LOVE this post, as I am ALWAYS looking for new ideas for lunch at work. I put together a little compilation of ideas on my blog awhile back.

http://www.shutterbean.com/lunch-ideas/

I started taking pics of my lunches so I could have a visual reference of what I came up with. It's almost like documenting what I wore...but with what I ate!!

Any and all ideas appreciated for lunches, I want my kids to not dread opening the lunch box, yet keep it free of chemicals infused foods.

Nice spread of pictures shutterbean.

I love these recipes.
I'd like to throw my latest obsession to the list as well ;)
http://www.lifeologia.com/as-the-summer-rolls-to-an-end/

Thanks for the compilation, I needed some lunch-time inspiration!

SCHOOL LUNCH :
I pack warm lunch for my 9 year old every day, because school lunch is just foodlike substance. I bought a Ms Bento thermos for him that has 3 compartments and keeps his lunch warm enough (not hot). I freeze almost everything in small 12oz glass Pyrex containers that comes with a plastic lid, microwave the food in the AM in the glass , and fill the Bento (plastic)with it. We made a menu together that we don't stricktly follow, but gives me ideas. Here are a few things I have in my freezer for him in small portions:
Beef stew with rice, home made meaty spagetti sauce w pasta, hungarian bean gulyas, home made tomato soup, chicken paprikas with spatzle, minestrone soup, bison soup with veggies, red wine braised lamb shanks, spinach and cheese filled tortellini. Other things we pack: crepes with sweet cheese filling, leftover chinese, fresh cooked pasta with grated walnuts sweetened with vanilla sugar, stir fried chicken breast with whatever veggies are handy, cucumber salad with a sandwich, pulled pork with a bun on the side. He loves it and he gets a lot of attention at school. All it takes is keep saving food on the weekends. I am a doctor with a busy schedule, so if I can cook and pack, you can too.

Salad rolls and sushi. Best lunch ever.

I bring my lunch to work every day so I don't spend money eating out. Sometimes frozen meals (Michelina's are the best & cheap!), but leftovers from previous dinners if there are some. Today I had leftover tortilla soup. I tried bringing stuff to make sandwiches when I first started working, but it became a pain. I don't want to spend a lot of time prepping; I just wanna heat it, then go eat and chill at my desk.

Johanna, one of my coworkers is obsessed with bentos! She has way too many. I gotta admit I loved our school lunches, at least in high school. The mushy broccoli and cheese was so good and I've never been able to emulate it. Anyone know how they make that? I also loved turkey finger, mashed potato and roll day! But admittedly, I did eat a lot of soft serve ice cream for lunch in hs, so you're probably starting a good habit.

For several Mondays, I made my co-workers lunch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ext212/collections/72157604326626026/

Am I correct to assume that all containers in a Bento will have to contain either hot food or cold food, not a combination?

@heynowtex, to replicate school mac n cheese w/broccoli, start by overcooking the pasta. Then overcook the broccoli. Put the sauce on. Then reheat it all so it's even MORE overcooked, but all together. Voila. You couldn't pay me to eat that but to each her own.

My daughter LOVED the peas at daycare and always said to me, "Mom, you dont do peas like Mr. Chris. His were so nice! His were from a CAN." To this day, she will eat "school peas" or raw peas from the pod at the farmers market. No inbetween.

The cylindrical bento boxes look more like Tiffins. Maybe a google search under that would get hot/cold combo results?