Reddit mentions: The best bento boxes

My hubby and I were both doing our PhDs at the same time at one point so I totally get the having no life thing. :D

• Along the lines of the pocket knife, you can search for items like "everyday carry" or "EDC" items -- this includes flashlights, pocket knives, tactical pens, etc. PhD STEM types tend to like practical things. I've found some cool stuff for my hubs this way.
  
• Another thing is one of these books: http://phdcomics.com/store/ -- they are collections of comic strips but they're hilarious and super relatable to graduate school. They used to release a calendar every year but looks like they stopped. :(
  
• Other non-conventional gifts to consider based on the fact that he's in graduate school and has no time on his hands...
  
  • Buy a pack of these disposable takeout containers and make frozen pre-prepared meals for him. If he's spending THAT much time in the lab, chances are he isn't eating as great as he should be. I cannot tell you enough how much this would've been appreciated by either of us while we were in graduate school. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742M47V5/
    
  • Depending on your geolocation, there are some services that come pick up your laundry on a specific day of the week, do your laundry for you, and then return it, folded, and everything (Wash & Fold services). For reference to what I am talking about, it's similar to this company: https://www.rinse.com/ If you're near a university, there's an increased chance of you having these services nearby. If you got him something like a couple months of this service, it's another thing that is a hassle to keep up with when you're super busy with work but one of those things that has to get done either way.
    
  • Depending on his eating habits, a grubhub (or similar) gift cert could be good if he orders takeout for either lunches or dinners during the week. https://www.grubhub.com/
    
  • Spotify or Pandora subscription -- depends on if he enjoys music and what kind of lab he is in (i.e., whether he can play music while working). If he does enjoy music, another option is wireless headphones.
    
  • Does he drink tea or coffee? There are lots of nerdy mugs out there and you can pair that with some a nice tea assortment or coffee blend. If he does drink it but doesn't tend to make it himself, is there a coffee shop nearby to campus that offer gift certs?
    
  • If he's working in a wet lab, chances are he can't bring beverages inside with him -- so you might consider a nice new water bottle (https://www.amazon.com/Contigo-AUTOSEAL-Stainless-Bottle-Monaco/dp/B01N7LKY1F/) or a rugged travel mug (https://www.amazon.com/Contigo-AUTOSEAL-Stainless-Steel-Travel/dp/B00HZI5XNO/). The autosealing (hot and cold) ones by Contigo are very popular because they can be used on the go without worrying about leaking. If you have to leave your mug outside of the lab if you don't finish your coffee, you most likely want something that's also covered too.
    
  • If he writes or takes notes a lot, don't underestimate the power of a really nice pen. Super useful and randomly just brings great joy to us grad school folks. :D

Cheap tips...

Rice Cooker, Slow cooker, Food Processor, Blender.

Zojirushi Rice Cookers are consistent and long lasting - I had one of these for 12 years, and it always got the job done right. When I moved in with my wife, she had a rice cooker that was old, but still worked (another Zojirushi). We recently splurged and got a really high end one. It's AMAZING, 10-15 minute perfectly cooked rice.

Cuckoo CRP-HV0667F IH Pressure Rice Cooker - For reference.

Anyways...

Get the simplest cheapest crock-pot - Less things to go wrong when it's as simple as this.

Get a cheap food processor

Get a decent blender - Don't go too cheap on blenders, you really get what you pay for in a quality blender. Blenders and mixers are the two things KitchenAid does best.

Now... The reason why I said get cheap stuff? Because you said you know nothing about cooking, and you might destroy a nice piece of equipment in your ignorance. It's bound to happen. Since you are going to be living on your own, if family gives you free stuff, don't feel bad about getting rid of it if the equipment sucks. They didn't want it anyways. Good tools? And you'll do a good job.

Watch this for other equipment...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av6cz9upO0 - Gordon Ramsay may be a celebrity, but his kitchen knowledge is definitely high-end.

Personally don't skimp on the saucepans, frying pan, and the knife (honestly for 99% of jobs you just want a really good chef's knife, other than a pairing knife can do most everything). They will make your life easier if you have quality equipment. I disagree with him about the cutting board for 2 reasons (10 years in restaurants in the past here)... One, you are a beginner and might ruin a wood board. Two, wood boards can accumulate bacteria from meats if not taken care of properly. I advise this one...

OXO Grips Utility Cutting Board

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHRXUeVsAQQ - Great video showing you some good techniques in cooking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJy1ajvMU1k - Another video along the same vein, great techniques for cooking.

As others have said Budgetbytes is great.

Raw beans and raw rice are always going to be significantly cheaper than buying pre-made/pre-cooked. Use a slow cooker to cook beans overnight. Use google for a recipe.

Chicken skin-on, bone-in is always going to be significantly cheaper than not. Breast is usually drier/tougher but lower calorie per oz. Thighs are juicier/softer, but higher calorie per oz. Remove the skin if you want to be more calorie efficient. Keep the skin on for flavor. Personally? I always leave skin on, remove the bone (but use it for cooking to extract the flavors), and I always use a chicken thigh. Personal preference. A cool tip is to remove the skin, coat in olive oil, and fry by itself. Try that out, see if you like it. Fry till like crispy bacon. If you don't use the skin in cooking, you can use it like this as a snack later.

Seasoning things is really important. Don't over-season, less is more. Because you can always add more seasoning later. When I make chicken, I always put a pinch of salt on each side, grind some pepper (use a pepper grinder, it's always superior to that pre-ground pepper crap), slap that into it. Olive oil, don't skimp out on this either. Get stuff actually from Italy, larger bottles are usually a better deal. Chicken with salt, pepper, olive oil is simple and tasty.

Get some kinda meal prep containers...

https://www.amazon.com/Freshware-15-Pack-Compartment-Bento-Lunch/dp/B01IIINCRS - These should work great. I like having a separation point in the container.

Some simple recipes I like...

http://luckypeach.com/recipes/miso-claypot-chicken-no-claypot/

https://www.budgetbytes.com/?s=slow+cooker - Anything here.

https://www.budgetbytes.com/?s=easy - Again, using the search function at budgetbytes is huge.

One thing that helps is to develop your palate. If you will be doing okay for money, the occasional outing to a restaurant to try something new can be really beneficial. When you eat food out, imagine what possible technique they could have used to achieve a certain texture or taste.

I'm just rambling, but hopefully this will help a little.

Good for you! its not easy but once you start you will feel so much better!

First make a meal plan for the week ie. How many days are you going to have that you can or will cook for the week. plan accordingly that way you can eat leftovers in between cooking days.

Also plan around your staples for the least expensive menu. That being said you can cook a large amount of something such as chili, spaghetti sauce, soups etc... and freeze them in serving sized containers to make an easy meal for lunch or dinner if you find you don't have enough time to cook. the crock pot can take care of a lot of that for you.

Meal prep containers are a great way to freeze and to portion control your food. like these I love these use them all the time

These are great for things like Spaghetti, or lasagna, enchiladas etc...
[16 ounce single compartment]
(https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Goods-SMALL-Snack-Containers/dp/B01L5P17RS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519490404&sr=8-2&keywords=meal+prep+containers+single+compartment+small)

these are great for a lean protein such as half a chicken breast, with your vegetables and a small starch.

[28 ounce single compartment]
(https://www.amazon.com/Enther-Containers-Compartment-Stackable-Dishwasher/dp/B0742M47V5/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519490427&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=meal+prep+containers+single+compartment+small)

for soups and stews I love these have been using them for years.

[16 ounce containers]
(https://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-Storage-Containers-16-Ounce-36-Pack/dp/B00M9Z4SXY/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1519490803&sr=1-5&keywords=deli+food+storage+containers+with+lids+16+ounce)

These are great for putting enough soup stew spaghetti sauce in the freezer for the two of you or more for dinner

[32 ounce]
(https://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-Storage-Containers-32-Ounce-24-Pack/dp/B00M9Z4SV6/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1519490867&sr=1-1&keywords=deli+food+storage+containers+with+lids+32+ounce)

These pens are washable markers says for wine glasses. I use the for my plastic stuff just write what is in it on the lid let it dry and freeze or put it in the fridge.

[markers]
(https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_18?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=wine+glass+markers+washable&sprefix=wine+glass+markers%2Cgarden%2C139&crid=13DGDTXU01L7F&rh=n%3A1055398%2Ck%3Awine+glass+markers+washable)

Now a few recipes for you These you can make in the crock pot while you're at work.

[Bigest loser crock pot turkey Chili]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/87rrsMl/biggest-loser-crock-pot-turkey-chili/)

[homemade crock pot chicken tortilla soup]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/cPq2HJk/homemade-crock-pot-chicken-tortilla-soup/}

Can't make this one while at work it only takes 4 to 5 hours.

[5 ingredient slow cooker balsamic chicken]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/TU9lJdi/5-ingredient-slow-cooker-balsamic-chicke/)

Not slow cooker recipes
you can use beef or turkey or meatless crumbles in this it tastes the same. Great recipe

[Semi's Chili]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/zsm7pJ5/semis-chili/)

[semi's spaghetti sauce]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/Qp9VFJQ/semis-spaghetti-sauce/)

[Sauteed chicken with dijon white wine sauce]
(Not slow cooker recipes)

[Authentic Mexican Enchilada casserole]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/CwzxXgp/enchilada-casserole/)

these would also be very easy to make and put straight into your meal prep containers and put into the freezer or in the fridge for then next day or twos lunches. Just skip the foil and heat right in your container.

[foil pack chicken enchiladas]
(https://www.copymethat.com/r/KjYpFms/foil-pack-chicken-enchiladas-kraft/)

I'm omnivorous, here, but I try to pack some healthier options whenever I can. Of course, I say that but what I do end up bringing still has a pretty high carbohydrate content (I can't get over my love of rice and noodles as a staple food).

In addition to beans and lentils (preferably with a combination of a grain to help balance out your amino acid profile), I recommend not being afraid of adding healthy fats to your food because it'll keep you sated for longer, and if you're careful about calorie watching, is more dense. In practice: I like avocados, and I use the keto trick of adding some coconut oil to airplane coffee to add fat to my breakfast.

Find ways to add fiber and proteins, secondly, to your meal considerations because both will help you feel full, like healthy fats will. Low-sodium jerky, trail mix, and protein/fiber bars are my usual no-refrigeration go-tos for those. Carbs are still necessary, but if possible get them from veggies, and you'll get nutrients to boot. Carrots, celery, broccoli, and grape tomatoes are my usual mainstays because they keep well in not-ideal coolers--especially paired with some dressing to add some fat content to your snacking.

If you don't mind using some of your layover/rest time preparing your meals for the next day and you don't want to be stuck with just the hotel microwave (if it's even provided) I recommend--like others--investing in a HotLogic Mini. I recommend going to their website to buy it because they often have sales. Your other fellow flight attendants occasionally get coupon codes for them, too, if you ask around; and sometimes they offer a BOGO Free deal. Depending on how you meal-prep (for curries, pilafs, ratatouille, etc I just cut up veggies and proteins into a Ziploc bag and spice the bag) it's as easy as putting it all in a Pyrex glass container (one of the HotLogic sets come with a glass container) and plugging the HotLogic in. Recipes that work in a crock pot work best in it, in my opinion. I've also used the Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Cooking Set to cook during layovers, and I prefer it when I'm making pasta, noodles, or rice dishes.

To keep food warm, I've been using an insulated lunch pail like the Zojirushi Mr. Bento as a complement to my cooler. The inner containers can keep food hot/cold for around 8-12 hours while the top container typically remains at room temperature. It's a little thing, but having a hot meal in-between a long 12-hour day with no time to buy expensive airport food is a wonderful way to keep your morale up.

1. I'm all about DIY-ing my own "Lean Cuisines" and microwaveable meals, not just for the cost, but so I can control exactly what goes into every meal. If you can set aside one afternoon a week - like Sundays - to put together your lunches and dinners for the week, you can save yourself the cost of store-bought meals, add only the things you like to eat, and keep track of every single thing in each meal. There are a zillion Lean Cuisine-style recipes online (Pinterest!), and here's an example of one recipe you can make. Rather than make a whole bunch of different ones at a time, I make a huge batches of 1-2 different recipes, portion and freeze them (we have a deep freezer, specifically for freezing huge batches of stuff, that I found on Craigslist for $50), and over the next month or so, build up a reserve of a dozen or so different recipes. That way, it's easy to prepare because it's only one or two different recipes at one, but my husband isn't stuck eating the same thing every day. I use these reusable, freezer-safe, microwaveable containers - I bought both the individual portion and dual-portioned ones about two years ago, and so far my husband has only lost one and cracked one, and he's pretty rough on them.
   
   
2. I also aim for 1200/day and I strive for a minimum of 30 minutes/maximum of 90 minutes of cardio per day, plus strength training. I don't really rely on "calories burned" calculations from machines or MyFitnessPal, because they all seem to overestimate, but I'd guess I'm burning ~100-150 per 30 minutes. I don't usually eat back exercise calories and I haven't had any issues thus far, but the key point here is to a) go at your own pace and don't overwork yourself, and b) listen to your body. If you feel fatigued, overly hungry, or you're in pain beyond regular soreness, scale back your workouts as needed.
   
   
3. I'm not big on shakes, but if I'm not in the mood and/or don't have time to eat, I'll make a shake or a smoothie as a meal replacement. If Slimfast works for you, go for it! You can also DIY your own Slimfast (or any other protein/meal replacement) shakes as well, and in batches, just like with pre-made frozen meals - I use a bullet blender, homemade yogurt, fresh/frozen fruit, veggies, protein powder and/or milk for shakes and smoothies for my entire family. Since my husband gets up before I do, I make big batches of his morning smoothie, minus the ice, and leave a portion in a blender cup in the fridge - all he has to do is add ice and blend for 60 seconds, and instant breakfast! Blender bottles are also awesome for shakes, and for protein powder, instant breakfast powders and making chocolate milk :)
   
   
4. DIY Lunchables! We actually started making our own "Lunchables" three years ago, when my son started kindergarten. He loves the pizza and chicken nugget ones, but there's never enough food in them, what little food they do have is overly processed, and those suckers get expensive fast! I bought two sets (four containers each) of Easy Lunchboxes, which are portioned just like Lunchables containers, and a set of eight dip containers. I also bought a few of Rubbermaid's LunchBlox sets and my husband thought they were so awesome, I ordered a few more adult-sized ones for him :) The Easy Lunchboxes are microwave- and dishwasher-safe, although I've never used them in the freezer, and you can find literally every Lunchables recipe combination online (again, Pinterest!). I make huge batches of pizza sauce and freeze them in individually-portioned sandwich bags, then make mini pizza rounds and freeze those in sets of 3-4, and whenever he wants pizza Lunchables, I pull a sauce and a set of rounds out the night before to thaw - just add shredded cheese and whatever toppings you want, toss in some baby carrots, cut-up strawberries and whatever else you want. You can also do chicken nuggets (I make my own, but it's time- and labor-intensive, so store-bought might be a better option for you), wraps, literally anything else you want, and I guarantee there's a tutorial available with how to recreate it :)

Excuse me from copying my reply from a previous BIFL, but I still feel strongly:

MISTER BENTO MISTER BENTO MISTER BENTO

It's a bit complicated--follow me here. It's an insulated tube just like a thermos, with four round containers. I'll take you through them, from the bottom up.

Soup bowl: Actually a pretty nice soup bowl. It's got a lid that screws on, as well as a pressure-valve on the lid to prevent a vacuum forming as it cools (it's going to cool a little, no matter the insulation... thermodynamics still exists).

Rice bowl: It's a Japanese product, so there's a big compartment for rice. I never have a problem fitting a sandwich in here, if that's what you're in the mood for. You... you get used to sandwich-pucks eventually. Important thing here is that the lid on this bowl is thick and insulated, to help keep whatever's in here and the soup warm.

Veggie bowl: As I understand the typical Japanese meal (read: none), this is a bowl that's supposed to house some vegetables. You may have noticed that the bowl below this has a thick insulating layer. The way it's designed, this compartment and the one above it aren't insulated. It's actually pretty cool, when you think about it. I would usually use this for some roughage... dry cereal or something.

Tiny top bowl: This is it. Another non-insulated bowl. I'd usually put a cookie or two in here.

The whole thing is leak-proof, and it really does a fantastic job. Once you think about the two-hot-two-plain thing, you can put some fun meals together. The insulation works well--soup was always warm come lunchtime. And it's surprisingly big, too. You won't finish eating and want for any more. I didn't finish a lot of times, or I'd use one of the compartments just to hold a mid-day snack.

I know you might balk at the price, but if you think you might like something like I'm describing, I really can't endorse the product enough.

I started on Monday, so I'm a bit late to this. I'm female, ~5'1", 25 and have been overweight since my early teens. I decided enough was enough and have buckled down and started doing this seriously. No more "maybe tomorrow".

On Monday, I was 213, which I've been hovering at for months. This is my peak weight.

Today, I weigh 202. Yes, almost certainly loss of water weight and all that, but it's really encouraging.

Given my height, I decided /r/1200isplenty is the diet style I wanted to try and I love it so far. I basically just eat only 1200 cal a day. I thought it was going to suck but I've found that I'm having trouble meeting that goal since I feel full on less than 1200 cal.

My 3 biggest helpful things so far is MyFitness Pal, a food scale, and a bento box.

I love it so far because I can eat what I want, just have to watch portions and plan out ahead if I want to "cheat" on a nice burger. (By cheat, I mean allocate ~100cal less a day for the previous few days to make up for the excess I'd go over on that one day). Luckily I've never had a sweet tooth so cutting out sweets is not loss to me. I've been mainly eating meats and veggies. Luckily I LOVE veggies, so that's easy.

I even went out to eat yesterday and opted for the lowest calories items on the menu (steak!) and didn't feel at all like I was missing out and couldn't even finish my sides by the end. And I came out a few hundred cals less than 1200 for the day and had to eat some healthy snacks later to reach it. And it's only a week in. So I feel like I can really be successful with this.

My biggest challenge was ignoring the desire to eat out of habit and boredom. But I've been good at ignoring that so far. When I do give in, I eat carrots or some light yogurt :)

A lot of annoying micromanaging which I hate and made me want to not bother all together.. But I decided last week that there's no secret to weight loss. No easy way to do it. Spending 10 mins each day "micromanaging" and entering my stuff into the app and planning out lunch is well worth it.

My ultimate goal weight is 110lb and this is the first time I've ever felt like I can reach it. It will take awhile, but I've been finding this diet easy to stick to. Hoping to add exercise in eventually.

> If I cook up a big batch of rice, chicken + veg on a Sunday night and pack it up into air tight containers then put it straight into the fridge will it all keep fine throughout the week and be good to heat up in a microwave? (would have to make 5 lunches, mon - fri)

Vegetable dishes generally keep for about two weeks in the fridge. Beef and pork will keep for about a week. Seafood is generally only good for about three days.

> Probably a really stupid question but if someone can let me know or give me sone [sic] pointers that would be great :)

Buy some meal prep containers. Basically just easy to wash lunch kits. I like the ones from Amazon that have separated areas in them. Wal-Mart, Target, HEB, etc. will generally also have those types of containers in stock.

Beginner

• Pick one or two proteins and three or four frozen vegetables.
  
• Cook the proteins with salt and pepper in a skillet.
  
• Frozen microwavable vegetables are cheap and easy. Microwave bag for recommended time, usually 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
  
• In each meal prep container add one serving of protein and two servings of vegetables.
  
  Intermediate
  
  
• Instead of plain protein and vegetables, try some different recipes that you can find online.
  
• Protein dishes to try:
  
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu
    
  • Salisbury Steak
    
  • Meatloaf
    
  • Chicken Parmesan
    
  • Rosemary Pork Chops
    
• Vegetable Dishes to try:
  
  • Scalloped Potatoes
    
  • Mashed Garlic Potatoes
    
  • Broccoli salad
    
  • Roasted zucchini and Butternut squash
    
  • Potato Salad
    
    More Intermediate
    
    
• Try some all in one dishes like chili, soup, lasagna, jambalaya, etc.
  
• Find some good cooking videos online and try something new each week.
  
  
  BTW, call your mother and tell her thank you. Then ask her for some good recipes.

You're welcome and good luck, I totally empathize with your position so I just wrote what I'd write to my past self.

I'll add a couple more tips:

Google Sheets & Google Keep are your best friends. Make a sheet containing recipes you'd like to try, and as you cook them, fill in a column indicating when you last cooked it, and a column containing a ease-of-prep score, a column with a quality score, and a notes column. Then each week make a new sheet for the upcoming week with a section for each day's recipe and a section for ingredients you need to buy (I have two of those since I buy perishables twice a week). Once you have your week planned, copy that list of ingredients and paste it (control+shift+v to strip any formatting) into a new Google Keep list, click the "..." on the bottom of the list then "Show Checkboxes" to make a list you can easily check off at the store with the Google Keep phone app. I thought planning a week ahead would feel stifling or that I would change my mind midway through the week, but I actually really enjoy it. I generally cook three new recipes a week and three old ones.

Everything I cook I eat the next day for leftovers using some generic meal prep containers. Since I live alone cooking just wouldn't be worth it otherwise. Since most recipes make 3+ servings, I'll often freeze something since every two frozen meals is one less day I need to cook. Curries, chili, soups, and rice-based dishes all freeze great. Pour servings of soups, stews, and chili into quart-sized freezer bags then lay them flat in the freezer to save tons of room. Any additional leftovers I just throw in the work fridge and someone usually eats it.

Lastly, if you have time to lean, then you have time to clean. In other words, never ever spend a single idle second in your kitchen while cooking. Waiting 30 seconds for the garlic to saute? Dump your prep scrap bin in the trash. Got 5 minutes while the onions saute? Clean your cutting board and knife. Rice needs to rest for 10 minutes covered before you serve? Clean & reset/store your whole prep station. Here's a big one: Simmering a sauce for 20 minutes? Take a look at the recipe you're going to be cooking tomorrow. Peel your veggies, chop your onions, and peel your garlic then toss them in a Ziploc so they're ready to go tomorrow. The feeling of pulling pre-prepped stuff out of the fridge is amazing.

Do not buy these containers. They're fine for a few weeks and washings but they crack and shatter super easily. I'll never buy them again.

I also own these and these hard ones. The single compartment ones I've ordered over and over (they're plastic, they start to show wear and tear and break down after a while. Also I just like fresh containers lol. I buy new ones evey 3 months or so) because they're so great. Never had one break on me and they're a great size. The hard plastic ones are also amazing. The Plastic is thick and not flimsy at all. They're smaller but I've had no problems with them either.

I just bought a Jaxx FitPack luchbox yesterday on Amazon. It comes with it's own containers and ice pack. A coworker has one and I've messed around with her containers to see what they're like and they seem pretty sturdy too IMO. It'll be here tomorrow so if you're interested I can update you on them when I actually have them in my hands.

> By the way, how do you plan your "menue" for the week?

I am getting my notes together because next month will go more in depth into planning and execution, but a few pointers. Up front, the planning for the menu happens at home. I'll sit down with a few recipes I want to try, pair them with side dishes, and come up with a grocery list. I also have enough ingredients frozen in the freezer to make some old favorites if I feel like calling an audible.

1. I only plan 3-4 fresh meals per week, because I try to make enough for leftovers. I find using special trays like these that you can get for much cheaper at restaurant supply stores to make your own TV dinners help a great deal with leftovers. As an added bonus, because they are frozen, you don't have to eat them the next night. During the lead-up to the birth of my second kid, I cooked every night and put the leftovers in the freezer so that I only had to cook 1-2 times a week for the first month. You can also save the sides separately from the entrees if you want to mix and match. Some things, like risotto, don't freeze particularly well, but it will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge and can be reheated or even cut into triangles and fried. I also do pizza nights on Fridays.
   
2. Make heavy use of one pot meals and prep as much ahead of time. I freeze all my meats in ziplock bags ahead of time and thaw them by pouring in some brine or soy sauce and thawing them in the sink. That lends itself to very quick prep time. Thaw some pork chops in soy sauce, minced garlic, olive oil, and italian herbs ahead of time. Stab some red potatoes with a fork, microwave, and then cut into wedges. Brown the pork chops over medium high heat, add some liquid (broth, wine, beer, whatever you feel like cooking), add the potatoes, season with garlic salt, rosemary, and thyme, and simmer, covered until the pork chops are done (about 10-15 minutes). You can cut some romaine hearts or wilt some spinach in the liquid when you're done if you need green with your meals. I don't even reduce the liquid into a gravy most nights. If I'm feeling up to it, I may chop an onion and brown that after the pork chops but before adding the potatoes and liquid.
   
3. Shoot for variety. There are different parts of a chicken, different cuts of pork, and all that. That prevents repetition and keeps you cooking stuff. If it feels like you just cooked a dish, you probably won't be up for it if you're tired.
   
4. Don't feel bad about using pre-made. Everybody's gotta eat, but once you get the hang of it, there are many recipes that are almost as easy as stuff from a box.
   
5. As far as stress of cooking, I know this doesn't apply to everybody, but I use cooking as stress relief. After a rough day, I'll come home, pour myself a drink, turn on the radio, and start cooking. A whole chicken doesn't talk back as you're dismembering it. Green Beans don't send nasty emails and CC your boss as you're snapping their ends off. An onion doesn't spoil game of thrones as you're chopping it. And finally, have fun with it. If you fail miserably at a dish (and I have, many many times), don't keep the leftovers and move on. That's the beauty of cooking, the journey and the destination are one and the same.

I love bentos like this one for packing simple things that you are planing on keeping cold. If you're going to want something for both hot and cold then Mr. Bento is a fan favourite. Pack your hot lunch in the morning and you're good to go. You can also microwave the bowls which is great it you want to keep it cold for the day but eat hot food at lunch.

I like bentos that are divided into half and I can split them into smaller sizes if I need to. I personally prefer using paper muffin cups. They're easy, cheap, I don't have to wash them and I don't get mad when they get thrown out by mistake.

It takes some time to figure out what style bento you like to pack, so I always recommend trying a few different style bentos until you find the one you like. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with your bento!

I'll say it's not quite my wheelhouse. I think mine is pretty basic, but it was cheap.

I'm able to fit a fair amount of food in it, but I haven't ever really packed a meal in the box that had to be constructed when it was time to eat (e.g. some kind of noodle dish in the bottom with fixings in the upper compartments). It's certainly not built for liquids, and the seal is pretty reliant on the nylon strap. All that said, it fits my needs for now.

This one seems like it could pack some serious meals, but at the expense of not being as compact. I think a good box is one that could feasibly fit your regular lunches but also inspire you to think of new meal ideas.

Sorry for the long post.

Glad it was helpful! I really REALLY enjoy bentoing, it's been a really fun way to get more involved in my food, helped me start doing weekly preps, etc.

I run this MonBento and love it so much I've gotten two now. They're the PERFECT shape for a messenger bag.

The mason jars are great too though, and when you stack em side by side (one for breakfast, one for lunch, one for sides) they take up about the same amount of space as the bento+breakfast jar. Having both half pint and pint size jars is huge too, easy to under fill your breakfast jar and waste space.

I bought this lunch container for my daughter when she was in kindergarten and it's still going strong, and she loves it. It has two temperature-controlled containers and two "regular" containers, so I can give her hot and not-hot foods at the same time (e.g., soup and a sandwich). I can make her a hot lunch at 7:45am and by lunchtime it's still hot. As a bonus, the lid doubles as a bowl so I can give her foods to mix on the spot at lunch, which she adores.

My daughter is now 10 and in fifth grade and I've made virtually all of her school and preschool meals. I learned three distinct lessons in those years:

1. Never put food or drink that she's never had before into her lunch.
   
2. The ingredients of a food matters less than the presentation; it needs to be fun.
   
3. Think about the effects of preparation and packaging.
   
   The first point is easy enough to understand so I won't dwell on that.
   
   The second point ties into your frustration with your sandwiches and wraps. Those sorts of foods aren't fun for kids. Know what is fun? Finger foods, foods that look gross, and foods that they can assemble themselves. Turkey and cheese sandwich? Boring. Turkey, cheese, and bread, cut up into cubes, maybe with a little cup of mayo on the side for dipping? Fun. Add a drop of green food coloring to the mayo to make it "gross" and even more fun. Pizza bagel: Half a plain bagel, a small cup of pasta sauce, a small cup of shredded cheese, and a small cup of pepperoni. Let your kid assemble his own pizza before eating it. Fun. Chicken noodle soup is boring; chicken alphabet soup is fun. You can give your kid make-it-yourself tacos in his lunchbox with a couple of small flour tortilla wraps (they sell 6" wraps at my supermarket) and little containers of lettuce, cheese, and cooked ground beef. So much fun.
   
   Preparation and packaging is also very important, especially when you're dealing with breaded foods (chicken nuggets or fish sticks, for example). Through trial and error I discovered that I can fold half a dozen chicken nuggets into a paper towel, put it in the "hot" part of my daughter's lunch box, and she'll still have reasonably crisp nuggets when it's lunch time. PB&J is usually a soggy mess for kids; the jelly soaks into the bread which in turn gets mushy and gets squished in the lunch bag. This can be fixed by spreading PB on BOTH pieces of bread, then covering and refrigerating overnight. In the morning, apply jelly, put the sandwich together, and put it into a sandwich container. The PB acts as a moisture barrier to the jelly, the refrgieration keeps the PB's oils from soaking through the bread, and the sandwich container keeps it from getting squished. Perfect PB&J at school, every time. If you aren't sure how something will hold up, try it yourself. Make yourself the lunch you'd give to your kid, prepping it at the same time you would normally prep lunch for him, storing it as you would for your kid, and then take it out and eat it when it's your kid's lunchtime and see how it holds up. Soggy bread? Crushed chips? Unappetizing appearance? Keep those things in mind because if YOU see it then your kid is going to see it too.
   
   I'll also throw out a bonus tip: Take extra condiment packets any time you eat out. Individual serving packets of ketchup, mayo, honey, jelly, etc go a LONG way to making your kid's meal better.

Here's a mishmash of items that I really love having in my apartment:

• Command Strips for hanging pictures/mirrors/various objects without putting holes in walls.
  
• A diffuser of some sort. I have this one from Saje, but there are lots of different kinds of varying prices on Amazon. You can get different blends of essential oils that smell really nice and help with stress management, sleep, etc.
  
• My slow cooker is my best friend, for real.
  
• Colouring books are a big thing now. I really like having a few lying around for when I'm bored or need to relax!
  
• Containers to pack up all the delicious food she'll be making in her slow cooker! ;)
  
• French press and kettle. Also this ADORABLE SLOTH TEA INFUSER.
  
  

This is what i came to say, make large batches of things now and put them in single or double serving containers and cook/reheat afterwards. Try looking at recipes at once a month cooking . Don't forget you have to wash dishes afterward so make sure you are using dishes that can be cleaned one handed! (as in dishwasher safe or small, no handwash pots and pans etc. Also, if you have someone who can come in once a week to help maybe you could try some weekly meal prep ala budget bytes .

As far as good containers, I like vacuum sealing but if you don't have one or know someone who will borrow you one try these, I've heard good things (not aff) meal prep containers or these for liquids soup container

Also here's a link from once a month meals about single serve freezing that might be helpful!

If you want reusable containers, Mason jars work great, just read the guidelines on how to freeze in them and let them defrost in your fridge before you reheat. Also, if you are planning on a couple of dishes that use the same baking pan, you can line the pan with foil, freeze the dish, take the food plus foil out of the pan and stick it in a Ziploc to store until you are ready!

Don't forget to label!! I promise you will forget what it is or how to cook it by the time you eat it, so it's worth the time, for sure!

Not OP but the containers in the picture look pretty much exactly like mine. I love them and they work super well for taking my meals to campus and work. Link: Freshware Meal Prep Containers... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TRZ91C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

PS: I am aware that glass containers are much better for the environment and I’m working my way up to them (really tight budget so I went with these for now).

that is adorable oh my goodness!! I got a ten pack from Amazon, and the reason I chose those were because they were microwavable! Plus the portion spots looked small and I was right. Of course you could load them up if you wanted to but I didn't and it still "tricked" my mind like restaurant plates and portions do haha. It looks like more food so it feels like more food. I'll probably post a picture sometime of the meals I've made and their calorie counts! They don't take up a bunch of space and I like that they come with reusable sporks :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140ZN2EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xpMBzbS2T2Q6G

I have a similar issue. I work right next to the Cafe at work and it always smells like food and there are vending machines right in the hall outside of the office. The culture here also doesn't help. Everyone always wants to order in lunch on Fridays and or go out and drink after work. Meal prep has been the best possible thing to help fend off the cravings/temptations. I am a personal fan of anything that can be cooked in a Crock-Pot/slowcooker. For lunch I normally buy my desired amount of chicken/meat of choice for the week.(Mon-Fri) and I cook it on Sundays. I also have a rice cooker and I use that to make enough rice for my meals as well. Then I bought these: Freshware 15-Pack 3 Compartment Bento Lunch Boxes with Lids - Stackable, Reusable, Microwave, Dishwasher & Freezer Safe - Meal Prep, Portion Control, 21 Day Fix & Food Storage Containers (32oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf as my container. I put my food in the freezer and pull it out in the morning before work. Microwave for lunch and eat.

Example food for a work day:

breakfast (6:30 AM): 3 hard boiled eggs, 1 banana, 1 serving of Almonds. 3 cups of coffee.(black with cinnamon) ~490 cals

Snack 1 (9:00 AM): 1 scoop protein shake. 120 cals.

Lunch (~11:30 AM): .5lbs of chicken with peppers and .25 cup of brown rice. ~422 cals

Coffee (Noonish): One k cup of whatever I have on hand. ~0-70 cals

Snack 2: (~3:00 PM) I'll eat something small around 200cal. I like Siggis yogurt or a banana with peanut butter. ~200 cals

Dinner (6-9 PM): something I have at home that fits into my calories. On days I workout I will also have a second protein shake. ~400-600cals

Notes: I drink a lot of water 1+ gallons a day. I recommend flavored selzer water while at work. The bubbles make it had to drink too fast and the flavor makes it a nice treat. I eat around 1600-2000 calories a day depending on my workout. I will post more tips for Crock-Pot cooking if anyone wants it.

Hey there!
I'm in a similar boat. 24 years old, just below (or at, depending on the day) 300lb mark. I hate it. I've been logging into myfitnesspal the last 80 days, but the past month has been rough.

For lunch at work, maybe getting these will help-- I bought them off of amazon and they held up well!: https://www.amazon.com/10-Pack-SimpleHouseware-Compartment-Container/dp/B01CYXUGOA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1499200179&sr=8-4&keywords=lunch+containers+with+dividers

Are you on MyFitnessPal by any chance? They have lots of tips on different types of meal plan. If you're not struggling with food addiction, then the simplest thing is everything in moderation, and those containers really help with that. If you think you are struggling with food addiction then Overeaters Anonymous is a great resource: https://oa.org/

Best of luck to you, slow and steady, you got this!
Feel free to reach out if you need any support :-)
It can be a lonely road, but it doesn't need to be!

I telecommute now (blessed solitude), but before I did, I used something like this weekender. I had a Mr. Bento for lunches which fit in there, then I'd put in my wallet (which I can carry by itself like a clutch for lunches or happy hours), and I use small makeup bags to organize other stuff. I keep one for lipstick, one for emergencies (contains bandaids, a little tin of ibuprofen, tampons, shout wipes, etc), one for notekeeping/schedules (moleskine, pen, stamps) and I'd still have room for a laptop or files from work. Plus, by keeping the consumables in little bags, it's easier to move them from the work satchel to a handbag for weekends or evenings. My only complaint about that particular weekender is that I like to have outer pockets for my phone & keys, but I really like Fossil bags - they're made well, last a long time, and are fairly stylish without being gigantically expensive.

I hope you'll be okay at your new job. At least I think you will. Two of my friends were managers of two different hotels and they both enjoyed it, the pay also wasn't bad. If you ever need someone to vent to feel free to PM me.

I found a couple of things you might like for your new job. Here's some DS games (Im assuming you have one because I saw them on your wish list) super Mario brothers 2 , art academy , the Nintendo essentials pack , and a wall adapter. If you don't want any of those you'll probably need one of these and for lunch one of these.

If I win then this please

Depending on how long it is from when you leave home until when you eat you could just bring something you don't mind eating at room temp.

My old office only had 2 microwaves for over 100 people, probably over 150. The office before that had 2-4 and for a few months none. Needless to say there was always a wait at lunch time. I just started eating my food room temp.

Obviously not everything tastes as good at room temp. I've had good luck with Japanese bento style meals; rice, veg, a bit of meat. Just bento cookbook is a good resource. She has tips for making ahead and freezing parts of the meals as well.

If you have time to cook something quick or heat up some soup a good lunch jar will keep it warm until it's time to eat. It great for pasta and sauce.

For a heartier meal and/or more variety mr bento can't be beat. The stuff at the bottom stays warmest. Again it requires some prep time in the morning though

I have a this : https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000246GSE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479099554&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=bento+thermos&dpPl=1&dpID=41p5bbuAleL&ref=plSrch

I absolutely love it. The bottom two are great for warm food while the top two are good for colder food like fruits or other type snacks like that. You can even have soup!

Definitely something that might suit what you want.

Very true, I'm going to link some of my equipment that I love feel free to ask questions. The pre cut bags are amazing because my portion size is consistent due to the constant container size that is/was the real game changer


FoodSaver B016C4KK20 Vacuum Sealer GM2050-000 GameSaver Outdoorsman Sealing System, kkkk Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016C4KK20/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DxZWCbEAB17ZX


Enther Meal Prep Containers [20... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742KGQG8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Enther Meal Prep Containers [20... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

100 Gallon Vacuum Sealer Storage Bags for Food Saver, Seal a Meal Vac Sealers, 11" x 16" Size, BPA Free, Heavy Duty Commercial Grade, Sous Vide Vaccume Safe, Universal Design Pre-Cut Bag Avid Armor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H0WLQA8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HMNWCb5E77H5M

Around 15 years ago I read about a study of men who ate TV Dinners (sorry, no reference handy) vs. men who "free ate" (i.e. ate their typical diet). At the end of 12 weeks the men who ate only the TV dinners had all lost weight compared to an average (if slight) gain in the men who free ate. I remember at the time the surprise the study elicited because people thought the high levels of sodium in TV Dinners would limit weight gain.

So, long story short... TV Dinners provide great, built-in portion control. If that helps you (and I know it helps me), go for it. Personally, I picked up a punch of Meal Prep Dishes and use them to make my own "TV Dinners" on Sunday. I freeze whatever I won't eat in the next 72 hours to avoid spoilage.

To add variety, I suggest making two or three different meals and portioning them out. I also do it for my kids' lunches... makes getting ready for work and school a five minute process in the morning of instead of a sixty minute one.

I do this to a degree. I love the bento boxes because of all the little containers. I don't go to the extreme of faces/characters, but I think they're usually quite pretty.

http://imgur.com/a/RudY8

I bought a lot of bento boxes off Amazon, these four have held up the best over 2 years of daily use (I have three of each, so that may help too):

http://www.amazon.com/Skater-Japanese-Traditional-Compartmental-Chopsticks/dp/B001OC78JO

http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Traditional-Rabbit-Blossom-Bento/dp/B000M82KH6

http://www.amazon.com/OSK-Japanese-Traditional-Rabbit-Chopsticks/dp/B003VM8P8I

http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Bento-Temari-Rabbit-Carrying/dp/B006U6DAI2/

Yes they are reusable! I find sticking them in the dishwasher after use works best to clean them. Amazon has lots of options. I bought these ones: [10 Pack]3 Compartment Meal Prep Food Storage Containers with Lids/BPA Free Bento Lunch Boxes/Divided Portion Control Container Plates-Microwave, Dishwasher Safe, Free Cutlery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140ZN2EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iu4.zb3R7P3M3

You can make a ton of freezer and crock pot meals, so your wife only has to pop something in the oven, microwave, or crock pot.

I got a set of bento boxes and make a week's worth of meals at a time. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0JDZFO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I buy a 60 pack of eggs, hard boil 30 at a time and peel them, and pop two eggs in each bento box, and the rest go in a container in the fridge for noshing. The rest go into a casserole or two that I whip up (this one sound weird but is AMAZING) and then it's just what goes into the last little hole- a treat, or some fruit or veggies.

Whole thing including cleaning the kitchen after? 5 hours, for a weeks worth of breakfasts and dinners.

So then your nursing wife will have easy to grab and go food, and you can tweak it to add things that are good for nursing Moms, like oatmeal cookies and stuff that supports lactation.

Then there is ZERO reason to have your inlaws around.

Thanks! I got them on Amazon, they're not the greatest quality but they do the job. I figure if I get into meal prepping enough, I might buy some better ones. But these are super cheap and work pretty well!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GH5KQLO/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Freshware Meal Prep Containers [15 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Containers, Lunch Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Bento Box, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe, Portion Control, 21 day fix (32 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_I98WBbCZRG3M1

I’ve had them since January and they’re pretty durable! They’re dishwasher and microwave safe. I usually carry a backpack or shoulder bag and they fit great!

Thank you! All there is to it is to do it! I only have my dinner plate left after my workout tonight, everything has been going well! These containers are holding up great, but of course this is the first use. They held up in the microwave and I don't see any deformations. The lids clip on tightly and securely! They stack very well with the little ridges they have on them, I don't want to speak prematurely but I think I recommend them haha here's the link again: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GH5KQLO?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

+another1 for Zojirushi. That thing is awesome. Makes a perfect pot of rice the first time, every time.

As an aside, they also make other useful gadgets like thermoses, carafes, and these excellent insulated lunch jars. Food stays piping hot all day, and I don't have to fight to use the office microwave to warm up my soup.

Amazon! Great price and they are super easy to clean, which is my favorite part!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MYGAHR8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522011401&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=meal+prep+containers&dpPl=1&dpID=51fd6MD1%2BlL&ref=plSrch

Hits in our house:

• divided tupperwares with pre-made lunchables... crackers, chopped chicken or ham, and cheese you can really assembly line these and stick a small juice box inside too and we leave enough for one each low enough for them to pull out whenever they want.
  
  
• Pizza biscuits. Cut biscuits in half, get the kids to shape it into pizza dough, splotch of marinara sauce and sprinkle of cheese. Cheap, they make and assemble them, I bake them.
  
  
• Date rolls. They taste chocolatey and the kids like how sugary they are.
  
  
• Yogurt ranch dip and cucumber chips. This is easy to stick in a 2oz container and small tupperware and let them, again, pull it out whenever.
  
  
• Cut fruit. Apples, pre-peeled oranges, grapes, watermelon... I usually put some vanilla yogurt in a 2 oz container with it.
  
  
• Applesauce. You can buy this in giant tubs and split it into serving cups with lids.
  
  
• Granola bars from the discount grocery store. The mini quaker oats kids-sized bars or something like that are like $1 a box at mine.
  
  
• Trail mix. Trader Joes has small, pre-made trail mix bags. The chocolate one is the kids' favorite.
  
  
• Premade chocolate milk. Good lightweight snack for littler ones.
  
  
• Cereal. Too easy, and we'd put it in a tupperware bowl with a small carton of milk.
  
  I bought a ton of cheap kid-friendly tupperware and bulk disposable 2oz condiment cups for drinks, sauces, all of it. All of it gets thrown in a tupperware they can grab out of the fridge and eat themselves.
  
  I bought stuff like this : https://smile.amazon.com/Plastic-Bottles-Evident-MT-Products/dp/B06XKYZJD4/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519783874&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=kid+friendly+small+sealable+milk+jug#customerReviews
  
  and this: https://smile.amazon.com/Containers-Compartment-Food-Bento-Microwave-Dishwasher/dp/B0140ZN2EQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1519783960&sr=1-4&keywords=divided+tupperware&dpID=511Bgw-88UL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
  
  I really only made the kids when they'd come over eat 1 meal at the table with us. The rest they just grabbed whatever they wanted from the fridge.. and I made them eat outside at their table so if they spilled I'd just hose the whole area off haha.

I am right now making... it's not hot dog cheap but it's bulky and satisfying and cooks ahead for 2 days:

jasmine rice (1/4c per)
ground beef (8oz per)
cucumber (1/2 per)

and I have these bento boxes

so I precook:

fry ground beef

cook rice

shave/grate cucumbers (add 1 T white wine vinegar/1T sugar per)

and then just put a little portion cup of teriyaki (prefer gojuchang but the store was out!) in each and..

I am just in love with this. Husband's been REALLY picky with food lately cuz he just went back to effexor so when he likes stuff now I know it's awesome.


Sorry about your Jeep 😢

If it's hard for you to be constantly tracking (I'm working on being strict personally but wow am I bad about it), maybe try meal prep bento boxes? I have these from amazon, and they're really useful in keeping portions where you want them. A decent rule of thumb is about a palm size of meat/chicken/fish/assorted protein accompanied by lots of keto-friendly veggies. If repetition/lack of surprises doesn't bother you, pre-enter meals into your chosen tracker app the night before in some down time, and just eat according to that the next day. Some ketoers like that it helps keep you on track too!

If you are making your boyfriend lunch every day, you need to take a look at bento boxes! It's a Japanese lunchbox. Usually it has rice, fresh veggies, eggs, noodles, chicken, sausages, or anything else you can imagine! I've even made sushi, dumplings and soup. I haven't made any in a couple years, but I used to make them for my wife. They are very healthy and filling and don't need heating.

They make special boxes if you want. However, a couple Tupperware containers will work fine. If you really get into it, you might find a thermos lunch jar.

You can try this book from Amazon. It's a good intro from an American perspective.

http://www.justbento.com/

http://www.aibento.net/

http://lunchinabox.net/recipes/

It seems like you are in pretty good shape in terms of new cooking supplies and grocery lists. My biggest piece of advice would be to plan, plan, plan for the week! Go to r/MealPrepSunday for tips on how to meal plan. I use a OneNote notebook to track everything...what I'm eating for each meal, what I need to buy at the grocery store, my favorite recipes and snacks, etc. If you want I can share with you what I use. But I think a key for you will be to make sure you plan ahead and figure out what you need for the week.

Also make sure you have plenty of tupperware if you do bulk prep...I currently use these.

I like my Monbento a lot. I bought the pocket cutlery from them and they fit well under the lid.

They come in an Original shape (maybe for you?) and Square (maybe for bf?). Microwaveable and dishwasher safe, just be careful with the interior lids. I always handwash the interior lids to be safe. Leakproof if you seal them up correctly.

I've had as much luck putting cut up lunch meat sandwiches in them as I have had with storing an onigiri lunch in them. Bento & co has some really cute sauce cups, separators, etc. if you need them, but Monbento sells things like that too that will match their boxes.

However, right now, directly from Monbento, you can get the square one with sauce cups and cutlery for only $27USD + shipping which is a good deal.

Yes it’s this one Zojirushi
Day 1 and I love it. Kept the food nice and warm! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. $4-5 for lunch vs. $12-15.

Try making your own lunchables. I found these at my local grocery and they are great for lunchables! I'll usually roll up 5 slices of lunch meat and cut 5 slices of cheese from the 8oz kraft cheese blocks (The size fits perfectly on cracker). I'll put the meat and cheese in one of the small compartments, and 10 club crackers in the other. Then you have the big compartment for fruit or carrot sticks or something healthy. It's a great way to limit what you're eating at work and force yourself to eat more healthy stuff. I've been doing this to my SO for several months and while he is usually a picky person that doesn't like fruit and veggies, if I put them in this type of set up he doesn't complain.

To answer your question:

I have a milk crate zip-tied to my rear rack. It holds my lunch, among other things. I have a water bottle cage bolted to my frame. It holds my drink. Most bikes have two mounting points on the frame for such cages, giving you the option of carrying a second drink.

To give you real advice:

I used to ride my motorcycle to work. In my saddlebags, I carried my lunch in a cheap IKEA tupperware, but wrapped in two or three rubber bands to keep it tightly shut for the ride. If you want something more dedicated, I would look into something like this. It's not watertight, though, so no soup. Even a cursory browse through Amazon for lunch bags yields a wealth of cheap, compact options.

Split up the steps when you have time. Take 5-20 mins to do all the prep work — chopping, marinating, etc., and when you have another window, start the cooking!

What helped me was buying a 25 pack of meal prep containers from Costco (looks like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5/). I had a small window of time the other day between feedings and was able to chop up a bunch of fruit and veggies and store them for salads, juicing, and smoothies. I also was able to marinate some meat and pop them into the freezer for use later. A lot of my time spent when preparing a meal is during the prepping period so having stuff chopped up or already marinated is a huge help.

We generally stick to quick-cooking food. Stir fries and grilled meats and veggies. I have an instant pot I like to use for stews, soups, and braised meats and this helps a lot as well.

But I also took a croissant into the shower the other day (and was done showering before I had finished my croissant) because sometimes there’s just no time.

Good luck, momma!

You have it exactly correct here.

The things I would point out about this (based on having a similar lunch jar from Zojirushi) are:

• While the bowls are claimed to be microwavable, they can be easily damaged in the microwave. They are just normal plastic.
  
• The construction in general isn't really all that great, at least the plastic parts. The spork is pretty low quality and the case for it is hardly worth keeping.
  
• Only the soup container is intended to be spill-proof, so you have to be careful with anything "wet" in the other containers.
  
• The containers are a bit on the small side, especially the soup container.
  
  But overall it works as advertised. I don't know if I'd expect it to be BIFL. I think it's probably most useful if you will use it with hot foods. For cold foods that you will warm up in a microwave, I think an insulated lunch box/bag with some of these and some decent-quality microwavable containers might be better.

I've got some amazing ideas for children, since I myself am only 15, haha.

Animal Finger Puppets

Panda Hat+Gloves combined

Panda Necklace and this is another similar one

(Phineas and Ferb) Perry water bottle

Penguin lunchbox (There's other animals as well, but no pandas) (I have the giraffe one and I use it all the time!)

Panda Bento Box!

(Phineas and Ferb) Perry hat

(Phineas and Ferb) Perry keychain lanyard!

Penguin pillowpet!

And for my prize... Ummm... This umbrella hat, duh. What else?

Thanks for the contest! Happy birthday to your niece!

FYI, especially for those I talked with about bento boxes yesterday.

Ironically, the Bento boxes I was most interested in are Amazon's lightning deal of the day! Only $8.99, regularly $14.99. They're nice boxes, so if anyone else was interested in getting some, snap them up! All colors qualify. I finally used up some Amazon credit I had and ordered one for me and one for the bf.

I literally bought something similar a few days ago. I obviously can't vouch for how much of a BIFL purchase it is, but they make it clear what should go in what container, such as soups, cold foods etc. and it also states that you shouldn't tilt the tiffin box either - so the instructions are pretty clear. So far I'm enjoying it. No spillage. My food stayed warm. No complaints.

I was unusually excited to pack my lunch this week.

Zojirushi Bento Box

Trust me. This will change your eating experience at work. They make great thermos type coffee mugs as well. The quality is great.

Here's a link to some of the bento boxes., hopefully that works. You can prep all the sides in advance then just make the entree portion the night before or morning of and save a ton of time.

If you go the mostly whole food route of veggies and fruit and sandwich, I'm personally not adverse to the baby soda cans or juice boxes since there's not a lot of other empty sugar. A thermos of water and ice would be nice in the summer. I loved the little barrels of fruit drink as a kid, I can't for the life of me remember what they're called. Water will be your cheapest option of course but the other stuff is nice as a treat.

I got them from amazon. Yes, they're reusable, and dishwasher safe.

They work really well, I do recommend them.

Freshware 15-Pack 3 Compartment Bento Lunch Boxes with Lids - Stackable, Reusable, Microwave, Dishwasher & Freezer Safe - Meal Prep, Portion Control, 21 Day Fix & Food Storage Containers (32oz)

I use these and they work perfectly, haven't had any issues what so ever I do hand wash them rather than toss them in the dishwasher I'm sure they'd be fine but better to be safe than sorry.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01D0JDZFO/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Many great ideas here. I have a suggestion for containment. I have this Japanese style Bento lunch container. All fits into one and will keep items warm or cold. Easy to carry in its own bag and comes with a spork. I did much research and this suited my needs. I love it.

Zojirushi SL-JAE14 Mr. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000246GSE/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_EcUrub05ZDQYS

Thanks! Honestly you can use any type of container. This is what I use. It has two tiers, and my "bento scraps" (foods that I weighed and already logged but I didn't use for decorating) go in the top tier. I have this one as well, but the capacity of it is too much for what I want to eat per meal. I've seen other people on here use that type of bento box though, and it looks good! See these examples: Bento 1; Bento 2

[I got these.] (https://www.amazon.com/Meal-Prep-Containers-Count-Black/dp/B00SWXL61E/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Isobag+meal+prep+containers&qid=1558536088&s=gateway&sr=8-3) I have their bag so I initially got an assortment and have really liked them. They've lasted several years, I just needed more. The plastic can handle the dishwasher, microwave, and the lids stay on nicely and don't leak. My personal favorite is the 28 oz size one. Seems to be the perfect size.

I'll warn you too. I was looking at these too and my coworker has them. Said his have melted in the dishwasher and the lid doesn't stay on all that tight.

Thanks! This is my first meal prep and it came out pretty good. Spent less than $10 all together for the chicken breasts, broccoli and sprouts and it made four meals all together. It's enough for me since I only work three 12 hour shifts.

If you're interested in the containers I have provided an Amazon link.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SLoGAb2312E38

5-6 meals is a whole lot. What I might do is pick a protein like chicken and vary the spices to make different kinds of chicken. Like maybe greek chicken then chicken fajitas, then chicken marinated in hot wing sauce, chicken in a mustard marinade. That to me might be easier then mixing up proteins. Thats me however. You might also try cooking a few nights a week different dishes and make a lot then freeze left overs. I've done that before, that gives me some variety for dinner and lunch without doing all the cooking in one day. Its failed me before though because I'll get home and be like nah I don't feel like cooking then eating all my lunch leftovers for dinner. As for the veggies, they make different frozen mixes so that would be easy to mix up. Green beans, or broccoli and cauliflower, or just broccoli, squash and zucchini. Me personally I don't add extra carbs like rice unless it goes with meal because honestly I don't like rice that much. l find I can hit my carb content with fruits and vegetables alone and maybe some oatmeal. Unless rice goes with the dish then I'll eat it. But it would be easy enough to cook a bunch of rice and divvy it up. You might also try a crock pot to make one type of meal in it while you make others on the stove. I think your over reaching with 5-6, I'd try 3. If you alternate them its really not bad.

As for how long they last frozen, a long time. In the fridge, a few days. Containers, take your pick, some people like these: https://www.amazon.com/Freshware-15-Pack-Compartment-Bento-Lunch/dp/B01IIINCRS/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1482244086&sr=1-7&keywords=meal+prep+containers

my brother uses the rubbermaid containers with the heavy duty plastic, I like to use pyrex rectangle glass ones because I think they are easier to clean but thats me and Pyrex is way more expensive.

I think you need this shirt!

EDIT: MORE STUFF These dice are pretty rad

Do you DM?

Mind Flayers?

Everyone needs a pound of Dice

Drizzit

Ravenloft



Edit: I was so excited to show you the shirt I forgot to link this super cute bento box on my default list!

As far as I know its not sold in Ottawa, but I bought a Zojirushi Mr. Bento which has been absolutely amazing. I know it isn't cheap, but it has been a real game changer for lunch. I heat stuff up in the morning and come 2-3pm its still hot. I rock a Zojirushi coffee mug to and I need to make my coffee 4-5 hours previous before I can really slurp it back. I can't say enough good things about their products.

I realize you said they don't shop online much and if this stuff is sold in Ottawa then I would definitely recommend it. That said, I would still throw it out there to them as an idea because really, their products are life changing.

Yep, I love hummus. :) The bento box I ordered from amazon. I really liked that it included chopsticks with their own holder integrated into the lid.

I recommend this all the time: https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483758166&sr=8-1&keywords=mr+bento

Keeps hot things hot or cold things cold, has 4 separate containers inside so you can have a main and a few sides and they won't all run together. It's pricey, for a glorified lunch box, but I love mine and it's been totally worth it for me.

If your just doing sandwiches then I'd head over to a Target/KMart/Walmart store and pick up a few containers that will fit your sandwich, like this example. Mostly because sandwiches don't really stand up well to being prepped multiple days in advance. So you're really just looking for something to ensure it doesn't get smushed.

If you're looking for a step up, you might try something like this or a compartment style like this.

If you really get into it, I'd maybe go buy some higher quality Tupperware designed for freezer->fridge->microwave or even freezer->microwave, that's all dishwasher safe.

Yep! Microwave all the way.

I get mine from Amazon -- in addition to being microwave-safe, they are also dishwasher safe, very durable, and delightfully stackable :)

I've been really happy with these meal prep containers .
They microwave well. They do find in the dishwasher. They're big enough to get a serious amount of food in, but they still stack well. Love em.

Perhaps look at r/Bento. Traditionally eaten cold and there's lots of ideas there.

As for salads, I've been eating chickpeas lately as I find they're pretty filling.

Perhaps also invest in stainless steel containers to keep hot food warm for a bit. A good thermos that's vacuum insulated should also allow you to have warm soup if it was hot in the morning.

EDIT: something like this maybe:https://smile.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1480976857&sr=8-17&keywords=stainless+steel+bento

A couple things I do/make:

• I cut all my strawberries for the week and weigh them out and pack them away in my meal prep containers. (5 oz of strawberries, one gala apple (~170-190 grams) and 33 gram of peanut butter (or 2 tbsp). I cut my apple the morning of because of them browning over time) ~325 calories for breakfast/morning snack.
  
• Make a greek yogurt tuna recipe that lasts about three lunches ( I double the recipe). I pack them in the same meal prep containers along with my Melba Toast Rounds and three pickles. ~300 calories for lunch.
  
• If I want chicken for lunches, I make a fajita dish. Super easy, I like to make more volume for this recipe, so I use three-four chicken breast cut into fajita sized slices seasoned any way you like your fajitas to taste and 4 bell peppers (any color you like, i use this) and one onion. I usually have my bf fire up the grill for the best taste. Or just pan fry them (which takes a lot longer to get that crispy look). ~200 give or take the quantity for lunch.

So this isn't cheap at all, but it's probably worth the money if it helps with portion control: Mr. Bento. I have the Ms. Bento which is their smallest size and my boyfriend has the classic bento box, which is larger than the Mr. Bento. He probably should have bought the Mr. Bento because the classic is a little bit too big unless you pack a lot of leafy greens and other light calorie foods that aren't energy dense. We've had them for about a month and have been very happy!

A Zojirushi sounds like it might be a good fit. I have this system and I am very happy with it and it's quality. The Ms. Bento is the smaller version of the zojirushi.

I bought one set of these at the beginning of the school year (Aug 2016) and have used them daily for all three lunches - my sons, my bfs, and my own. They have only began to show signs of wear, i think they really gave me a great value for the price. I sometimes pack juicier things like pineapple chunks, yogurt, or last nights dinner and there hasn't been any intermingling between the compartments. I absolutely will be buying another set before next school year. They fit in all 4 different sizes of lunch boxes I have purchased.

I don't know if you've done this already, but if you search for large bento boxes [like this](MB Square black the Square Bento Box https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GRZINNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rsklybCFRW3NB), that might be more what you're looking for..?

Edit: I've just seen that the listing doesn't show the inside. Very strange. Here.

Also see r/bento for the boxes they use.

Edit again (sorry): Saw this one being used on r/bento. I think that one is pretty good, much better than the one I found.

Amazon Enther Meal Prep Containers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pP03BbBDYWX0A

I love them, they’re only one chamber but all my food just gets mixed together anyway. I think the same company makes one with more chambers. They’ve been super good for over a year now, packed everyday and put through the dishwasher. No cracks yet!

Looks like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO/

They're amazing and I love them

I'm a huuuuge fan of bento canisters like this and this. If you refrigerate containers overnight (or prime them with hot water before adding hot foods), they'll stay good for hours. Plus it's kind of comforting to have all your food sectioned out. :)

One of the best things I've done is meal prep on the weekends. Pre-portion stuff in microwavable containers and freeze them.

A common meal prep I do is throw a bunch of seasoned chicken thighs in the oven, start something in the crock pot like chili or taco meat with black beans for work lunches, and then go goof off or do chores. Later I'll microwave a bunch of frozen veggies and some frozen sweet potato mash to add as side dishes with the chicken. Portion it all out in the containers listed above and bam! Dinner.

This!

It's nice and small but it can hold so much. And I love to go all out for my lunch since I don't eat much dinner. Add to the fact I hate when I spill soup in my backpack this is the best thing since magic for me.

Breakfast: yogurt + granola + fruit. Or I'll make a breakfast casserole and portion that out for the week.

Lunch: animal protein + vegetable (usually salmon and spinach, steak and broccoli, or chicken and green beans), some type of curry + rice, or a 1/2 sandwich and vegetables. I like to make different chilis, stews, or chicken fajitas in the crock pot and eat that throughout the week as well.

I usually do fruit, vegetables or crackers + hummus, or chocolate for a snack.

I also make bentos when I'm craving Japanese or local Hawaii food. I have this container which is actually the best insulated lunch container I have ever owned. If I pack hot food, the temperature will remain in the safe zone for hours so I don't have to be awkward in the work kitchen to heat up the food. It also comes with a travel bag and spork.

http://www.amazon.ca/Bentgo-Stackable-Solution-Sleek-Containers-Silverware/dp/B00B78WO3U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405734871&sr=8-4&keywords=bento+lunch

+

http://www.amazon.ca/Thermos-SK3000MBTRI4-Stainless-King-Midnight/dp/B0017IFSIS/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_c

Seems to work the best for me. I mix and match depending on what I have to pack, and I can really make anything without too much trouble. I love that they have cutlery built in. Most of the time I use the thermos for yogurt or soup and it's still hot or cold when I need it. I also have a larger food jar from the same brand, and I use it when I'm working a longer shift or When I want to pack chilli or pasta as my main course. I really can't recommend the thermos's enough. They never leak.

I’d recommend a bento box that you can toss in a backpack. I used to carry a lunch box before but found it too bulky and didn’t want to carry more stuff around. If you’re okay with paying a premium, I’d recommend this one I’m currently using. It’s expensive but worth every penny IMO. There’s also cheaper options on Amazon just make sure they’re leak proof.

I recently ordered these bento boxes for the bf and I to bring lunch to work. I've been extra motivated to make awesome lunches, and we've saved so much money already in the past two weeks.

Here is a nice Guitar and lady for you. :3

I lovee bento! So a Geisha Bento Set or a Panda Bento Box would be soooo amazing. :)

I use these.

[20 Pack] 3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers BPA Free Portion Control Bento Boxes (39 Oz.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D0JDZFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oBtAybV5EVFHA

I have two different kinds by the same manufacturer. The other one I purchased has two compartments instead of three. When I received them one of the 20 boxes was broken beyond use, and Amazon was super quick in refunding me like 15% of my purchase (was around 3 dollars if I remember right, I did buy them on sale on cyber monday). They have held up very well for me and there is more than enough boxes (I am prepping for two). Had them over a month now and use them everyday. They do just fine in the microwave and have had no breakage past the shipping damage I had mentioned. Bonus: they are on sale right now!

Also, I do not own a dishwasher so I hand wash everything. I can't comment on how they hold up against a dishwasher.

Edit: typo and wanted to add that I do not ever microwave the lids, just the actual containers.

There are many good suggestions here. My question is, "What does she currently eat?". I'd send her to school with items she currently eats everyday. I send my boys to preschool with dinner leftovers all the time. If they don't have a microwave, look into insulated containers. My kids love milk, so we found vacuum insulated funtainers for them, milk is nearly the same temp 10 hours later. $15 is a bunch of money for one, so I found some brand new ones on eBay for $7 each. They were Hannah Montana funtainers that became plain funtainers with some 120 grit sandpaper. If you introduce new foods I'd do that at home first before the surprise at preschool.

[10 Pack]3 Compartment Meal Prep Food Storage Containers with Lids/BPA Free Bento Lunch Boxes/Divided Portion Control Container Plates-Microwave, Dishwasher Safe, Free Cutlery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140ZN2EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jlJOzb9DRN29B

I just ordered these off Amazon today. Not sure how well they work yet, but I'll check back this week to let you know! 😁

Look for a Zojirushi on Amazon. They are good quality. I'm a big guy, and I do fine with one. They are great.

I have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1474668094&sr=1-1&keywords=zojirushi

Je suis à Québec (coin de Limoilou) et keto m'a totalement transformé. L'an dernier, durant exactement un an, j'ai perdu 70 livres (en partant de 230). Mon objectif cette année est de ne pas peser plus qu'au début de l'année. Je suis à -5 livres...

Je serais possiblement partant pour une commande. Il y a des produits que j'aimerais essayer. Tu dois savoir qu'il faut être prudent avec les produits qui simulent ce que tu ne souhaites plus trop manger...À long terme, ce n'est peut être pas une solution. Quand même, on n'est pas en religion. On fait comme on veut! :-)

On peut aussi se donner des trucs pour les lunchs...J'ai pas trop de misères à varier et j'utilise ceci, parce qu'on ne se fait pas de sandwichs, en temps normal! :-) http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE . Ça fait une belle job!

Si on sent qu'on est mutuellement fiables!, je veux bien prendre une partie de la commande. :-)

Haha, Mr. Bento is the one I thought of immediately. I have this one: www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE

Got it on sale for $35 about 3 years back, still holdin' up. :) Just a vote of confidence for it.

Freshware Meal Prep Containers [15 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Containers, Lunch Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Bento Box, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe, Portion Control, 21 day fix (32 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

And

Evolutionize Healthy Meal Prep Containers - Certified BPA-free - Reusable, Washable, Microwavable Food Containers/Bento Box with Lids (7 Pack, Single Compartment, 28 Ounce) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0128YT76S?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Freshware Meal Prep Containers [21 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe, Portion Control, 21 day fix (24 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TRZ91C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_R-jZBbC8C546Q

I had just bought what i believe to be the exact same ones :)

The bottom one has an insulted, liquid proof.
Next highest is insulated, not liquid proof,
Then there is I think 2 more for the regular Mr. Bento, just simple tupperware.

Everything has lids. It's pretty awesome.

ETA: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Bento-Stainless-Steel-Lunch/dp/B000246GSE
(I realise it's not exactly frugal, but it is awesome, and explains in detail what is there)

On amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIINCRS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_pLM5XliwJDXs9
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIINCRS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_KWRhb3LWbEsOw

I really like them! Works great in dishwasher and microwave!

I got these on Amazon. They're sturdy and a great deal.

[20 Pack] 3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers BPA Free Portion Control Bento Boxes (39 Oz.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D0JDZFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_lZCgn1aG5Z4G5

I have found these 2 products awesome for food prepping. They are reusable and dishwasher safe, though they last longer if you handwash.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M9Z4SXY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0JDZFO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a Mr. Bento which I don't see much of in this subreddit but it works for me. :) I'm totally lazy when it comes to making my lunch look pretty so I kinda just throw stuff in the bento.

This is my flickr album of some of my bento lunches. I added description of the food below the individual pictures. I haven't added any pictures lately because I've been a little busy.

One thing that helped me out for healthy snacks to put in the Bento was paying for Graze. It's a small box of snacks I would get in the mail at 5 bucks a pop once a week. I'm not sure if they increased the price though because I stopped the service when I planned to travel for a few months earlier in the year. This is a picture of one of my Graze boxes I received in the mail.

I use these for meal prep and am perfectly happy with them. Never had any problem with them, don't crack, dishwasher safe, they stack nicely. They're NOT spill proof, IE if your food is real liquidy, just don't be an idiot. Pastas etc, no problem.

How long will frozen food last? Depends on the food.

Not sure if this is the perfect thread but here it goes anyway. I'm looking for some help/advice. I bought these storage containers and they're dishwasher safe. Does anyone know if they can be put on the bottom rack? I've only washed them in the top rack but it would be so much nicer if I could put them on both

I know it’s expensive but I got one of these when I used to more construction field work. Been using it for a few years now. It’ll keep everything nice and hot and gets ya a good variety.

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE

Got these from Amazon a while back. Work well so far. They've been fine in the microwave, and clean up easy. Planning on buying another set.

Yes. The two layers stack on top of each other. There is like a plastic lid for the top layer than a bigger cover that has a panda face on it.

Here is the Amazon link: Kotobuki 280-129 2-Tiered Bento Box, Panda Face https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00200L840/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FRKKBbW4SHGDQ

Ive Never been gifted D: But that k ^_^
Peelyoffy-an object that is losing flesh,paint,bark,ECT
I would really like This super awesome panda bento box but anything would be cool!

Maybe consider a set of these?

I notice I tend to eat better when I've already made 5-10 healthy meals in advance, ready for nuking. It's also a time saver. Home cooking in bulk is economical and expeditious.

I recently bought these from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apis_1505019971853

They seal amazingly well. I put water in one and tried to get it to leak out but it stayed inside the container. I will be using them this week for the first time. They are taller when filled than my Walmart ones so I can't stack as many in the fridge but they seem like better boxes. It was supposed to be 20 boxes but there were only 19 in my shipment.

These meal prep containers are excellent for packing lunches. I use them to separate the parts of sandwiches or hamburgers I pack for lunch so that the bread doesn’t get soggy and the veggies stay fresh. You can also make your own protein packs with them by packing hard boiled eggs, hummus and veggies, cheese meat and crackers, etc. You can also save money and room on ice packs by freezing bottles of water or Gatorade and using them to keep your food cold and have a cold drink at lunch time.

It's this one and it's amazing!! :)

I saw them on amazon, and i think they're the same ones. I always wondered how durable they were. I was thinking about buying them if they were, awesome to find them here.

OP, are they good?

You can buy meal prep containers on Amazon that work perfect for meal prepping.

Freshware 15-Pack 3 Compartment Bento Lunch Boxes with Lids - Stackable, Reusable, Microwave, Dishwasher & Freezer Safe - Meal Prep, Portion Control, 21 Day Fix & Food Storage Containers (32oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LgmSCbC8QX9AB

Good quality Bento Box very nice for people who like to eat healthy when they travel - or just for work lunches.

What are you looking for / what are you picky about with regards to robustness? Size? Aesthetics? Since this is your first box, you should probably come into this knowing that Bento boxes are generally pretty small compared to most lunch boxes made/sold in the U.S., so that will be an adjustment if that's what you're used to.

​

With that in mind, I started with this one; it's ~870 ml, so it's a touch larger than most, the lid locks into place so you don't have to worry about spills in transit so much, and mine stood up quite well to microwaving/diswashers. The removable compartments/divider were a much less finicky way to get a hang of dish arrangement, too. Should be a solid way to go for a first box.

On Amazon! Mines are these:

Freshware Meal Prep Containers [21 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe, Portion Control, 21 day fix (24 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TRZ91C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_paV6BbV1WCPZ2

Yes. Usually for five days.

I bought a set of 10 3-partition meal prep containers. Like these: https://www.amazon.in/Freshware-Compartment-BPA-free-Food-Containers/dp/B01GH5KQLO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539288078&sr=8-2&keywords=meal+prep+containers+3+compartment

Usually prep in the form of carbs-protein-fats/veggies. So far have made, rice-rajma-brocolli, noodles-chicken-brocolli, chicken wraps, rice-chicken-salad and so on.

Also helps to have jeera rice instead of plain boiled rice. Adds to the taste.

Get yourself a cooler like /u/ScarlettsLetters says or a lunch box with the ice packs and take sandwiches or food you can eat cold/don't mind cold.

If you want hot food I'd say invest in a bento that can store hot foods. I use this not the biggest one available so if you are a hungry person or eat big portion look for a bigger one. I can supply better pictures of the container sizes for this one if you want. I also found a nice food thermos at walmart for the winter months were I make oatmeal in the morning or I just put oats in there and when I get access to hot water I make it for a later snack/meal.

Otherwise you are kinda stuck just making sandwiches in the morning and tossing in some chips. You don't have to be making Rubens or masterwhiches everyday but it sure beats fast food in terms of nutrition. Buy bulk chips from costco/sams club/BJ and toss some in a ziploc bag or a container. Or pasta. fills you up and its just noodles and w.e sauce / meats/veggies you want. Just give yourself maybe 10-20min in the morning to make food.

These where the greatest investment and a digital scale but you don't need as scale just go by the Palm and Hand size portion chart but I'm counting micros so I use a scale to narrow down.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYGAHR8/

​

Edit: scale https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3J9EGO

I got these ones from Amazon

I bought them over a year ago and I’ve thrown away five of them due to cracks in the bottom, which I feel is pretty good for the price. I wash them on the top rack of the dishwasher, and use them in the microwave.

Those LOOK like the ones I have! I bought theeese

I want to see how yours hold up op! Mine are pretty decent!

I haven't used this product personally, but would definitely recommend looking into it: Zojirushi Bento Lunch Box set


http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417981041&sr=1-1&keywords=zojirushi+bento

I got these several months back and they're great. Definitely more microwave proof than my Tupperware, which is mostly microwave proof until it suddenly isn't.

That's great advice. I will definitely get the little one. Just to confirm, is the one..?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040MH642/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qwETybPEZJXFT

A friend has this Mr. Bento and regularly takes soups in it. You can use flexible dividers like paper or silicone cupcake liners.

These are myths go to. They also make a container with two divided areas. I love them. They also hold up really well and are not flimsy at all.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CYXUGOA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It depends on where you live, what your diet is based on and the cost of living. For 6 people, i'm spending about 600 a month on food. Look at the subreddits r/mealprepsunday and the keto subreddits for a walkthrough and meals. For meal prep, get some containers like these or these. I use them and can vouch for them. Also get a scale. Preferably electronic that has a range from 1-5000 grams. That way you can weigh your ingredients and know the weight of your servings. Things like protein and fat are filling, which is useful if you aren't using carbs for filler. Now you can do all that and still be losing money. You need to know where it's going and what you're buying, so look at your last 3 months or so of bank statements and any receipts. Where are you spending your money at, and can it be exchanged with something without losing quality of life? Sit down and look up meals with your family and build a list for the month. Double or Triple the normal amount of food you'd make, refrigerate what you'll go through in a week and freeze the rest. Pulling out what you need a day or two before you need it

I got these containers from Amazon. They stack up nicely and are supposedly dishwasher and microwave safe; I'll see how they hold up long term.

Amazon! Recently bought these and they work great! Can prep 3 meals a day for the entire work week.

Right on Amazon! Such a great buy!

Pakkon 3 Compartment Bento Box with Airtight Lid, 10 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NEHIWK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VKUAyb25TX3TP

I have a similar job and one thing that really expanded my lunch options was ones of these https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Classic-Bento-Vacuum-Lunch/dp/B0016S11VC

Keeps food hot for hours and is perfect for things like rice bowls and pasta

Freshware Meal Prep Containers [15 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Containers, Lunch Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Bento Box, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe, Portion Control, 21 day fix (32 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GH5KQLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vUKJAbKVAV4JX

Not OP, but I believe those are the same containers I use. You can get them here, they're fantastic.

OP confirmed!

Amazon here

I really like them, but I did get them previously and had to return them because they were damaged. They feel pretty heavy duty and are dishwasher safe.

I use these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GH5KQLO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've found they work pretty good so far (:

I picked up these and they work pretty good.

3 Compartment
https://smile.amazon.com/Freshware-Containers-Compartment-Stackable-Dishwasher/dp/B01GH5KQLO/

2 Compartment:
https://smile.amazon.com/Freshware-Containers-Compartment-Stackable-Dishwasher/dp/B01IIINCRS/

http://www.amazon.com/ChefLand-3-Compartment-Microwave-Container-Divided/dp/B00PY032QK


Pretty easy to find what you're looking for if you just search this sub man.

I actually ordered it off Amazon, it really does work great. Skater Brand apparently. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OC78JO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_apCHxb4XDJKFP

This is the one that I'm planning to get for him to upgrade from the tupperware containers I currently use... any idea if that would keep stuff warm? Or are we talking some kind of specialty Bento box? I haven't purchased one yet so recommendations are welcome!

These 3-compartment containers are pretty popular around here

Check out these things. They work quite well at keeping food hot/warm. Takes an extra 10 min in the morning to warm everything up, but last for awhile and you can portion things out for easy calorie count.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000246GSE/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00200L840/ref=aw_ls_2_6?colid=1HN87M92LGAR7&coliid=I1E15NYRFZJUUA

Probably that, it's so cute, but also quite silly. :)

Office lunch options:

Jerky and kale chips

Avocado and canned tuna (halve avocado and remove seed at work; heap tuna in the hollows and eat it out of the avocado skins with a fork)

Leftover diced meat mixed with guacamole (needs a tightly sealed container and an insulated sammich bag with an ice pack... or an office fridge)

Sammich ingredients with a couple of big romaine or chard leaves to make a wrap

High-quality lunch meat and hard-boiled eggs

Deviled eggs stuffed with guac (yes, okay, I love avocados damnit)

Chilled soup like gazpacho or carrot soup (or hot soup if you have a microwave or a Mr. Bento)

That's off the top of my head, and mostly limited to keto-friendly stuff. If you're not carbo-phobic, there are an even wider array of options.

Here they are! They are holding up great, other than when the boyfriend throws them around or steps on them in the car. I've never had a problem: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GH5KQLO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Containers

They normally pop up on the deal sites for cheaper at least once a month. I just liked the colors :)

http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-ECOlunchbox-Three--Lunchbox/dp/B0040MH642/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407470010&sr=8-2&keywords=steel+bento+box

I bought this and it is rock solid. Love it.

I'm a fan of bento (sorta) type lunchboxes and I have been using a zojirushi for a few months and really enjoy the compartments. There's different sizes so I'm just linking you to the biggest size: https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B000246GSE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅZÕÑ&qid=1483552879&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mr+bento&dpPl=1&dpID=41p5bbuAleL&ref=plSrch

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01D0JDZFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_mA4njl7G68af1

---

Never forget to smile again | ^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Wine bottle glass

Stainless Steel lunchbox

Water infuser

Food scale

Filtered water bottle. I have this and love it!

Thanks for the contest!!

Wow. I just ordered this. Until today I was ignorant that these even existed. Glad I checked out this thread. Thanks for posting that.

Here are some on Amazon I like I suggest hand washing but haven’t run into issues microwaving them. And they actually keep the foods divided. I don’t like my foods mixing so that’s a big plus for me

I use this and it is so amazing. I literally use it every day I have to work. It has three compartments. One is for soup (or a wet/saucy food), the largest is for whatever else you want to keep hot, and then there is one for warm/room temperature items. It’s a great lunch container system!

I use these, though I have the 2 compartment ones. They don't leak (Though liquid can move between compartments), and stand up to repeated microwaving and dish washing really well. I've had the current set for a bit over a year.

ChefLand 3-Compartment Microwave Safe Food Container with Lid/Divided Plate/Bento Box/Lunch Tray with Cover, Black, 10-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PY032QK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gZ.yzb4ENK5F0

Reusable tote bags and veggie bags for the farmers market.

I've found some really great recipes in this cookbook, if he cooks: http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Vegan-Bean-Book/dp/1592335497

For coffee, if he doesn't already have any of these: a French press, a pour-over (http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDC-02W-Ceramic-Coffee-Dripper/dp/B000P4D5HG), or an insulated coffee mug. I think stumptown coffee does a coffee club subscription thing.

Random, but a bento lunch jar could be cool if he has to take lunch to work. Reduces packaging, plastic sandwich bag use: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE

The best strategy is to make a quick dinner and make 2-3 extra portions. Store your leftovers in some tupperware, and put one of the servings into a lunch jar (http://amzn.to/1aiZsJ4). Leave it in your fridge to grab on the way out the door in the morning.

Ta da! $2-3 lunch.

The instructions say it isn't dishwasher safe. I've washed it on the top rack without issue. The vacuum jar and the one insulated lid shouldn't go in the dishwasher, though.

Pretty sure it's this one: https://www.amazon.com/ECOlunchbox-Three-Stainless-Steel-Container/dp/B0040MH642/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1491405597&sr=8-14&keywords=Tiffin

Another option is a well insulated lunchbox, something like this. This will keep your food warm until lunchtime.

I'm pretty sure they are these, reusable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015NEHIWK/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1468418095&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=meal+prep&dpPl=1&dpID=51qPa7cspNL&ref=plSrch

Here it is! I love it.

This is my Bento box.

http://www.amazon.com/Monbento-Original-Black-Bento-Box/dp/B00DC29MRU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I don't use it as often as I'd like, but it's real nice.

Available on amazon.ca but not at a reasonable price.

[20 Pack] 3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers BPA Free & FDA Certified Food Grade 3 Compartment Food Containers Portion Control & Stackable Bento Box Lunch Box Food Storage 3 Compartment https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01D0JDZFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yS.IzbXVTGA8G

"Bento Boxes"

I got these when I used to get quick meals at a place called My Fit Foods, the meals came in these containers and I saved them. I have had the lot for 8+ years now and still use them over and over with no warping. I'm sure they come in all kinds of sizes I use mine for individual meals.

I believe the link was to those boxes, but I ended up getting these, looking at the review pictures they do not ahve a logo on the lid :)

Not OP, but they look a lot like the ones I bought. Here is the link on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0140ZN2EQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are all kinds of things out there. I have something similar to these on Amazon but my wife and I picked them up from Costco for pretty cheap. They are reusable and we have washed them in dishwasher quite a bit.

Link



Edit: these aren't exactly the same, but they're pretty darn close and rated highly

Not op but that looks like the Skater bento box from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Skater-Japanese-Traditional-Compartmental-Chopsticks/dp/B001OC78JO

Looks like this one, which I have and really like.

I have, and love, this one: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE

I'm not OP, but I bought mine here. They are dishwasher and microwave safe!

mr.bento is great.

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/179-4045415-9264944?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

If you like these, you might want to get a Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar. I got one a while back. They're cool, and they come with a spork.

I really like this box, it's lasted us three years so far and nothing has broken on it. This is an ECOlunchbox, I got it from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040MH642/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nvZtybC1YQGXS

I have a few different lunch boxes depending on what I'm going to eat that day. I really like the Zojirushi Mr. Bento because it has multiple smaller containers that can hold different things including one for soup. Other times if I am only bringing something liquidy I will use a Stanley Adventure Food Jar. If I am just bringing a sandwich I will use a soft insulated lunch box with some tupperware-style containers inside.

Vacuum flask: http://shopstanley-pmi.com/detail/TCL+10-01254-001

There are bento boxes/flasks that can keep food warm or cold: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14-Bento-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000246GSE/

I doubt it would last for life but with care it should last a very long time.

Amazon, Enther Meal Prep Containers [20 Pack] Single 1 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Reusable Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe,Portion Control (28 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_klQEDb00JRXNT

Amazon has those.

Enther Meal Prep Containers [20 Pack] Single 1 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Reusable Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe,Portion Control (28 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742M47V5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vkFBCbMYGQMEK

Ok so the black 3 section container is from Amazon, you can get a set of like 15 for around $15 and it's been lifechanging!

We use this set and are really happy with them.

My wife is a subscriber to happyherbivore.com meal plans/groceries list and does lunch cooking on sunday (she is the bomb). I drive to work on mondays with 5 lunches and snacks and stuff them in the fridge. I swear it must way 45 pounds with the pyrex containers. I eat cereal or oatmeal for breakfast at my desk, a healthy carb filled lunch, a snack at my desk in the afternoon, and then ride home and have dinner. I have lost 15 pounds this season and get to eat 4 times more than anyone else in my office. This may not be the most helpful for you OP, so let me suggest a little jem from my amazon wishlist that I haven't tried yet, the bento box

I haven’t used these but have looked at them many times they got good reviews it seems

EasyLunchboxes 3-Compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers, Set of 4, Classic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S129AQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BtplDbDTJTJFC

We have these ones which are convenient 3-compartment meal prep containers, and also something similar to this Snapware set that we got on sale from Costco a while back. Lots of different sizes and shapes for different kinds of foods! They also have a glass instead of plastic version. Both options are microwave safe!

I use a Mr Bento daily for almost 3 years now. Great quality, reusable and durable plastic containers.

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Classic-Bento-Vacuum-Lunch/dp/B0016S11VC/ref=pd_sim_79_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41OgwEVY3jL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR246%2C320_&psc=1&refRID=1DXW4KAXEVN2PS0EDCG8

I use this for lunch everyday. Keeps my food hot. It's been a lifesaver for me.

I love my Zojirushi Mr. Bento

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/

The outer container is a vacuum bottle so if you fill it with boiling water and let it sit for 5 mins, then dump out the water and put in your containers of hot food, they will stay hot well past lunch time.