How to pack lunches for work or school

The foodies at Taste.com.au know a lot about perfecting lunch - and they also know how to make it get from home to work or school without going soggy or stale. Here’s their guide to packing the perfect lunch - and there’s heaps of recipes to try.

less than 2 min read

November 16, 2023 - 11:27AM

Packing a lunch for work or school is a great way to save time and money, and is healthier than something from your local cafe or takeaway joint.

Here are our tips and hacks for easy packable, portable lunches: think crisper salads and fresher sandwiches – not a soggy slice in sight!

Chicken and avocado wraps.

How-to pack salads

Put chunky and wet ingredients like vegies, legumes and protein in the bottom of your storage container and layer your salad leaves and herbs on top.

Tip: use patty pans to separate crunchy ingredients like nuts. This keeps them crispy.

Don’t dress! Separate your dressing into a small, leak-proof container to avoid limp salad leaves and drenched vegies.

Tip: Lay a damp (not dripping) piece of paper towel over your salad leaves and herbs before sealing the container. This will keep them fresh until lunchtime.

Ploughman's sandwich.

How-to pack sandwiches

Start with condiments – a little goes a long way. You want your bread to soak up those flavours without entering the floppy sanga zone.

Dry ingredients go next. Protecting both slices with the drier fillings like ham and cheese will prevent your sandwich from the illusive squashy-tomato syndrome. Once your slices are sufficiently guarded, you can safely add wet ingredients such as tomato and cucumber.

Tip: pat your tomato dry, it will guarantee your bread stays fresh.