Lunch Box Memories

Lunch boxes have changed in design and shape over the years, but the basic idea is the same. Along with space inside for a cold drink, sandwich and snack, the cover is devoted to a favorite cartoon, character, TV show or movie.

That's why Justin Bieber and Darth Vader and Japanese cartoon characters are staring out at shoppers from the shelves of Target. Looking back, I recall the lunch table being occupied by the Six Million Dollar Man, Little House on the Prairie, and if you were really cool, Josie and the Pussycats or G.I. Joe. Invariably, some poor soul ended up with the hand-me-down Disney schoolbus, which was not cool after the third grade.

Back in the '70s, the lunch boxes were aluminum. In the '80s, they gave way to plastic. (A sign of the times, but also more likely to 'hold onto' smells from previous lunches.) Vintage lunch boxes now are highly collectible. They are displayed as collections in people's homes, and sometimes they get their own art gallery shows.

Strangely enough, they seem to be making a comeback in high school. My daughter asked me to purchase her very first metal lunchbox when she was a junior, saying that her friends all had one.

Do you remember a favorite lunch box? What was it? Have a picture handy? Share it with Patch!