The biggest hurdle that's keeping me from bringing my lunch to work on a regular basis is the lunch box. I can't settle on the best way to bring lunch to work. Here's a look at four finalist lunch boxes for grown ups.
An Updated Classic: This Nylon Lunchsack with Velcro Tab (The Container Store, $4.99) is a comfortable, practical choice and the least expensive to boot. It has the look of a brown paper lunch sack, but is larger and more durable. It would work well for bringing a sandwich and an apple and could also handle leftovers. The Container Store suggests using with a reusable ice mat ($4.99). Too bad the ice mat makes lunch feel heavy, especially if you can't get a seat on the subway.
Stainless Steel: If you're looking for something different and tend to carry a hot lunch rather than a sandwich, Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar
So New York: Though the Built Lunch Tote (Built NY, $19.95) is made with beachy scuba gear fabric, it just looks like something a city person would use to bring lunch into the office. It's machine washable and goes flat when not in use, perfect to stick into a desk drawer at work and easily store in the kitchen when not in use.
Discontinued: This choice comes from Vessel, the creators of the Candela re-chargeable 'candle'. Vessel says they've discontinued the item because they need to make some adjustments. I appreciate how well thought out this is, it feels almost architectural. I think this was created to work as a set of dishes you keep at work, rather than a true lunch carrier. Let's hope the new model is more portable.
Christina, what kind of thermos do you use? Fun to hear about all the compliments your lunch box collects.
Joanne, on the days I plan to bring lunch . . . I often forget it in the fridge too. Leaving the lunch bag by the door is a perfect tip.
I love the colorful nylon ones. I would get a couple because I can never remember to bring everything I need to and from work. Hmmm...and I could set it by the door so I'd remember to grab the food I'd packed from the fridge!
I bought the NY Built Lunch Tote last year. It's great. It folds open to use as a placemat. That's convenient! Personally, since I eat a large variety of peculiar things, I prefer something larger, however, this is a fabulous item at a good price and its washable.
What about making your own?
Good ideas here:
http://www.beesnest.org/2006/09/27/new-lunch-bag/
and here:
http://www.beesnest.org/2006/09/28/lunch-bag-for-the-girl/
The classiest lunch tote I've seen in a while came from
Vegan Lunch Box: a lovely stainless steel kettle from to-goware.com.
Sorry, apparently HTML doesn't work in these comments. The links for Vegan Lunch Box:
http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/2006/06/just-eatin-in-rain.html
and for the container at to-goware.com:
http://www.to-goware.com/products.php
I haven't purchased one but it sure is pretty.
I like the stainless steel one. Great for hiking/camping etc, and good-looking on top. ItÂ’s a great way to keep your food warm. Very impressed.
oh i love my built lunch box! (and i do live in nyc) it's funny, i get compliments on it all the time when i am riding the subway to work and since two others that i work with have purchased it. i have the other design that does not have the special spot for a drink and i like it b/c i feel it gives me more room. i usually put some of those gel/liquid ice cubes in it that are reuseable and have found it is great for keeping things cold for about 4-5 hours. when i bring soup for lunch i put the soup in a thermos and then place it in the bag.
I have a Mr. Bento I'd like to sell. It's never been used for food. I just washed it once. It doesn't have the box anymore but has everything else including the manual. It's just too heavy to bring on the bus every day. Maybe I should put this in the classifieds? Contact me if you are interested.
Resuablebags.com has a large selection - click my name for the link. I especially like the basura bags - made out of recycled juice containers! (haven't used them myself but tres cool).
chris, i just checked my thermos and it's the silver and black short-ish type and it just says "THERMOS" across it. i bought it at a bed, bath, and beyond store, just looked on their website and couldn't find it. i've been really impressed with it! kind of makes me long for the 3rd grade in a weird way. guilty admission: i used to love spaghettios and seem to remember that being the content in those days. : )
i thoroughly enjoy my mr. bento, although it's definitely the geekiest lunchbox of the bunch. it's great for portion control and keeping foods hot/cold. it's also a fun little challenge to fill the individual compartments with some thing different every day.
Very helpful post & comments. I have a pet peeve about people carrying 'nice looking' shopping bags commuting to work, but don't want to muck up my bag if my lunch leaks.
squiggle-
how much are you asking and can you mail it?
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never mind! I just noticed that this was a post from 2 years ago!
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