At Lunchbox Buddy, you will frequently see us use the phrase “One Box Per Child”. It is the foundational idea behind our entire service, but what does it actually mean in practice?

Here is why we designed our boxes for individual children, and why we strongly advise against trying to stretch one box across siblings.

The Math of the School Month

An average South African school term has roughly 20 school days per month. Our Standard 40 and Premium 40 boxes contain exactly 40 items. The math is simple: 40 items ÷ 20 days = 2 items per day. This provides a balanced approach: perhaps one savoury item (like chips or pretzels) and one sweet/energy item (like a fruit bar or biscuit) for the two break times most schools have.

The Danger of Stretching

When parents try to buy one Standard 40 box to split between two children, the math falls apart.

  • 40 items ÷ 2 children = 20 items per child.
  • 20 items ÷ 20 school days = 1 item per day.

For most growing children, one single snack item alongside their sandwich is simply not enough to sustain them through a long school day, sports practices, and aftercare.

Inevitably, what happens is that parents start packing 2 items per child anyway, and the box runs out entirely by day 10. This leads to the very mid-month scramble we created Lunchbox Buddy to prevent!

Eliminating the Sibling Rivalry

Beyond the math, there is a psychological benefit to ‘One Box Per Child’. If siblings are sharing a box, the more desirable snacks (hello, chocolate chip cookies) vanish instantly, leaving arguments in their wake.

When each child has their own box, they learn to manage their own inventory. If Child A eats all their favourite treats in the first week, they have to navigate the consequences in week three. It teaches portion control and eliminates the morning fight over who got the last packet of biltong.

The Verdict

To truly experience the convenience of Lunchbox Buddy—that feeling of crossing ‘snacks’ off your to-do list for an entire month—you need the correct volume of food. We highly recommend ordering a separate box for each school-going child. It guarantees 20 days sorted, zero arguments, and peace of mind.