We talk a lot about the importance of home-cooked food as one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle, but the reality is that for many of us it is impossible to go home to eat, so taking a lunchbox to work is necessary if we want to eat healthily.
The lunchbox we take to work also influences our health and the health of the planet, especially if we want to limit the presence of microplastics in our bodies and the use of single-use materials and utensils.
After many years of making takeaway food, we'll tell you about the options available, their pros and cons, so you can choose the one that suits you best:
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Glass food containers: Like a regular Tupperware, but with a glass base. The lid, if it's airtight, is usually plastic. They're great for storing leftovers in the fridge or for those who plan and prepare their meals for most of the week, but taking them to work can be more inconvenient because, being glass, they can break and are quite heavy. Some are sold with a silicone lining, which makes them more practical. You can microwave them, if you use one, to heat food without having to transfer it—without the airtight lid—but not in a toaster oven.
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Stainless steel lunchboxes: My favorites for foods that don't need to be heated before eating. Some come with compartments and can be used with accessories, also made of stainless steel and silicone lids, to carry different foods without them mixing—for example, a small sandwich, olives, carrot sticks, and hummus in each compartment. There are also stackable ones for carrying, for example, a starter and a main course. They are very difficult to break, although they can dent if dropped, but they are not oven or microwave safe.
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Ceramic cake tins: They have many of the advantages and disadvantages of glass ones - fragility, weight, etc. - but some designs are very beautiful.
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Stainless steel thermoses: For those who want hot meals but don't have a way to heat them, thermoses offer the flexibility of taking your food already hot. Where there used to be thermoses only for drinks, now there are different sizes to carry all kinds of food. A trick to keep your food hot longer: Fill the thermos with very hot water, after a few minutes carefully empty it (being careful not to burn yourself) and put your hot food inside. Because the thermos is already hot, you won't cool the food down immediately after putting it in, so it will stay hot for longer.
- Instead of eating with plastic utensils, which are also very inconvenient, you can buy stainless steel utensils for children, because they are smaller and easier to carry; they are also available in bamboo. Some even come in a case, making them even more convenient.
- I also like to use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins or kitchen roll. I have some simple cotton napkins that I only use for packed lunches and that I wash with the rest of the laundry.
- Finally, a reusable stainless steel or glass bottle that you can refill is essential, as single-use water bottles are not the healthiest option.