The 10 Worst Lunch Boxes Ever
Photograph: Justin Goeres from LAVA
Cafe Society lists their picks for the 10 worst lunch boxes ever, but to my eyes they're 10 of the best lunch boxes ever!
Then again, I say that never having to tote one with me to school. I don't recall growing up with lunch boxes proclaiming "DISCO" or "CAMPUS QUEENS" during my '90s childhood. And as much as I love "The Exciting World of Metrics," I can see why wielding it might make the owner a target of a swift beating. (On that note, check out Justin Goeres' photos of the lunch box, which show how supremely awesome it is. If you're not prepubescent.)
Did you own any of these lunch boxes (or worse) growing up? Refresh your memory by checking out the Lunch Boxes Pool at Flickr.
Related: Metal Lunchboxes Pack Plenty of Nostalgia
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15 Comments:
Your 90's childhood?? AAAAaagh. Feeling old
I never had a lunchbox as a kid - either had shool lunches or walked home from school. As an adult used foam lunch bags. I did buy myself a lovely plastic pink lunch box a couple of years ago though. This is a cool lunchbox seen with backward eyes. quaint. Painfully awkward at the time, I'm sure.
lemonfair at 7:12AM on 08/25/09
those are so incredibly awesome! i mostly used a brown paper bag, which my mom would decorate, but i vaguely recall a garfield one from when i was very small. out of those choices tho i'd have to go with the nurse one--matching thermos, hello?!
gastronomeg at 9:10AM on 08/25/09
"I don't recall growing up with lunch boxes [...] during my '90s childhood."
I'm pretty sure the metal lunchbox was a phenomenon of the 80's and earlier. Post 80's lunchboxes went to plastic, and then pretty quickly were phased out thanks in large part to the processed food industries, that marketed their appeal to both kids and parents. To kids, it wasn't cool to bring home made food to school, you had to have the latest, greatest in artificial flavors and stuff that came in lots of packaging with graphics on it. To parents, it was not having to actually make a sandwich, and being able to just grab a box of crap off the supermarket shelf, no matter that it was more expensive and horrible nutritionally. Or, even worse, just giving them money to buy themselves their own lunch at a fast food restaurant of their own choice. The death of the metal lunchbox coincides pretty neatly with the swift increase in childhood obesity and junk food addiction.
simon at 9:41AM on 08/25/09
The plain blue one - the #1 on the list - I remember from a childhood in the Fifties. The choice of a lunchbox was a deeply serious task for a kid; it marked you every day for a year. (I remember helping my son search out a much-coveted Hot Wheels box when he was 10.) But the ignominy of carrying one of the plain ones (or, almost as bad, the red plaid ones) was deep and sad. It was the sort of thing you didn't bring up to the owner, rather like having parents divorce, it was so embarrassing.
Lots of matching Thermoses by the time that nurse one came around, and I, too, would have pounced on it had it been available in my time. I personally lusted for a Dale Evans but to my knowledge they were never made.
lemons at 10:16AM on 08/25/09
@simon: I was definitely in the minority at that time. I did have one of those plastic lunchboxes at some point (meh, boring) but as for having the greatest artificial stuff...my mom would never allow it. Never had gummies, mini muffins, fruit roll ups, twinkies, chips, that "dip cookies in frosting goo" etc growing up. I guess I didn't bother my mom enough to make her give them to me. Most of my lunches were leftovers from dinner the night before, or rice + something, packed in a thermos (although there was a long string of egg sandwiches on whole wheat bread). Looking back, I was lucky. :)
Robyn Lee at 10:18AM on 08/25/09
@roboppy - that's why you turned out so well! Thank your mom :)
simon at 11:29AM on 08/25/09
@simon: Ahhh eee oh I skipped over the part where my very health-conscious mom influenced me to go on a mostly vegan raw food diet (I mean, mostly vegan by default, not by choice) for 1.5 years until I thought "Uhh wait I can't do this forever can I," and then I did a full 360 to become the glutton I am today...
Oh wait, I guess my mom is why I turned out the way I did. :) YAY MOMMIE!
Robyn Lee at 11:47AM on 08/25/09
As a kid in the late '60s and early '70s, buying a new lunchbox for the coming school year (along with clothes, pencils and other crap) was a rite of Fall. It was essential to pick out the right lunchbox. Man, if only I had saved my Yellow Submarine and Partridge Family lunchboxes.
Lorenzo at 1:02PM on 08/25/09
I actually have the Rambo one (I think I got it either at a yard sale or thrift shop)! (I don't actually carry my lunch in it, I'm 26 now.)
rvyborney at 2:26PM on 08/25/09
I had a Clash of the Titans lunchbox. Years later, when I was working in theatre, I was in a show with Harry Hamlin. I forced my poor mother to find it and send it to me so he could sign it.
NotAmerican at 3:49PM on 08/25/09
Exciting world of metrics? I'm getting excited just looking at it!!
wasabiprime at 3:51PM on 08/25/09
As a boy, I remember carrying a pink-ish Strawberry Shortcake lunch box and thermos. My grandfather covered the thing with tape. It was metal box which I carried roast pork buns for lunch. I think I still have it.
Blue387 at 10:26PM on 08/25/09
Had the metal partridge family box.. It always had a smell to it that said lunch it wasn't necessarily a good or bad smell just that "lunch" smell. The thermos did too.
marykayrnc at 10:18PM on 08/26/09
I had a red plastic "Looney Tunes" lunchbox when I was a kid, which always smelled vaguely of vinegar pepperoncini peppers.
Now I have two kids of my own, and while my 10 year old son opted to keep his plain, blue, eco-friendly lunch sack from last year, my 8 year old fashionista daughter insisted on a new lunch pack ensemble, complete with matching waterbottle in a lovely pink and blue pattern, because, "Hannah Montana is so last year, Mummy."
juliebugsmama at 9:51AM on 08/27/09
When I saw the picture of the metric lunch box, my first reaction was "Hey, I had that lunch box when I was a kid!".
I haven't thought of that in years, so thanks for refreshing my memory.
dwmackie at 5:04PM on 08/31/09