Take a cue from the kids heading back to school and tote your own homemade lunch (or morning coffee or tea) with bento boxes, bags, and these perfectly packable recipes. You’ll eat healthier, eat tastier, and save money to boot.
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ProductCoolGear Bru
The CoolGear BRU lets you make a single-serve cold-brew coffee and take it on the road. It’s as simple as putting your favorite coffee in the filter and adding cold water. You can turn a dial to adjust the drip rate based on how strong you want your coffee and how quickly you need it. Then unscrew the cone, screw on the travel lid, and you’re on your way. -
ProductGreat Finds: Takenaka Double Bento Box
Our staffers love Takenaka’s double decker bento boxes. They come in a range of eye-catching pastels and have an elastic band to keep them securely closed, a removable partition, and a fork; plus, they’re microwave and dishwasher safe and BPA-free. -
RecipeHerb-Marinated Goat Cheese with Fruit and Nuts
This pack-and-go lunchtime take on the cheese plate is as easy as packing up marinated cheese, nuts, bread, and fruit and then putting them together when you're ready for lunch.
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ProductGreat Finds: Lunchbots Trio Bento Box
If you prefer a stainless steel bento box, we’re partial to Lunchbots. The divided compartments make it easy to turn dinner leftovers into an exciting lunch (see our lentil, tuna, and roasted pepper salad for inspiration). -
RecipeBulgur Salad with Wilted Chard and Green Olives
A hearty grain salad that's good cool or at room temperature makes the perfect foundation for a packed lunch. Be sure to use good-quality olives and rinse them well. -
ProductGreat Finds: Lunchskins Sandwich Bags
We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste, and this generously sized reusable sandwich bag does just that. It’s dishwasher-safe, so you can sterilize it after each use, and the bright patterns make lunch feel festive. -
RecipeBrazilian Chicken Salad Sandwich
This easy take on a sandwich sold by vendors along Rio de Janeiro’s beaches is packed with grated vegetables, sweet raisins, fresh lime juice, and cilantro. It’s like no chicken salad sandwich you’ve had before.
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ProductGreat Finds: PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag
The gel-lined PackIt Lunch Bag keeps your food cool without additional ice packs for up to 10 hours. Once home, it folds into a compact shape to go into the freezer overnight so it’s ready for the next day’s lunch. -
RecipeRoasted Eggplant and Tomatoes with Tangy Cucumbers and Yogurt
Every element of this vegetarian pack-and-tote lunch—except for the yogurt—can be left out at room temperature until you’re ready to eat. Your lunch will be all the more flavorful for it.
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ProductGreat Finds: Zojirushi Travel Tea Mug
These 11- and 16-oz. stainless travel mugs with built-in tea filters make it easy to brew and drink your favorite loose-leaf teas on the go. They seal up tight and keep any drink—not just tea—hot or cold for up to 6 hours. -
RecipeWarm Kamut, Chicken, and Plum Salad
The sweetness of plum counters the nuttiness of kamut and peppery arugula in this main dish salad. To make it portable, pack the arugula separately and toss it in just before eating.
