Here’s the One Thing You’re Forgetting When You Pack a Lunch
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Meal prepping bagged lunches is a great way to save time and money, but lots of us forget one crucial component. Here's what we all need to remember.
Packing a lunch has some awesome benefits. It’s healthier than ordering out, and it’s an affordable alternative to eating out with co-workers or even opting for hot lunch at school (psst…here are some inexpensive lunch ideas to pack).
But the most important thing about packing lunch is something you likely forget about: lunch box food safety.
Food safety matters just as much for your bagged lunch as it does for any outdoor party you throw or restaurant you visit. Foods not only need to be cooked to a certain temperature to kill bacteria, but they also need to be properly stored to make sure bacteria doesn’t have a chance to grow between the time you prep that lunch and when you eat it.
Prep smart
Be mindful of food safety while prepping your lunch. If you’re using a cutting board, keep raw foods separate from cooked foods. Buy a food thermometer that can accurately measure cooking temperatures to make sure all foods are cooked thoroughly—here’s our Test Kitchen’s favorite. And always wash your hands before and after handling raw meat or poultry. Try this proven method.
Make sure food is kept at the proper temperature
Perishable foods should not be kept above refrigerator temperature (40ºF) for more than two hours—only one hour if the outdoor temperature is above 90ºF. When you arrive to work, make sure you head straight to the break room so you can put your lunch in the fridge.
Most schools don’t have accessible refrigerators for students, so the USDA recommends sending at least two cold sources, such as a frozen water bottle and an ice pack (these skinny ones work great), along with your child’s lunch to keep everything at the appropriate temperature.
Hot foods also need to be kept—you guessed it—hot. It’s worth investing in a high-quality thermos to avoid hot foods falling below 140ºF. To keep your thermos hot for as long as possible, the USDA recommends that you boil water, add it to a thermos, then let it stand for a few minutes before emptying. Add hot food to the hot thermos, then pack it in an insulated lunch bag—these grown-up totes are super cute!
Your lunch bag should be cleaned, too
Illness can come from perishable food that’s improperly handled, but the lunch bag itself can also harbor dangerous bacteria. Clean your lunch bag regularly, and if you’re packing lunch for little ones, send them with hand sanitizer or moist towelettes to clean their hands before they eat. (You might want to give your reusable grocery bags a cleaning, too—they get dirty fast!)
With these tips, you and your kids will be eating safe. Now get going with these tasty lunch ideas.
Asian Chicken Rice Bowl
This super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families. —Christianna Gozzi, Asteria, New York
Peanut Butter, Apple and Raisin Sandwich
Tart, sweet and crunchy, these open-faced sammies are a perfect after-school (or after-work) snack. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
ABC Salad Toss
Getting kids to eat their veggies, fruit and protein is as easy as ABC—that's apples, bananas and cheese. This is a slightly sweet salad that appeals to kids' taste buds while still delivering lots of healthy benefits. —Christine Maddux, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Deli Turkey Lettuce Wraps
I used to make these during my training days when I worked at a restaurant in Hawaii. They're low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, quick and delicious—a great choice before or after a workout. —Duncan Omarzu, Astoria, New York
Cranberry Turkey Wraps
Fruity and flavorful, these hefty grab-and-go handfuls are quick to assemble, easy to handle and low in calories. We often take them in a cooler to the local stock show and eat them in the stands. Everyone seems to love them! —Bobbie Keefer, Byers, Colorado
Deli-Style Pasta Salad
Pasta provides a base for this tongue-tingling make-ahead salad. It has lots of fresh and satisfying ingredients topped with a flavorful dressing. This pasta salad is terrific to serve to company or take to a potluck. — Joyce McLennan, Algonac, Michigan
Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas
My kids ask for these pita sandwiches all the time. They haven’t noticed that as good as they taste, they’re also good for them. —Kim Holmes, Emerald Park, Saskatchewan
Lunch Box Pizzas
When you have these fun-to-make mini pizzas, it's no challenge finding lunch fare that the kids enjoy. Plus they pack nicely in sandwich bags and travel well, so there's no mess. —Rhonda Cliett, Belton, Texas
Turkey Salad on Wheat Bread
When one of my favorite lunch spots closed, this recipe let me hold on to more than just good memories. The peas, bacon and cheese are such a fun and springy combo. I make big batches of the salad for parties—turns out I'm not the only fan! —Merrijane Rice, Kaysville, Utah
Lunch Box Chicken Wrap
This lunchbox-friendly wrap is a tasty way to use leftover chicken and get kids to eat more veggies. Using colorful, thin strips of vegetables adds visual interest when the wrap is cut into slices. Suddenly spinach is too pretty to refuse. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Mediterranean Vegetable Pitas
Craving a fast and healthy meal? This one packs tomato, cucumber, onion and olives. Add a touch of cayenne for a punch. —Ivy Abbadessa, Loxahatchee, Florida
Lunch on a Stick
It's fun to create different lunch combinations with my mom. I like to make patterns in the cheese and use a crinkle vegetable cutter. —Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Avocado-Ranch Chicken Wraps
My grandchildren love these wraps. My daughter gave me the recipe years ago, and now I make them as an afternoon snack or a light meal. I make the dressing from a simple ranch dressing mix. —Janice Stoltenow, Lebanon, Missouri
Jack-o'-Lantern Sandwiches
Be prepared for happy faces when you make these eye-catching jack-o'-lanterns. We loaded the sandwiches with flavorful fillings, then easily formed fun pumpkin shapes using cookie cutters. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Editor's Tip: Make this cute sammie for your child's trip to the pumpkin patch!
PBJ on a Stick
Take the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the go with these skewers. They also make easy snacks. —Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Pasta Salad in a Jar
If you're planning a picnic, make this pasta a day ahead. For my husband's lunch at work, I sometimes tie a plastic fork on the jar. —Pat Neiheisel, Leetonia, Ohio
BLT Wraps
My mom and I used to make these easy wrap-ups for summer days at the lake with our entire family. These days, we love to bring them to picnics and days in the park. —Jonnah Burks, Brighton, Missouri
Peanut Butter Granola Pinwheels
I came across this easy and tasty snack while searching online for healthy munchies for kids. Great for after school, it's really quick to make and filling enough to hold the kids until dinner. To satisfy heftier appetites or to serve as a power lunch, cut each tortilla into fewer pieces or provide one per child. The recipe is easy to increase as needed. —Mary Haluch, Ludlow, Massachusetts
Turkey Pitas with Creamy Slaw
Pack these pockets 'o' fun for school, work or a weekend picnic—or just eat them at home. Toss in a few slices of red pepper for extra color and crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Lunch Box Special
Dates, orange juice and apples bring zest and crunch to the plain old peanut butter sandwich. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
Pizza Wraps
This recipe features the flavors of your favorite pie but only takes a few minutes to make—and there’s no cooking or baking required. Perfect for when you’re rushing to get kids on the bus! —Elizabeth Dumont, Boulder, Colorado
Creepy-Crawly Pasta Salad
A sweet-and-sour dressing tops off this easy pasta salad that's actually good for you! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Hummus & Veggie Wrap-Up
I had a sandwich similar to this once when I stopped at a diner while on a long and arduous walk. I enjoyed it so much that I modified it to my own taste and now have it for lunch on a regular basis. Everyone at work wants to know how to make it.—Michael Steffens, Indianapolis, Indiana
B Is For Book Sandwich
To fix this ham-and-cheese pleaser, just take a page from our creative food editors. You also can use a cutout of your child’s initial. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Editor's Tip: This sandwich is well-suited for a field trip to the library!
Turkey Guacamole Wraps
Tuck smoked turkey and creamy avocado spread into tortilla wraps and add a dash of hot sauce for a little heat. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
Turkey Ranch Wraps
Here's a cool idea that's ready to gobble up in no time. It's a terrific use for deli turkey. Just add lettuce, tomato, green pepper, shredded cheese and ranch dressing for a flavorful blend. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Greek Grilled Chicken Pitas
I switched up my mom’s recipe to create this tasty pita pocket variation. It’s delicious and perfect for warm days, with a creamy cucumber sauce that goes great with fresh, crunchy veggies. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia
Wheely-Good Pasta Salad
Red pepper pieces accent this yummy side dish, and the pasta wheels really drive the theme home. —Amber Kimmich, Powhatan, Virginia
Quick Taco Wraps
I was running late one night, so I shopped in my own fridge and came up with ingredients that became taco wraps. Everybody at the table was a happy camper. —Katie Mitschelen, La Porte, IndianaPopular Videos
