Hey, gadget people, I need a small food container

[Ilsa]

that uses a battery (or something) to keep food warm. The little thermos-type devices haven't worked to keep my son's food hot for his school lunch, almost 5 hours later. Any suggestions besides trying to talk Mr. Finicky-Eater into sandwiches and other cold fare?

[Ilsa]

1. Kick for the late evening gadget crowd. -- Thanks.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Don't laugh, but give this a try:

First, try buying a GOOD thermos, not one of those cheap fucking "children" style pieces of shit that has as much insulation against cold or heat as jigger of grandma's denture spit.

if that don't work, then buy yourself a nice insulated lunch bag -- actually, let me go back a bit and say that if you AREN'T using a re-usable insulated lunch bag and are using paper bags to be thrown away, you are an earth killer and buying into the republican agenda -- get the lunch bag, and, this might sound weird, but if you wanna keep shit hot, put a foil-coated brick in the oven, heat it to about 500 degrees, put it in the lunchbag, put a slightly moist towel over it, and put the food container on top of that.

(of course, you need to use a brick, or stone, or whatever, that is of a size that it will fit in the lunchbag).

But, quite honestly, if you stay away from the "children's shit" aisle of your local supermart and go the camping section, you WILL find thermos-style devices that will keep food hot without the brick bullshit. WIll you pay more? Sure you will, but it will last a lifetime and do it's job, and instead of buying a piece of shit that you throw away every year or tiwce a year, filling our land with non-biodegradable assholery, you'll have bought one thing that works and lasts for generations.

[lizziegrace]

4. And with a good thermos

preheat by filling it with boiling water while you're heating up the food. When the food's hot, pour out the boiling water and the container will hold the heat longer.

:)

[Kali]

5. ...

:rofl: , although I agree 100%.


Watch it though, sometimes the "camping" section is crapier than the kiddie section - go to a real outdoor/sporting good store.


edit for the usual typos and shit

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Good point - a real camping store is better than the shit at the walmart

or other megasupergodblessamericawe'rebuyingshitthankgod store.

For the OP: When I say "Thermos" I actually mean "Thermos", which is a specific brand name of insulated liquid containers; Coleman makes good stuff, as well as some Japanese companies.

[eyesroll]

3. Do you heat the Thermos prior to packing it?

That sometimes does the trick -- just swish some boiling water around it.
You may also want to try a better thermos -- not the ones that come with the lunch boxes, but the ones intended for adults.

[Ilsa]

10. Yeah, I was heating it with near-boiling water for almost 10 minutes.

I tested it and it wasn't very warm 5 hours later, hence my problem. I was also using an insulated zippered lunch box. I may simply have to require him to carry a slightly heavier lunch bag with heated brick pieces.

[LeftyMom]

7. I give you the goddess of the packed lunch and her advice on lunch gear:

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/2006/03/my-where-did-you-get-that-lovely-lunch.html

She uses a thermos brand container and fills it with boiling water to preheat it. Since she's quite candid when lunches fail and hasn't mentioned cold soup, I'd assume that works fine.

[Fredda Weinberg]

8. Here's a gadget for ya

http://www.preparedness.com/noname29.html

[Ilsa]

11. Wow! Neat! My son is too young to have this, but I might get some for

my husband anyway! He takes a hot thermos out fishing (I had to teach him to preheat it), but this would be nice for other stuff as well.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Check out Lunch & Go

http://www.warmandtote.com/bgl-cart.html

[Ilsa]

12. I like that! It is a little pricey, but might be worth it to keep the kiddo

fed. He's a picky eater and seems to be able to go long spells without eating, which scares me sometimes.