I pack almost every day, and I usually pack my b-fast, mid-morn snack, lunch, and mid-aft snack in my lunchbox. I normally put everything into the Glad plastic storage containers (which are great), but take up a lot of room. (I do pack 2 small ice packs inside as well.)
I can't fit everything in my lunchbox (cute collapsible cooler type thing), and normally have to dump a few containers in my bag.
I'd prefer to find a collapsible cooler that can fit everything I bring for lunch but not sure where to find them. Target used to carry these great (and cute) lunchbags made by Thermos and they seemed big enough to carry all my little plastic storage containers but I couldn't find any the last time when I remembered to check (which was in Oct).
Can you please recommend where else I can find a good lunchbox? I'd prefer to not have one of those plastic "inserts" inside the cooler...
Re: Where to find quality (yet cute) lunchboxes?
I got a super cute one on etsy. I also got matching re-usable snack bags. I love them.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cottontopquilts
That should take you to her page. I got one with an apple pattern which I get a ton of compliments on, being a teacher.
My Food Blog
I bought my lunch bag at Target (sporting goods section with coolers). It is Thermos brand and it very large. I bought it for the exact reasons you posted you need a large lunch box -- Tupperware! This bag can fill a lot and is collapsible. It looks like a medium size purse but they had bigger varieties too.
Here is a similar size lunch tote (I have a different pattern).
This is exactly the lunch tote I was looking for at Target but I couldn't find it! Did you get it recently?