Bringing your own lunch to work each day not only saves money, it means you’re better placed to make healthier choices in your food intake which, in turn, improves your mood and productivity.
Boost your brain power and your energy levels by staying ahead of the cravings, maintaining portion control and crushing the afternoon slump with clean, crisp and crunchy snacks.
Here are three tips for packing a tempting lunch each day:
- Plan ahead to have healthy ingredients and/or leftovers ready to go each morning.
- Keep it interesting – go beyond sandwiches to soup and salads.
- Include a treat – dried fruit or a small square of dark chocolate makes the vending machine less tempting.
So boost your budget, body and mind with a prepared lunch each day in an insulated lunch bag or lunch box, and shop our top ten picks for the perfect lunch tote:
01
Business & Pleasure Co Premium Cooler Bag in Vintage Yellow
$89.99, Surf Stitch
Brighten up your work day with this sunny lunch box made from beach umbrella canvas that is treated with water to create that vintage look.
02
Pelli Bags Insulated Lunch Bag in Spanish Villa
$59.95, The Iconic
Lightweight, flexible and easy to sling over your shoulder, this lunch bag has you sorted for busy days with space to fit lunch and snacks, and a nifty handle to carry it. It comes in three colours made of either natural jute or canvas.
03
SoYoung Large Linen Insulated Lunch Bag in Sand & Stone
$49.95, Biome
This chic linen design is spacious enough for adult-sized lunches with a removable inner lining for easy cleaning. It comes with a detachable strap for versatility.
04
The Good Brand Bento Box in Sage
$49.95, Myer
Made from wheat straw plastic, this compartmentalised lunch box is both stylish and practical. It comes in three shades (navy, sage or white) and is microwave, freezer and dishwasher-safe.
05
Takeout Lunch Bag in Hazelnut, Kikki.K
$35.99, Kikki.K
A sophisticated lunch bag with wide handles and an open top for easy access. It’s designed to fit the Takeout Lunch Box perfectly. Choose from six shades with an optional personalised monogram.
06
The Somewhere Co Large Silicone Bento Lunch Box in blush
$37, The Somewhere Co
The five separate compartments let you do away with the clutter of multiple containers, while the food-grade silicone is microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. At 21cm, it’s a good size for plenty of food but not so huge you can’t tuck it into your handbag.
07
Porcelain Bowls (700ml & 1500ml) With Glass Lids in Cloud
$79.95, David Jones
This set of two bowls, one large and one small, are handy if you want to bring a salad to work, with an airtight seal to keep everything fresh, or for leftovers that need to be warmed up. They’re freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher-safe and also come in Blushed and Mint Gelato shades.
08
OiOi Mini Insulated Lunch Bag
$59.95, The Iconic
A pretty lunch bag to pack your food for the day into. It has a mesh pocket for an ice pack and is small enough to fit in your work bag with a durable insulated lining.
09
Maxwell & Williams GetGo Insulated Lunch Bag With Pocket in Blue
$24.95, Myer
A versatile lunch bag that’s insulated and wipes clean easily with a damp cloth. Available in Sage and Pink too.
10
Yeti Daytrip packable lunch bag
$224.18, Amazon
When you’re serious about lunch, you need an insulated cooler that won’t let you down. Yeti’s ‘Daytrip’ lunch bag is made using coldcell flex insulation, meaning it keeps hot things hot, and cold things cold. You can even adjust the size of the bag to accommodate everything from a light snack to a three-course lunch. Once break time is over, all you need to do is fold it flat and off you go.
