When it comes to lunchboxes, everyone has different priorities. Whether it’s blending in, standing out, or focusing purely on functionality, students’ choices reflect their individual styles and needs.
Some students care most about practicality. “The most important feature for me is that my lunch doesn’t fall out, so mine has a zipper,” junior Kealy Bryman said. “It’s nice because if anything spills, it will stay inside my lunchbox.”
“I used to get school lunch before COVID, but then my mom started packing it in a brown bag,” sophomore Ben Carlisle, emphasizing how something traditional and simple often works best.
Junior Lily Jacobi also prioritizes function over fashion. “My lunchbox doesn’t even reflect my style,” she said. She often brings a plastic bag with her food or reaches for an insulated lunchbox on days she needs to keep her food cold.
While Jacobi focuses on convenience, other students see their lunchboxes as a way to express their personality.
Sophomore Yahir Maruri Romero brings a bright red Pixar-themed lunchbox to school. “I like my lunchbox because it reflects my personality—I love the movie Cars,” he said.
When it comes to trends, some students have noticed specific brands all over campus. “A lot of people have Lululemon bags. People use them to fit in,” Bryman said.
Senior Silvana Schmidt picked up the trend in middle school. “It wasn’t a conscious choice. I just started using them, influenced by how many people would bring them,” she said.
Senior Abbie MacLeod used to use a Lululemon bag before making the move to a more colorful one. “It is very funky, bright, and colorful,” she said. “I prefer it to the Lululemon bags I used to use because it feels more niche.”
“Some people might say mine is a little elementary,” she continued. “I don’t care though.”
Some students simply don’t bring a lunchbox to school.
“The biggest lunchbox trend is to not bring one. Most people I know just put their containers of food straight into their backpack,” Schmidt said.
“Whenever someone sees me with a lunchbox at school, they always point it out and are surprised. I think as people get older, a lot of them stop bringing lunch to school altogether,” Jacobi said.
“A lot of my friends take food from my lunchbox instead,” Maruri Romero said.
While lunchboxes may seem like a small detail on campus, they reflect personal preferences and current trends. From practical lunch bags to expressive designs—or no lunchbox at all—students’ choices offer a glimpse into how they balance function and style during the school day.
