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I have fond memories of my first lunch box.

The dark green oval metal box was emblazoned with small, bright-colored college pennants. I carried the lunch box on my first day of kindergarten, though I don't recall exactly what foods were tucked into it on that special day.

My mother and I bought my sophisticated-looking lunch box in spring 1953, months before school was to start. We stored it on a top shelf of the food pantry in our old farmhouse kitchen. Every day I'd open the painted doors to that cupboard and recite the names of the colleges on the lunch box pennants, trying to imagine what my grade school experiences would be like.

I do remember my mother lovingly wrapped my food for that first day at school in squares of wax paper. And I recall being more concerned about not dropping or getting any scratches on my lunch box than about what I wore that first day of school or my first ride on a school bus.

I'd give anything to have my old lunch box again. It's one of the few things I truly cherish from my kindergarten days. As often happens, we eventually replaced the oval lunch box with a more convenient tote, and I don't recall what happened to my beloved lunch box.

During my junior high and high school years, I was in charge of making "cold lunches" for my four siblings and myself. Each weekday morning at about 6:30, I'd line up five brown bags and start filling them with what was typical cold lunch fare back then - cookies, chips and sandwiches. When I graduated, I was happy to turn that duty back to my mother.

While shopping a few weeks ago, I came across one of the square metal lunch boxes with the old-fashioned handle and traditional shiny metal clasp. It was a basic dark blue color; no frills, no extras inside, but I loved its retro look. I considered buying it - just for nostalgia's sake - but then resisted since I didn't really have a use for it.

Students today have so many choices when it comes to lunch totes. They can opt for a canvas book bag with matching detachable lunch bag or a colorful insulated tote with pockets for drink bottles or cans and other goodies.

The basic lunch tote many of us have used at one time or another - the plain ol' brown paper bag - is still carried by many students and adults. I've carried way too many of those bags to have much fondness for them. But I did recently purchase a red, insulated plastic tote shaped like a brown bag; it was priced at $3.99. Other lunch totes can cost from $5 upward, depending on the features you're wanting.

Parents also can find plenty of the plastic square lunch boxes with the traditional thermos bottle topped with a screw-on lid that doubles as a cup. They're particularly attractive to the younger children, since they often carry the logos of Winnie the Pooh, Barbie or characters from whatever movie happens to be popular each summer. Remember the days when Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, I Love Lucy and Annie Oakley were pictured on the must-have lunch boxes?

These days, what goes inside those lunch carriers is far more important than the theme on the outside. Insulated lunch bags and refreezable cold packs are must-haves to ensure what we're toting in our cold lunch remains cold, safe and fresh until we're ready to dine.

So the oval lunch box of my kindergarten days may have been great-looking back in the '50s, but today I opt for a lightweight canvas tote that's heavily insulated. And I always tuck a frozen bottle of water inside with my lunch. It keeps my food very cold, yet thaws just enough by lunchtime so I can drink it.

Comments or Suggestions?