Happy National Pack Your Lunch Day! Preparation is the key to packing your lunch in the most efficient and healthiest way possible and you don’t have to spend too much time on it with the right products and tricks. We were inspired by PIX11’s and The Container Store’s Healthy Living and Lunch Packing Ideas to create a list for you of their best products combined with some of our tips to make packing lunch easier and healthier. Here are a couple of life-changing ideas you can start implementing today:
Magnetic Monthly Calendar
containerstore.com, $16.99
To keep yourself from eating out and accidentally leaving food go to waste in the fridge, keep your meals structured with a magnetic calendar. The Container Store suggests creating a master menu for at least three weeks and then rotating your weekly plans for the entire year. Buy calendar here.
Refrigerator Snack Station
realsimple.com
This snack station is the perfect solution when you or your kids are running out of the house and need to grab your lunch as quick as possible. All it takes is an hour every week to package healthy snacks in zipper bags to save you from those moments at work or school where you’re hungry and tempted to buy snacks from the snack machine. Find !healthy snack ideas here.
OXO Greensaver Produce Keeper
containerstore.com, N/A
One of the biggest struggles of meal prepping is making sure your food stays fresh. All you have to do is make sure you’re buying the right containers to store your fruits and vegetables. For example, these OXO containers keep produce fresh by trapping and absorbing ethylene gas, increasing the airflow to help prevent moisture buildup with a removable basket and the vent on the top helps maintain optimum humidity levels. Find them here.
Stainless Steel Round 3-in-1 Eco Lunch Box
containerstore.com, $22.09
Sometimes it’s hard to package certain foods together and keep them from being squashed or spilled. This lunchbox is perfect to pack 3 different foods together instead of placing them in separate plastic bags. The bottom layer can hold a sliced sandwich, the middle layer holds fruit, pasta or salad, and the small inner container can hold a half-cup of snacks. Buy it here!
Mason Jars for Salads
dailyburn.com
This is the perfect solution to keeping your salads from getting soggy. All you have to do is layer your ingredients with the dressing on the bottom and mix them in a bowl whenever you’re ready to eat.Find Mason Jar salad recipes here!
Joseph Joseph Dot Water Bottle
containerstore.com, $10.19
One of the most important habits to adopt is drinking water all day long! Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of how much water you’re drinking, which is why this water bottle is perfect.The lid records the number of bottles you consume throughout the day so you never forget. Buy it here!
Silicone Cupcake Liners
honeynfizz.blogspot.com
Silicone cupcake liners are the best way to keep several snacks separated from each other within the same container.
Reusable Sandwich Bags
reuseit.com, $11.97
These cotton reusable bags make it possible for you to have a waste-free packaged lunch! They feature a waterproof lining and zippered closure, which makes them perfect for any kind of treat: crunchy, crumbly crackers; juicy, fresh fruit or sticky treats. They also have all kinds of cute designs! Find them here.
The Right Lunch Box
Blue Avocado Click’n’go bag
amazon.com, $12.97
Fiesta PackIt Personal Cooler
containerstore.com. $16.99
Insulated Pre-K Lunch Bag
potterybarnkids.com, $16.99
Lunch boxes are not one-size-fits-all. In the end of the day, the most important element while packing your lunch is picking the right lunch box to fit your needs. Make sure to pick a size that works for you or your kids whether they are being carried by hand or inside a purse or backpack. It’s also important to use an insulated lunch box if the food must be kept warm. Here are a couple of different options to consider : 1, 2, 3
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Tanai Milgram is a content creator and video producer. Her passion for media has taken her from working at the WUFT-TV studios, to creating the College Emmy Award winning series OutinTheVille, to producing short-form lifestyle videos (with up to 50MM native views) at LittleThings.com. She has also a contributing writer at The Daily Meal, Buzzfeed, and Medium sharing travel tips, self-help advice and cooking experience. Currently, she is also creating the project Young Chef’s Kitchen in which she provides teens living in low-income neighborhoods with private cooking lessons from fine dining chefs in NYC.