Lunch Box Memories

School is just around the corner and that means your kids will either be taking lunch or buying lunch in the school cafeteria.

(What will your kids be eating for lunch at Fairfax County Public Schools when school starts? You can soon find out on their Web site. Menus were not posted as of Aug. 6, but keep trying. FCPS schools begin the 2012-2013 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 4.)

Most of my school lunches I spent standing in the cafeteria lunch line, sliding my tray along and getting Sloppy Joes and Tator Tots or fish sticks and celery with the peanut butter piped into it, and a carton of milk.

But sometimes, I brought my own lunch, in what I thought was a really cool lunch box with flowers all over it.

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.

Back in the '70s, the lunch boxes were aluminum. In the '80s, they gave way to plastic. 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. 

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