How to make the most of your work kitchen AND the Number 1. piece of equipment you need for your healthy lunch habit.

How to make the most of your work kitchen

1. stock your work ‘pantry’
Dedicate a small shelf or a drawer to lunch things and kit it out with the basics. At the very least some salt and maybe a little disposable pepper grinder. I’d also include some olive oil and vinegar so you’re always prepared for an impromptu salad. A packet of dried chilli and your favourite spice are also great to have on hand.

A little bag of nuts can also double as a snack. You could even get super organised with cans of tuna, chickpeas, beans or other good shelf-stable essentials. And think about keeping a few eggs in the fridge or a packet of frozen peas in the freezer.

2. stock up with the tools you’ll need
Depending on your work set-up, you might like to include a little chopping board and a pocket knife in your work lunch arsenal. If cutlery and crockery are scarce it might be a good idea to get a little lunch bowl and fork or spoon. Cheese fans might like to include a spare microplane grater – but this could be overkill!

3. figure out the best storage options
Most workplaces provide a fridge you can store your lunch. But if not, consider investing in a little chiller bag. Or if you have access to a good food shop nearby, maybe allow time to pick up whatever you need in your lunch hour. We’ll cover more on this in [The best & easiest way to pack and transport lunches for maximum freshness & flavour.]

4. allocate the time you need
I always find cooking or preparing food a great way to relax and unwind. If you’re already using dinner time to relax, why not think about adding a couple of minutes to your lunch break for a little cooking relaxation. It’s a great opportunity to add a little de-stress in the middle of the day.

The number 1. piece of equipment you need for your healthy lunch habit

So what is the number 1. piece of equipment you need? For me it’s good quality containers to transport your lunch.

I’m a big fan of the Pyrex* bowls with plastic lids pictured above for the following reasons:

1. They look good.
You’ve heard it before, we eat with our eyes. Food must look appealing for it to get our taste buds excited.

One of the biggest problems with home made lunches is when the don’t look as good as the takeaway option. It really makes it a lot more difficult to get excited about lunch if it’s packaged in a crappy container.

2. They don’t leak.
I used to carry my lunch to work in my hand bag. I can’t tell you how many times I used to have a leaking lunch situation and a stinky handbag for days if not weeks afterwards. No fun at all.

All that changed when I finally invested in my Pyrex* containers.

3. They are versatile and safe.
It’s very convenient to have a container which can go from the freezer to the fridge to the microwave or oven. Saving on washing up!

But more importantly, Pyrex glass is safe to use in the microwave. Some plastics are not and have been linked with increasing the risk of cancer. If you’d like to learn more about this I recommend reading ‘Anticancer’ by Dr David Servan-Schreiber.

4. They don’t stain or get smelly.
What is it about tomato based dishes that causes plastics to discolour? I love that even if I have a super yellow turmeric based curry, my glass containers are easy to clean.

*Note: I’m not affiliated with the Pyrex corporation in any way. I just love their containers 🙂 Feel free to invest in any container brand you prefer, just try and find something with glass bases so you’re not microwaving food in plastic.

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