The prepared box lunches sold at specialty markets, butcher shops and delis are a real treasure. All you have to do is grab one, head to the nearest park or corner office and enjoy. Boxed lunches are a great alternative to a sandwich and chips or a salad. They’re more thoughtful than takeout, healthier than most restaurant options and they’re usually a whole lot less expensive than ordering in.
Here are our best fresh prepared box lunches.
Our Editor’s Best Fresh Prepared Box Lunches Reviews
- A COMPLETE MEAL IN ONE BOX + PORTION CONTROL: This 15-Pack set of Bento Boxes features 3 different compartments so you can freeze or take with you a complete meal just in one container. Use them for your main course, salad and dessert and enjoy your meal everywhere, hassle free. Each meal prep container can store a total of 32oz (16-8-8 oz) which are the perfectly controlled portions to stay full, yet fit and healthy
- HEALTHY MEAL EVERYWHERE: Featuring food storage containers with portion control to help keep your meal prep plan and lose weight. These plastic containers can also be used as school lunch box or last night’s dinner
- DURABLE DESIGN: Most meal prep containers don’t last for a long time. They crack after a few uses and melt in the microwave. Not Freshware, our heavy duty lunch containers are built to be more strong and reusable than our competitors
- MICROWAVE, DISHWASHER AND FREEZER SAFE: Made of the highest quality food safe materials, these bento box can withstand temperatures from -40C to +120C (-40F to 250F) - so enjoy without worry about harmful chemicals leaking into your food
- Quick and Convenient Meal Prep: Perfectly portioned to feed the appetite of both older children and adults, prepare multiple meals in advance and safely store them in the fridge until you’re ready to transport one meal to school or work in the leak-proof lunch box included with the set
- Leak-Proof Compartment Tray: Entrees, sides, and snacks stay separated on-the-go without the inconvenience of multiple lunch bags or containers
- Customizable Compartments: Keep the 3-compartment structure as-is to pack larger main courses or add the optional divider to create 4 compartments. Note: The divider will not create a leak-proof division between foods with juices or other liquids.
- Purchase With a Purpose: Bentgo continues to be a proud supporter of Feed the Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives hope and resources for hungry children and families. Since 2017, Bentgo has donated more than $300,000 to help put an end to hunger.
- What You Get: Bentgo Fresh leak-proof lunch box, 3 compartment trays with removable divider, 2 meal tray covers, user manual, industry-leading 2 Year Warranty, and caring customer support
- 5 Pack Ice Packs: Reusable and versatile cooler packs. Each ice pack measures 7.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches. Colder than ice at 18° F (-8° C) to keep your drinks and food crisp cold with these long-lasting ice packs for coolers!
- Long-lasting: The powerful cooling gel mixture-filled ice pack chill faster retains coldness much longer than ice. And you only need to add the water once & say goodbye to hauling bags of ice & without face the totally-not-cool melted messes.
- Reusable & Safe: These long-lasting, thin, and durable freezer packs are made with 100 % BPA-FREE, non-toxic materials. Easy to clean and reusable, great replacement for traditional ice cubes.
- Easy to Use: Our ice packs will turn into a solid block when frozen. Before using, add water once using the funnel, shake, screw cap on, & freeze until ready to use. Filling the ice-cold pack is easy freezy, perfect chillers for everyday use.
- Suitable for Many Occasions:Great for camping, picnics, boating, fishing, or any need to keep cold cooler. After a day of fun, return our ice packs to your freezer and they'll be ready for the next outing!
- Itoh, Makiko (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 128 Pages - 12/09/2011 (Publication Date) - Kodansha International (Publisher)
- Maki Ogawa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 07/01/2010 (Publication Date) - Quirk Books (Publisher)
- Fuentes, Laura (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 07/15/2014 (Publication Date) - Fair Winds (Publisher)
- KEEPS FOOD FRESH: Igluu Meal Prep containers are known for their premium quality; Airtight lids seal tightly to keep food fresh for longer; Great for the office, university, gym, home, travel, or picnics; Our containers are made with high-quality plastic, so they are thicker, stronger, and more durable than cheaper competitor brands
- RE-SEALABLE LUNCH / LEFTOVERS CONTAINERS: Our single-compartment container works best for storing leftovers from last night’s dinner or takeout; Store your meal in the fridge or freezer and enjoy it as a microwave meal for lunch the next day
- MEAL PREP & PORTION CONTROL: 20-pack of stackable containers, ideal for Keto or other portion-controlled diets, food prep, salads, pastas, and healthy snacks; Each container is perfectly proportioned to help you stick to a balanced diet plan; Each container can store 28oz of food
- MICROWAVE, FREEZER & DISHWASHER SAFE: Made from premium plastic and BPA-free, these containers can withstand high and low temperatures, so they can be heated or cooled; Reusable and safe for use in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher; Our raised lids mean extra storage capacity, so your food is not compressed
- 20 STACKABLE SPACE-SAVING TUBS: Containers nest inside each other to save space when stored away in the cupboard
- LEAK-PROOF DESIGN - Caperci stackable lunch box comes with a 50ml dip container and can hold 5.5 Cups of food. Each compartment of the bottom tray is sealed with perfect silicone to ensure leak-proof
- BALANCED DIET - The kids lunch box is divided into 6 compartments. The main compartment can hold a main dish or a full sandwich, while the other small compartments are suitable for fruits, vegetables, grains or snacks, which is suitable for most people's appetite.
- FOOD GRADE MATERIAL - Made of premium PP material, does not contain any harmful substances such as BPA, suitable for carrying a variety of food, allowing you to eat better. We are dedicated to providing healthier eating options for you and your family.
- MICROWAVE & DISHWASHER SAFE - Perfect for reheating meals. Remove the lid when reheating food in the microwave for no more than 3 minutes. It can be easily cleaned on the top rack of the dishwasher.
- WHAT YOU GET - Caperci stackable bento lunch box, sauce container, reusable fork and spoon, user manual and beautiful packaging box. If you experience an issue with your product, contact us for a satisfactory solution
- Quality Stainless Steel Material: crafted with stainless steel material, the metal bento box is built to last; It provides nice strength, ensuring long lasting use even with frequent use; With its robust build, you'll never have to worry about dents or warping, providing you with a reliable and safe food storage solution; Note: this metal bento box can not be heated in a microwave oven
- Lockable Clips for Leak Proof: the metal lunch container is designed with lockable clips that firmly secures the lid in place, avoiding leaks and spills, even when you're outside; This creates a reliable and practical food storage solution, allowing you to pack anything from saucy curries to juicy fruits without any leaks or messes
- Reusable and Dishware Safe: the stainless steel containers are dishwasher safe and reusable, making them ideal options for preparing food; They are also easy to clean and maintain, avoiding the need for disposable food containers
- Portable and Suitable Sizes: the stainless steel lunch container has a compact and portable design, making it easy to take on the go; The container measures about 8 inch/ 20.2 cm in length, and 5.5 inch/ 14 cm in width, and 2.6 inch/ 6.6 cm in height; It comes with movable partitions that can freely separate the desired space. Its convenient size and shape fit well in most lunch bags, briefcases, and backpacks, allowing you to enjoy your meals anytime, anywhere
- Nice Gift and Multi Purpose: the metal food container is a thoughtful and practical gift for your partners and family members; It's suitable for packing meals for work, or picnics; It can also be applied as a storage container or lunchbox for worker, making it a versatile and valuable item to have on hand
- 【Safe Materials】 Our lunch containers are made of PP material (Grade 5 PP material) and are BPA free. Our lunch sandwich containers come in a variety of colors. Choose your favorite color to meet everyone's needs.
- 【Easy Open Lid】 Our bento lunch box features a lunch box lid with "cat ear" handles that kids can easily open and close. The transparent design allows you to see what food or snacks are in it. The large-capacity snack box container is very cost-effective and is the choice of most people. (Please note: These are not leak-proof and are not suitable for liquid and relatively viscous liquid condiments. It is recommended to seal them again with plastic wrap to ensure they will not leak).
- 【Healthy and Balanced Diet】 Prepare containers for a balanced diet before meals. The designer specially designed the placement area for hamburger steak sandwiches to ensure that the food is not mixed up and you can enjoy the joy of delicious food. It consists of four compartments with a capacity of 44 OZ (=1200ml/2.75 lbs). It keeps sandwiches, salads, fruit bread and snacks separate. Fully functional meal prep container.
- 【Save Space】 Kids lunch containers can be quickly stacked together to save space in the refrigerator and cabinet for quick storage, cleaning, etc. People are easy to carry on the go, making them a great choice for work, school, travel, and parties.Please remember to remove the lid when heating your bento box in the microwave. We don't recommend placing the lid in the dishwasher to prevent any deformation.
- 【Customer Satisfaction First】 If your lunch box encounters damage, deformation, incorrect quantity or any other quality issues, please feel free to contact us. Our first priority is your satisfaction!
Best Fresh Prepared Box Lunches Buying Guide
Before choosing the best fresh prepared box lunches you should consider following options:
1. Portion size: Portion sizes can vary widely, so it is important to understand what you are getting for your money.
The standard sizes are usually a half or whole sandwich, small or large snack/side, fruit, a protein bar and a cookie.
If you are ordering a sandwich, make sure it is not one of those overstuffed monstrosities. You are paying for the entire contents of the box, not just the sandwich.
2. Ingredients: We all have our preferences when it comes to certain ingredients. If you don’t like turkey, you probably aren’t going to be happy with a turkey sandwich.
Make sure the ingredients are fresh. Look for things like “prepared fresh daily” on the packaging.
3. Protein: If you are trying to incorporate more protein into your diet, this is the perfect opportunity. You can easily get a protein bar or two in your lunch for very little money.
4. Snacks: If you are trying to eat healthier, you may be tempted to throw out the snack. Don’t do that.
Snacks make a great addition to your lunch, and they can be a great way to get some variety.
5. Variety: Having a variety of items in your lunch is essential. We tend to get bored easily, so we tend to eat less if our lunch is boring.
Having a variety of items in your lunch will help prevent this, and it will help you get more nutrients.
6. Cost: There is a big difference in price. You can get a box with a lot of variety and decent quality for $7-$12.
On the other hand, you can get a lunch in a restaurant for that same amount.
7. Convenience: Some places will deliver. Some places will even deliver cold. Others will even deliver hot!
If you are trying to eat healthier, having a healthy lunch delivered to you can be a lifesaver.
8. Customer service: Of course, you want to have good quality food, but you also want good customer service.
You should be able to get the information you need about their products and be able to contact them if you have any issues.
9. Portability: While you may not be taking your lunch to go, you may be eating it away from your desk.
You will want something that will not make a mess if you are eating in your car or on a park bench.
10. Taste: Obviously, this is something you will have to decide for yourself. If you have an opportunity to try out a company’s products, do so.
If not, you may have to take a chance. If you don’t like what you get, you can always throw it away and get something else.
11. Variety of items: This is especially important if you are trying to lose weight. Having a variety will ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need.
Having a variety of items will also help you from getting bored. You will not want to throw away food if it is something that you like.
12. Brand: Some companies have a good reputation for quality and customer service. Some are known for their variety of healthy options.
Some companies are known for their quality and variety, but they are more expensive. You will want to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.
13.
What else you should know about fresh prepared box lunches
1. How are the box lunches prepared?
The box lunches are prepared by a professional catering company.
2. What type of food is included in a typical box lunch?
A typical box lunch may include a sandwich, a side item such as chips or a pickle, and a dessert.
3. How long will the box lunch stay fresh?
A box lunch will stay fresh for about four hours.
4. How much does a box lunch cost?
A box lunch typically costs between $10 and $15.
5. Where can I find a place that sells fresh prepared box lunches?
There are many places that sell fresh prepared box lunches, but some examples include grocery stores, delis, and catering companies.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best fresh prepared box lunches. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best fresh prepared box lunches will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.