Oh, storage containers…
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more practical and more convenient.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And yet with food packed safely, our picnic is saved.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And a cold packed lunch is the only respite;
And the pull of takeout sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, unchopped;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall fast food brag thou wand’rest in his shade,
When in eternal containers lunch awaits.
    So long as forks and spoons, or fingers can dine,
    So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Some days, the stress of making a single decision about where to get lunch would be far too much. On those days, I’m always glad my packed lunch is there for me. When I’m frustrated and tired, taking a couple minutes to reheat a delicious meal is all I need to get back and kicking.

Whether it’s a planned burrito bowl packed with goodies or an emergency salad cobbled together from leftover bits of produce, having something ready to go makes it so much easier to spend a few extra minutes with book. Instead of commuting to a favorite lunch spot, you can take a quick walk or spend some time outside! You’ll enjoy your lunch more, and save a boatload of money. Reagents aren’t getting any cheaper, you know!

Despite the benefits, I struggle to keep putting exciting lunches together. Weirdly, getting good containers helps keep me inspired. I’ve had a lot of luck lately with different shapes of 3-5 cup containers, as well as wide mouth mason jars! Fancy containers and  staples like a can or two of cooked beans ready to go, some kale and carrots in the fridge, and some edamame in the freezer can radically simplify lunches. Just combine ingredients on hand in an exciting way (or just pile it in)! Dressings are easy enough to improvise, but I have found it’s better to scramble in the morning to put something together than to scramble at the store, or trying to find the least bad option!