Most often, as a nurse, you don't get to have an entire hour to enjoy your lunches. You tend to get so busy during your shifts that breaks need to be short and quick. So having a functional lunch box is just as important as the food you put in it. This article will help you pick the best lunch bags for nurses.
Extra space and functionality are just some of the qualities that a great lunch box should have. Read on to check some of the best lunch bags in the market before getting the right one for you.
Finding the Best Nursing Lunch Bags
Choosing the right lunch box or bag for you may seem a bit overwhelming at first. There is quite a variety of lunch bags that showcase versatility and fashion at the same time. But as a nurse, you need to closely take into consideration other factors aside from the design.
To ease up the burden of choosing one, here are some essential factors to consider.
1. Capacity
Nurses carry a lot of important things during daily shifts. They also need to bring along a lot of snacks to keep them energized. So ideally, a nurse's lunch bag should have ample room to store items.
Aside from the bag that carries the medical kit, a separate lunch bag is ideal if you want to keep your food safe. Or, maybe have at least a separate compartment for it.
A lunch bag with many different compartments is needed to keep food separate from each other. A bag that comes with pockets in various sizes will help organize your food safely.
2. Durability
Nurses find only a little extra time to shop often because of their busy schedules. So, it is crucial to get the best lunch bag for nurses that will last for years.
To check for durability, you need to keep an eye on the materials used on these bags. As a nurse, take it the same way you do your health assessment of your patients. Use your senses to assess the product. You may want to go for totes with thicker fabric rather than plastic. A lunch box can be made of different materials, some of these include canvas, polyester, nylon, cotton, neoprene, and leather.
Go for a nurse lunch bag that will be able to stand everyday use and will last longer. You would also want to make sure that your food is safe and secure from spills and leaks. Properly and neatly stitched seams will add to durability. Also, check that the materials used are absorbent and easy to clean.
The best lunch bag for nurses come with separate liners that are easier to manage. Machine washable bags are best for busy nurses.
3. Insulation
Another vital feature that a lunch bag needs is insulation. A nurse who is always up for long shifts should choose a thermal lunch bag. Good thermal properties will keep your food hot or cold for up to 12 hours. Otherwise, go for those with lighter insulation.
Cold food that is not appetizing to eat adds to your day's stress so investing in a lunch box with proper insulation is crucial. A quality lunch box should have a separate non-insulated compartment. It is better if you have foods that don't need insulation too.
You should always choose the best nurse lunch box that functions depending on your exact needs.
4. Pocket-Friendly Price
One vital consideration when choosing the best lunch box for nurses is the cost. An expensive lunch box often makes you pay for the brand name along with the high-quality of the product.
Cheaper lunch totes or bags, on the other hand, will turn out to be more expensive when quality is compromised. So, choose one that is economically-priced, adds value to your money, but durable and reliable at the same time.
Features to Look For In Lunch Bags
Making it through a long shift can be challenging and stressful for nurses. So, refueling with a good lunch is the best way to keep up with your nurse duties. For this, you will need one of the best lunch bags for nurses to keep your packed meals safe and crisp.
Here are some additional features you need to know when shopping.
Comfort and Convenience
With all the critical functions you have to perform, you will need something that will lighten up your load. Choose a nursing lunch bag made with light but durable materials.
Some nurse lunch bags features that provide added comfort include padded shoulder or hand straps. Nurses often have their hands full most of the time. A shoulder strap will help you with this. Zippers, magnetic closures, and Velcro closure straps will help prevent your lunch from accidental spills and leaks.
Easy Cleaning
Nurses like to maintain cleanliness and hygiene at all times. A nurse lunch bag that is easy-to-clean, machine-washable, and looks new all the time will suit you well. It should be water-resistant and stain-resistant as well. Stain-resistant materials will ensure the integrity of the lunch bag for years.
Choose bags with removable plastic liners to protect the fabric used in the lunch bag. It's a good idea to pick a lunch bag that is machine-washable for easy care and cleaning.
Compartments for Organizing
Nurses don't have much time to spend searching through their bags for stuff. Compartments and pockets are a great way to help organize things efficiently in their bags. The best lunch bag for nurses should have many compartments and pockets to accommodate meals and snacks.
Style and Design
A lunch bag needs to be fashionably trendy and attractive too. More often than not, a nurse's day is always stressful. Having a nice lunch tote will help lift your mood during these times.
There are a lot of nurse lunch bags in the market that will match your style and personality. Go for prints and vibrant colors if you want your lunch bag to stand out. You may also opt for black or plain colors with sleek designs.
For some, style may be on top of their list because it adds to their confidence. But not everyone has the same taste and preferences. Some can be even personalized or customized. Just make sure to choose a lunch bag that combines style with function.
The 7 Best Nurse Lunch Bags To Consider
Nurses are hard-working and are always on the go. So, you need a bag that goes well with your routines and delivers comfort at the same time. To make it easier for you, we've listed below some of the best lunch boxes for nurses out there.
1. KINBON Insulated Lunch Bag for Men and Women
The KINBON insulated lunch bag has a large storage space consisting of one main compartment, four external pockets, and one internal pocket. Its triple-insulation design keeps food at the perfect temperature for longer hours.
It comes in a leak-proof design and water-resistant nylon material. The interior part of the bag is water-resistant as well and has an easy-to-clean liner. This feature makes it an excellent choice for messy environment settings.
This lunch tote also has both a hand strap and a detachable and adjustable padded shoulder strap for convenient carrying. The design is also gender-neutral and will suit anyone perfectly.
It has several pockets and one main compartment to easily organize and pack your lunch boxes and food items. It even has a side mesh pocket for holding your water bottle. Its wide top opening makes it easy and convenient to store lunch boxes.
Food safety is a must and the container is made following high-quality standards and is free from BPA, PVC, and lead-containing materials.
With the hardware nails used to reinforce the handles, and double stitching on pressure areas, it will last long.
2. LOKASS Insulated Lunch Bag
The LOKASS insulated lunch bag is perfect for a nurse's meal combining style with function. The wide top opening makes you fit your large lunch boxes without tilting them sideways. The flat bottom makes it stand on its own for easy handling.
The nurse lunch box is very accessible. It is easy to put into and take items out of it. It comes with a dual metal top zipper and is spacious enough to hold your other items like tumblers and eating utensils.
One great thing about this is that it comes in various color choices suitable for nurses of all ages. Gender-neutral colors are also available. Its classy look comes great with the Oxford cloth material used.
Its high-density nylon material makes it water-proof, leak-proof, and tear-proof, and the dense stitching makes it more sturdy and durable.
It has a padded main compartment and three other pockets. The elastic side mesh pockets makes sure that your water bottle won't easily fall.
This insulated lunch bag can keep foods warm or cold for up to 6 and a half hours. The aluminum foil lining is also non-toxic, and food safety is assured.
3. Orchidtent Neoprene Lunch Bag
The Orchidtent Neoprene portable lunch bag has thick thermal neoprene material. It is stretchable to fit your lunch containers in it.
This bag stands upright to prevent accidental spills and leaks. It is also made with stain-resistant materials and is machine-washable, so it is easier to clean. This reusable lunch bag is perfect for eco-conscious nurses.
Other great qualities of this bag are that it is easy to dry, light-weighted, and does not fade even with repeated washing. It can also fold flat when not in use for easy storage.
The insulation properties of this lunch bag can last for up to 4 hours.
4. BALORAY Lunch Bag
The BALORAY lunch bag's stylish design is versatile and multi-functional to take anywhere where packed lunch or snacks is needed.
The bag has two durable padded short handles that make it easy to grab quickly and is perfect for nurses who are always on-the-go. This lunch tote comes in style and various designs.
The Oxford material used is durable and easy to maintain. It even has an extra front pocket to keep other personal items separate from food. Insulation can last for about 4 hours.
5. Lifewit Large Insulated Nurse Lunch Bag
Lifewit lunch bag is made from tough Oxford fabric and has a large storage capacity of 15 liters. Its spacious compartment is not only great for bringing meals to work but also for picnics and other outdoor activities as well.
The main compartment has expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam for better thermal properties. It will keep your food and drinks warm or cold for up to 5 hours. The interior of the bag has PEVA-friendly aluminum lining making food-safety quality at its highest.
You can wipe the inside and outside of this nurse lunch box easily. This makes cleaning and maintenance hassle-free.
It comes with a detachable padded strap that makes you carry it in comfort and different styles.
6. Carhartt Deluxe Dual Compartment Insulated Lunch Cooler Box
The Carhartt lunch cooler box uses durable synthetic material. It also has a rain defender making it great for outdoor usage too.
This cooler box comes in many attractive colors and a professional design. It is also light-weight and weighs only 0.7 pounds when empty.
It has a dual compartment design that provides separate storage for utensils and cutlery items.
7. MAZFORCE Original Insulated Lunch Box
You have plenty of color options to choose from when going for the Mazforce lunch bag. At the time of writing this, they have 19 color choices perfect for the modern-age nurse.
It has both thick foam core and aluminum foil insulation. Its dual insulation properties ensure that foods stay in the same proper condition for longer hours.
The Mazforce lunch bag is also made with non-toxic and eco-friendly materials to ensure food safety and peace of mind.
One unique feature of this bag is that it has a clip on the grab handle. This clip makes it possible to attach it to your backpacks. It has a slim profile, is light-weight, and is easy to carry.
Conclusion
Nurses passionately work long hours for others' needs and push past their limitations. Thus, as a nurse, you deserve to have comfort and home-cooked lunches. This scenario will be easy and possible if you can choose the best lunch bag for nurses.
Overall, we recommend the KINBON Insulated Lunch Bag as the best nurse lunch bag from our list. This lunch bag is our favorite because it has all the essential features that a great nurse lunch bag should have. It has padded detachable shoulder straps aside from the hand straps. This feature is a plus for nurses whose hands are always full.
The KINBON insulated lunch bag also has more storage pockets or slots than the other lunch bags. More storage slots mean that you have a better advantage when it comes to organizing.
It's longer insulation properties will also ensure that your food stays the same when it's time for the much-awaited break.
Take a little time to love yourself and make your lunch break happier. It is high time you get the right lunch bag for you. So go ahead and check out the many lunch bag options you have online.
I hope that this post helped you prepare in finding the best lunch bags for nurses to fit your needs.