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I have to admit: I have never packed a lunch for work. I always tell myself I’m going to start—because it’s cheaper, healthier, and gives me more control over what I’m eating—and then I immediately get overwhelmed by the logistics. What do I pack? How much effort is reasonable? Will it still be appealing by noon? Suddenly, ordering lunch feels easier.

So instead of pretending I’ll magically figure it out on my own, I asked the experts: seasoned food experts and editors across Serious Eats, Real Simple, and EatingWell who regularly pack lunches that are filling, balanced, and—crucially—hold up until lunchtime. Their advice isn’t about elaborate meal prep or aesthetic perfection. It’s about realistic strategies that work for busy days, whether that means relying on canned proteins, investing in the right container, or simply packing everything the night before.

Below are their strategies for packing lunches that feel realistic, balanced, and actually hold up until lunchtime, without requiring much effort.

Get a Big Ol’ Lunchbox

"I can barely manage to pack lunch for my kids each day, so preparing one for myself isn’t even a consideration. On the kids front, though, one thing I’ve found is that those bento-style lunchboxes are terrible, at least for my family: The little compartments are too restrictive and make lunch way too much of a game of ‘what can I fit in this tiny space?’ and ‘where do I put this sandwich that won’t fit anywhere?’ A nice big open lunchbox is much more flexible." —Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

Start With a Can of Tuna or Beans for an Easy Packed Lunch

"Now that I work from home, I don’t pack a lunch every day—but when I do need something portable, filling, and low-effort, I fall back on a few reliable strategies. A can of oil-packed tuna or beans becomes the backbone of a hearty grain or green salad, bulked up with whatever’s in the fridge and punched up with the pickled vegetables I always have on hand. This ensures a lunch that travels well, eats well, and actually keeps me full through the afternoon." —Leah Colins, senior culinary editor

Keep Lunches Hot on the Go With a Good Food Thermos

"If you have limited kitchen access in your job (or just don’t want to deal with your office’s communal microwave), get a food thermos. You can add your warmed soup, pasta, or other leftovers to it in the morning, and the insulated container will ensure it stays hot until your stomach starts to grumble. If you want to add cold food (I love making a big batch of this fiber-full wild rice salad to use for lunches all week long), I recommend popping your portion in the freezer for 15 minutes in the morning and pre-chilling your thermos in the fridge to help it stay cold for longer." —Ashlee Redger, writer

"I have worked from home since 2019, but before that, a food thermos was my best friend when it came to in-office lunches. While some people can be happy with a cold salad every day, I’m a warm, cozy lunch kinda gal (ditto with my coffee, which makes me stand out in iced coffee–centric New England). So a thermos that kept my soup or curry or casserole warm until noon was an actual must. If you, too, like to dig into a hot meal at your desk, consider our winning thermos from Simple Modern: It kept food warm (and food-safe) for five hours in our tests. It also looks sleek and, well, modern—this isn’t your nephew’s Bluey thermos!" –Grace Kelly, senior editor

Make a Big Pot of Soup

"I try to bring my lunch to work every day I’m in. It just feels like a waste of money to buy! My biggest tip is to make a pot of soup over the weekend, usually lentil or something similar, and then it’s ready for two to three days of office lunch. I bring it in a S’well container so it doesn’t need to be reheated. Maybe I’ll snag some free office pita chips as a ‘treat’ to enjoy with the soup. Another strategy that works well is intentionally making extra dinner to take for lunch the next day." –Jenna Helwig, food director at Real Simple

Plan Ahead for Protein-Packed Stews and Salads in a Flash

"When I have my act together, I make a big batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week—in the winter, this forms a bed for stews, and in the summer, I use it for salads. It’s amazing how quickly a quick meal can come together if you have a grain on hand. Sometimes I mix up the grain and use farro, freekeh, bulgur, fonio, or rice, but I like how quick cooking quinoa is, the fact that it’s a blank canvas, and that it’s a good way to sneak in protein and fiber." —Megan O. Steintrager, associate editorial director

Get Some Containers That Don’t Leak

After many, many instances of having oily salad dressing or staining pasta sauce spill inside my bag and drip down my clothes when toting lunch to work, I finally found containers that seal tightly, and they’re a game-changer. Mason jars work, but my favorite are W&P Porter bowls, which have tight-fitting lids and can go in the microwave. —Megan

Consider a Cooler Lunchbag

In the morning, I often head straight from the gym to work, which means any lunch I’m toting sits out for a long time before I can stash it in our office fridge, so I am happy some brands have started making cooler lunch bags. My favorites are the ones that go in the freezer and function as a bag/icepack. The one I have is from PackIt, but there are many other brands. —Megan

Avoid Afternoon Slumps With a Balanced Lunch

"Lunch is my favorite meal of the day! I love everything from soup and salad to sandwiches and dinner leftovers. No matter what I pack, I make sure it includes a combination of vegetables, fiber-rich carbohydrates, filling protein, and satisfying healthy fats. If I can’t get in all four food groups, I’ll aim for at least three. This balance helps ensure my lunch will stick with me through the afternoon and keep my focus sharp." —Victoria Seaver*, M.S., RD, *associate general manager at Simply Recipes & The Spruce Eats

Lean Into Store-Bought Shortcuts

A typical lunch for me is a Trader Joe’s salad kit to cover the vegetable component, topped with a protein like tuna salad, rotisserie chicken, or canned beans (beans also double as a fiber-rich carb), plus avocado for the healthy fat. And I always need something crunchy and salty, too. Popcorn, pretzels, and chips do the trick. With two kids under the age of two, I’m in a phase of life where store-bought shortcuts are essential. Fortunately, there are many tasty options that make packing a healthy lunch easy." —Victoria

Pack Your Lunch the Night Before

"Packing my lunch the night before is a non-negotiable for me. It saves me time (and brainpower) in the morning when I’m usually more crunched for time. I often have dinner leftovers for lunch, so it saves me a step when packing those up as well. If I am prepping something especially for lunch, I really love leaning into canned proteins like beans and fish. Dense bean salads help me use up any lingering produce in my crisper drawer, and tuna or sardine salad is super filling and quick to prepare. Plus, they get better as they sit in the fridge for a couple of days." —Jessica Ball*, M.S., RD, *senior nutrition editor at Eating Well

Motivate Yourself With Something Aesthetically Pleasing

"Get yourself a cute lunch box! Sometimes you just need to trick yourself into the habit, and having a cute (and commute-practical) container will add a little fun to the practice. I am notorious for relying on delis and leftover takeout containers for my lunch, but I bought myself an adorable baby blue bento box from H Mart on a whim, and it did add a little sparkle to the chore of packing lunch." —Amanda Suarez, associate director, visuals

Try a Tiffin

I spent a portion of my childhood in India and Sri Lanka, and grew up using a tiffin for lunch. These tiered containers are popular in India, with each layer holding a different food. When I worked in an office, I brought a tiffin with me almost every day. The one I have is hand-painted, but you can’t go wrong with one that’s just stainless steel. —Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director