Hi again!
This is part two in my unofficial series, “To All the Back to School Things I Loved Before” (yes, I just made a Willie Nelson reference). The title feels fitting because:
A) my kids are officially grown—either heading off to university or recently graduated.
B) all the things I once bought for Back to School are now long lost, worn out, or possibly thrown out due to something growing in them after a few months in a locker that no amount of cleaning could fix.
There’s one theme across all the items I picked for this roundup, and it’s a trick I learned early on:
Before I buy anything, I pause and ask myself—very calmly— “Will I be sad if this gets lost, destroyed, or grows mold?”
If the answer is yes, I put it back on the shelf (or remove it from my online cart). And I pick something where the answer is no. That one small mindset shift made everything easier. I love my kids—they’re all great humans—but they did
lose things. A lot of things. And that’s okay. It’s part of the process.
So, here we go:
1. Item #1 – Cute, affordable, durable lunch bags
I prefer a simple design with fewer food-trapping crevices. They need to be roomy enough for all those reusable containers and easy to wipe down. I picked three styles—great for kids and adults.
2. Item #2 – Thermal food storage jar
Perfect for when sandwich fatigue hits. Great for soups, stews, chili, oatmeal (yep, my kids asked for it at lunch), and leftovers. We started with the fancy versions, but these things take a beating and often went missing. This one does the job and is a great price.
Jamie S. says it best in a review on our site:
“Great product—does exactly what it’s supposed to and keeps lunches warm.”
3. Item #3 – KSP Silicone Bento Box
My kids loved bento lunches—it was always their go-to. With both of us working and four kids in the mix, everyone had to learn to pack their own lunch early. These made it easy: grab something for each compartment and go. Bonus: it folds flat when you’re done.
4. Item #4 – Built NY Reusable Flatware
A back-to-school bestseller for good reason. It’s sturdy, comes in a case, and is well-priced. We sell thousands every fall.
5. Item #5 – Banana holder (yes, really)
Seems silly, but it’s a game-changer. No one wants a gross, squished banana in their lunch—or worse, one that comes back home, now even grosser. Just get the holder. You’ll thank me. Bonus points for how cute it is.
6. Item #6 – Sport bottles
I couldn’t pick just one, so here are two favourites. KSP makes fantastic water bottles—we take hydration seriously. Great shapes, on-trend colours, and amazing value. I know the cool kids want brand names, but let’s be honest: those can get lost too, and ours work just as well. (Mom advice, but still true.) My kids use and love both styles.
Quench Double Wall Bottle with Handle
Quench Double Wall Spout Bottle
7. Item #7 – Freezi-Cubes
This one’s for the parents. One of the low-key hardest parts of being an adult? Figuring out what to feed yourself (and everyone else) every single day. No one warns you about that part. It’s a grind. There’s no better feeling than coming home to something already prepped. These Freezi-Cubes are MVPs for meal prep, batch cooking, or freezing leftovers. They’re affordable, easy to use, and easy to clean. We tested so many before landing on these. They launched last fall and immediately took off.
And that’s a wrap! My era as a school-age parent is officially over—and it’s bittersweet. It’s so exciting
to watch them step into their next chapters, but I’ll definitely miss those first-day-of-school moments. The new shoes, the carefully chosen outfits, the scanning crowds for friends, the mad dash to find their new teacher. That electric mix of nerves and excitement in the air—it was magic.
We have a photo of our kids on the first day of school every single year—right up to the annoyed, eye-rolling high school stages—and I’m so glad we kept up the tradition. Looking back brings out a lot of “MOM! Why did you dress me like that?!” and sibling roast sessions, but mostly, it just puts a big smile on my face. It’s true what they say: the days are long, but the years are short.
Ps. If you missed my part one, about Top Dorm picks you can still read it here.
Samantha
President, Kitchen Stuff Plus
