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Depending on how things are going, lunch can be the highlight of the working day.
If the weather is on side, you can spend our precious allotted hour outdoors, ideally touching grass. But even if it’s drizzling, having a proper break from your desk can recharge you enough for the second half of the day.
Whether you’re watching the pennies, or you just don’t fancy the options near your office, making your own lunch can reap rewards in more ways than one.
First, you’re totally in control of the ingredients. No nasty UPFs here. And everything is seasoned just as you like it.
It’ll cost less too – prices can climb to as much as £12 a day if you work in a big city, and costs can easily rack up if you’re in a few days a week or full-time.
Compare that to a packed lunch. Depending on what you choose, you’re looking at a couple of pounds, tops. It’s motivation enough, especially if you’re feeling the ‘costy livs’ pinch.
Autumn is a great time to kick-start the habit. By this time, you’re done with summer frivolity, and with Christmas a tinsel-covered speck on the horizon, there’s every incentive to save for the most wonderful time of the year.
What you put your lunch in may play second fiddle to the menu, but it’s still crucial to consider. Plastic takeaway boxes might be fine for chucking leftovers or batch cooking in the freezer, but your work lunchbox should be a little more uplifting if for no other reason than to get you to actually fill it.
The good news is that there are many styles to choose from, from straight-up sarnie holders to leak-proof bowls for salad complete with dinky little thimbles to keep dressings separate. If you’re a snacker, you may like the idea of a bento-style design to divide sweet and savoury bites.
Lunchboxes: turns out they’re not just for kids. We’ve rounded up the decidedly grown-up ones to BYO below.
BAGGU Pluto Lunch Box
Disney adults will love this cooler-style lunch box which makes Pluto the star of the show. The lined interior helps keep food and drink hot or cold (chuck in an ice pack for the latter), and it comes with a sturdy carry handle for easy lifting to your prime lunch setting. Made from recycled fabrics and trims, it can comfortably hold a sandwich, juice box and select snacks.
Buy Now for £38
YETI 6L Lunch Bag
From the coolbox supremo comes this lunch bag, which makes sweaty cheese sarnies a thing of the past. YETI takes portable refrigeration seriously, as you can tell from the construction. This design, which can fit up to six litres, is made with food-safe Coldcell Flex™ Insulation to help keep the brand’s Ice Sheet working for longer. The lunch bag is compatible with the shoulder strap of YETI’s Daytrip model too, allowing you to mix and match your collection without racking up unnecessary accessories. While it comes in the core colours of navy and grey, you can pick this up in much jollier seasonal hues of aqua (pictured) and taupe. Sold with a three-year warranty.
Buy Now for £80
Dunelm Square Gingham Lunch Bag
The sweetest little lunch bag that will remind you of picnic season thanks to the gingham pattern, Dunelm flies the flag for ultra-affordable lunch boxes. It may be a simple cube design finished with a zip but the hardy polyester construction promises to see you through months of packed lunches. Plus, it’s easy to keep clean – just wipe it down. Measuring H 14cm x W 22cm x D 17cm, there’s enough room for a feast for one, whether you make traditional sarnies or take in boxes of leftovers.
Buy Now for £5
Alessi Food à Porter Three-Piece Lunch Box
Italian brand Alessi is all about contemporary design – right down to its lunch boxes. This statement red look offers three tiers to create a multi-course lunch, or just keep some space spare for snacks. Crafted from thermoplastic resin, it’s designed to keep food cool – useful in summer when refreshing salad cravings are particularly high. We’ve never been more excited to do lunch prep.
Buy Now for £44 (was £55)
Fortnum's x Black & Blum Lunch Box
A compact lunchbox that makes use of every centimetre of space, Fortnum & Mason reimagine’s Black & Blum’s lunch box in the Mayfair grocer’s signature Eau de Nil colourway. It’s a look that will please Type As with plenty of options to keep food organised, from an inner tray to a leak-free pot for sauce or dressings. It even comes with its own fork, sparing you the jostle of grabbing one from the office kitchen. Secure clips on all sides ensure the lid stays put – no mess at the bottom of your work bag here.
Buy Now for £29.95
Thermos Stainless King Copper Food Flask
As the weather turns, your lunch menu is bound to evolve. If the humble sarnie is to be replaced by soups or stews, a flask is your best bet for taking it into work. This chubby little hero from leading brand Thermos can hold 470ml of liquid in its thermal vacuum insulated interior, keeping food hot for up to nine hours or cold for up to 14. Taking in your own brew? The lid can be repurposed as a serving cup. It even comes with a spoon that folds into the flask’s mouth for the ultimate in convenience.
Buy Now from £16.99
TRAVELISIMO Extra-Large Heated Lunch Box
We know not everyone works in a typical office set-up. If you’re on the road or work in a place without a kitchen, you can still enjoy a warming meal thanks to the genius that is a heated electric lunch box. It comes with an adaptor lineup that works with 230V, 24V and 12V outlets. Simply plug it in, heat and get ready for your hot midday meal. The spacious 1.8L design comes with a compartment for fruit, just make sure you remove it before switching the unit on – unless you enjoy warm grapes. A hearty healthy lunch, perfect for those forever on-the-go.
Buy Now for £29.99
Sistema Stackable Lunch Box
When a sandwich alone isn’t enough to power you through the day, Sistema rides to the rescue with its stackable lunchbox. Put more options on the menu with this 1.2L set-up, which features a divider tray in the lid to keep fruit, snacks and salad from infiltrating your homemade sandwich, which sits in the spacious section below. A clip-lock lid keeps your lunch undisturbed until you’re ready for it. Available in an assortment of colours too!
Buy Now for £9.50Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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