Let’s face it: lunch is hard. It was easy to be an elementary school kid and let your mom pack a lunch for you. Now that we’re adults, you have to pack that lunch yourself, and there’s so many choices, or so few choices, and both are problems. That’s where having the best lunch boxes for adults comes in.
Part of our modern lifestyle has us trained to want convenience. I’m not saying all convenience is bad, but when it comes to food and lunches in particular, it’s so easy to grab a handful of items that are individually wrapped, toss them in a bag, and dash off to work. But if we put a little thought into it, lunches can be convenient, healthier, and more sustainable.
The Right Tools for the Job
Having the right gear is key to making lunch time both easier and more sustainable. In terms of gear, we’re going to focus on what can make taking the food you actually want to eat to your work (wherever that is) and having it be hot, cold, or just right (shoutout to Baby Bear!). And, investing in some lunch gear that you’re more likely to use will mean less eating out, resulting in a more sustainable and likely healthier lunch for your bod.
For a lot of folks, you’ll be at an office with a refrigerator and microwave, so temperature control may not be as crucial as organizing portions, for example. However, some others are like me – driving around all day, and without access to refrigeration or heating. In that case, if you like hot meals, you need to either keep your food hot from when you leave home. Similarly, keeping that food cold can be a challenge as well.
Interested in lunch boxes for adults? Let’s get to it!
***Some of the links will be affiliate links, which means if you use that link to make a purchase, I get a small commission. The commission comes at no extra cost to you, and it helps support my family and our quest to be as sustainable as possible. I only recommend products based on my own experiences and/or opinions. Please only buy products you feel can be helpful to you and your family.***
The Junior Varsity Lunch Box Squad
First, here’s my current lunch set up:
This is the similar to lunch box my wife had back in 2005, and I’m still using it (the model is slightly different now, but the box is basically the same). If you’re looking for the super simple plain Jane, this is it. I’m also a fan of the removable hard insert, as it won’t tear and can be washed separately from the cloth outsides.
This is my go-to container for taking hot food for lunch, including anything from soup to pizza to steak. Yes, I know it’s plastic, but one thing I really like is the ability to fill it up and put the whole thing in the microwave. When I’m crunched for time in the morning, this is a major plus for me. Again, I’ve had mine for years which is actually a Stanley, so the model is slightly different, but the overall container is the same.
You know my one true water bottle love is Klean Kanteen, right? If not, well you’re in for a treat, because this is not only the official water bottle of my lunch but also my life! I use these (I have a wide mouth as well as a classic with a sport cap) constantly, taking two 40 ounce with me to work every day, and then basically any other time I’m out of the house. The one shown is an insulated wide mouth; the good stuff. Included in my setup is a neoprene sleeve, needed for the single wall bottles, which does a decent job at keeping my ice water cold.
The Varsity Lunch Box Squad
So, that’s my current lunch setup. But, if I was starting from scratch with sustainability in mind, here’s what I’d go with:
Bento boxes are all the rage (check out my post on lunch boxes for kids), and it’s easy to see why. These little things are stack-able, and you can pack lots of food in there. The only drawback is that it’s just for cold food, so as long as you know that up front, it’s all good.
Did you know Klean Kanteen has food containers? You’d better believe this will be part of my lunch gear someday. Their specs state that it’s good for 8 hours of keeping food hot, so even if you get 6 hours that’ll still get you to lunchtime.
The next bottle I buy will be a Klean Kanteen double wall insulated bottle. Just like Wayne Campbell and the Excalibur guitar:
A few other essentials to consider:
If I got another lunch box, it’d be this one. One feature I like a lot (in addition to the hard insert) is the non-zipper closure. The zipper eventually broke on my current lunchbox; I ignore that fact and continue to use it.
If you’re out and about without refrigeration, you’ll need these ice packs. I have some similar thin packs, and they sit nicely in my lunch box.
Finally, if I worked in an office and was really on top of my lunch game, I’d be all about some food prep containers. These guys will let you pack 5 lunches on Sunday and be ready to rock for the entire week. My already-small-amount-of-brainpower is limited in the mornings anyways, so this is one less thing I’d have to think about.
Lunch Boxes for Adults: Level Achieved!
You made it! Now you have all the tools you need to be a rock star with your lunch boxes. Co-workers will be elbowing each other to get a closer look as your lunch setup. Got a favorite piece of lunch gear I didn’t mention? Drop it in the comments! Now that you’ve tackled lunch boxes for adults, don’t forget about the kids. And to keep up on all things sustainable, drop your email in the form below to stay connected. Finally, if you haven’t taken the quiz, make it happen!