Picnic lunches get all the attention—charming wicker baskets, crisp gingham, cheese knives—while a packed lunch box intended for indoor consumption has long suffered neglect; it’s accoutrements include unremarkable brown paper bags, cloudy plasticware, and a paper towel to pat your lips when the sad affair comes to a close. And when considering the lack of outdoor ambiance, it becomes doubly dreary!
For a better to-go lunch, opt for portable wares no less design-friendly than their at-home counterparts. You didn’t use a plastic spoon at breakfast, why make the downgrade come lunchtime? Of course what you’re gaining in pleasure, you’re losing in convenience—what could be easier than tossing that brown bag in the trash and carrying on with your day? It will certainly take a smidge more effort, but a little goes a long way.
To help give your sad sack lunch an indoor picnic flair, swap out your paper napkins for ones of cloth. They seem luxurious but are as user-friendly as your hand towels—just throw them in the laundry!—and we adore these ones by Joanna Buchanan. For flatware, consider a packable set or the ultimate mobile eating utensil, the chopstick. Not just for sushi, chopsticks are compatible with salads, noodles, veggies, and more and are delightfully easy to clean. For multi-course lunches, there's the tiffin box, which conveniently stores food items at their respective temperatures in a sleek aluminum tower. There's also bento boxes and bowls made in Japan by Takenaka, which come in a range of glossy, cheerful colors. And not only will a speckled, sealable enamel bowl give your salad an alfresco feel, it will also help cut down on your use of plastic. Whether you’re at work or school, a few more of our favorite products below:
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