This July 6, 2011 file photo shows ingredients for chicken fajitas in Concord, N.H. Todayís lunch ìsystemsî are dominated by bento-style gear, which originated in Japan and involve multiple compartments and containers to hold a variety of foods. And that makes sense for modern kids, who are as likely to be toting sushi and DIY taco kits as they are the classic PB&J.

There was a time when a lunch box was just that, a box into which your parents packed your lunch.

For many years they were metal and came emblazoned with your favorite cartoon or movie characters, as well as a matching thermos. By the 1980s, metal was passe, making way for plastic. But the basic design was the same. Then you graduated to paper bags or ditched packed lunches entirely for some atrocious pizza-chicken-cheese-nugget-potato thing from the cafeteria.

Lunch gear has come a long way since those days. Today's lunch “systems” are dominated by bento-style gear, which originated in Japan and involve multiple compartments and containers to hold a variety of foods. And that makes sense for modern kids, who are as likely to be toting sushi and DIY taco kits as they are the classic PB&J.

The gear also is far more high-tech. Today, everything from the bag to the water bottle is super-insulated and rated so you know how long your darling child's pasta carbonara will stay warm and how long the organic juice will remain chilled.

Which isn't to say all modern lunch gear is the same.

All boxed inBento-style containers rule. Having lots of little compartments to fill may sound intimidating, but it's easy. Some crackers go in one, cheese in another, maybe something fruity in a third. Toss leftovers from last night's roasted chicken in a fourth and before you know it lunch is packed in all of about 5 minutes.For preschool and other young children, consider a kit such as Laptop Lunches, which packs multiple containers inside an easy-to-open clamshell box. They are affordable, dishwasher safe and indestructible. They also come with their own insulated carrying bag and some of the containers are watertight.Older kids require more food and flexibility. For them, LunchBots rock. These stainless steel containers are available in numerous configurations that can be combined in endless ways depending on what you feel like packing. They can be pricey, but will last forever (think fourth grade through grad school).For a budget-friendly option, check out the disposable food-storage containers at the grocer (usually alongside the plastic wrap and foil). Many companies now offer containers you can easily mix and match for lunch duty. Bonus: When Junior loses them, you don't lose a mint.

It's in the bagInsulated lunch bags are where it's at. Some lunch kits, such as Laptop Lunches, come with custom bags. But if you're assembling your own container collection, you'll need to shop around. For younger children, a basic insulated bag with a zipper closure should be fine. Combined with an ice pack, these are good for keeping yogurts and other perishables cool.For older kids, you may need to dig a little deeper. When my son transformed from a peckish preschooler to a voracious middle schooler, I needed a serious upgrade in packing space. I searched online for hours before settling on a “picnic bag” that would allow me to pack a sufficient amount of food.Whatever your needs, it's wise to go with a bag that offers two compartments (often divided as bottom and “lid”). This allows you to separate warm and cold items (such as a chilled yogurt cup and a warm soup), as well as segregate easily bruised fruits from hard containers.

Liquid intelligenceLunch liquids generally take two forms — drinks and soups/stews/chili. You'll need gear for both.For drinks, the best bet is Hydro Flask, which offers a line of insulated water bottles so good they are almost scary. As in, I've left an ice water-filled bottle in the blazing sun on my driveway for six hours and it still had ice floating in it. Looking to pack milk or juice and make sure it stays safely chilled? This is your bottle. They are rated to keep liquids cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours.For soups and chili, I'm a fan of Thermos brand's Foogo food jars. They are a great size for kids (available in 7- and 10-ounce versions), affordable, easy to open and keep foods hot for five hours.

The numbersPacked lunches are great. Food poisoning isn't. Making sure the former doesn't trigger the latter is just a matter of knowing your numbers.Cold food needs to stay below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot food needs to stay above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Once food falls outside those ranges, it's safe to eat for another two hours.So when you shop for lunch gear — insulated lunch bags, thermoses, water bottles, etc. — only buy products with thermal ratings that cover the range of time between when you pack the lunches and when they'll be eaten.

The little stuffWe tend to focus so much on the gear and bags, we forget the little things like utensils and ice packs.Obviously, this isn't the time to break out any silverware you don't want to lose (I'm still annoyed with my son for having taught me this lesson). But disposable plastic isn't all that eco-friendly. My solution? Hit the second-hand shop and grab some inexpensive stainless steel forks and spoons for pennies. If they get tossed, no big deal.As for ice packs, you'll want one even when using insulated lunch bags. Get several so you always have one in the freezer. Rigid packs are better than soft, which can freeze in awkward shapes. They're also less likely to be punctured when your child decides to launch his lunch box across the schoolyard.

Bento-style gear, which originated in Japan and involves multiple compartments and containers to hold a variety of foods, makes sense for modern school students, who are as likely to be toting sushi and do-it-yourself taco kits as they are the classic PB&J.