottle

Nothing beats crisp, cold water on a hot day! A stainless steel insulated drink bottle keeps water icy cold for hours, even when it’s packed in a school bag or left out in the sun during playtime. Add a few ice cubes before sealing the lid, and your child will always have a refreshing drink ready to go.

When it comes to keeping food fresh and safe, it’s all about combining the right tools. A good quality ice pack, insulated lunch bag, Omie Yogurt Pouch Cover, insulated food jars, and a stainless steel drink bottlework together to make sure your little ones always have healthy, fresh meals ready to enjoy.

Because let’s be honest—when food stays cool and appetising, it’s much more likely to come home eaten (and not squished at the bottom of the lunch bag!).

✨ Tip for Parents: For extra freshness, try chilling fruit, yogurt, and water bottles in the fridge the night before. That way, everything starts cold and stays colder for longer.