Eating is as important as staying hydrated. However, eating a varied and balanced diet in all circumstances can sometimes be a challenge. At the office, on the go, on an outing, on a picnic... take your homemade meals in a healthy and zero-waste food container thanks to a stainless steel lunch box. A design, durable and waste-free accessory that also saves money.
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Its origins and benefits
"Bento" is a word of Japanese origin. In the Japanese tradition, it designated a complete individual meal, implying balanced and homemade, ready to be taken away. From an early age at school, then at university and finally in working life, on construction sites or in offices, to compensate for the absence of canteens, the complete lunch was transported in these boxes with several compartments.
Presented first as a culinary art, the word bento began over the centuries to also designate the lunch box intended to transport and preserve food. Little by little, these lunch boxes have become popular in Europe and are now enjoying real enthusiasm.
Allowing compositions that are much more nutritious than a sandwich or any other fast food dish, the reusable meal box promotes a healthy and balanced daily diet. But it is still necessary to have a refrigerator nearby to keep the freshness of the food until mealtime in the middle of summer. And conversely, it is not always easy to have a microwave handy in winter to eat your hot meals.
The insulated bento box is a nomadic solution suitable for all seasons. On the road, on the train, at the office, in the middle of nature... you can eat a variety of dishes like at home while being out of your kitchen. A real alternative to school canteens and company restaurants for children and adults who follow a special diet due to food intolerances or allergies.
On the other hand, from an ecological point of view, the bento contributes to a more sustainable way of life. It's a way to ditch single-use containers in favor of reusable food boxes. A way to limit disposable packaging, but also industrial food, additives and preservatives.
The characteristic elements of insulated bento boxes
The materials
In the world of lunch boxes, there is a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials. The particularity of insulated bento boxes lies in their double-walled design. This air-vacuum insulation keeps the food placed inside hot or cold, regardless of the outside temperature.
In the various ranges and collections of lunch boxes, materials such as glass, plastic and stainless steel coexist. However, stainless steel is the most common for insulated containers, because it offers thermal properties that other lunch boxes cannot achieve:
- Autonomy of 4 to 5 hours to keep your risottos, pasta with vegetables and other pan-fried dishes warm.
- Freshness preserved for 6 to 7 hours for your mixed salads, poke bowls and fruit salads.
18/8 stainless steel is completely suitable for food use. It is a hygienic, impact-resistant, durable and healthy material, free of BPA and other endocrine disruptors. Stainless steel respects the organoleptic properties of food and does not transfer taste or harmful particles into food.
The options
The capacity of a lunch box can vary from 340 to 850 ml. It is best to plan as accurately as possible in relation to your usual portions. Indeed, the more the bento box is filled, the more the isothermal is effective.
Also, the needs will be different for solid or liquid meals. It is advisable to dwell on the mode of closing and the presence of a seal in order to benefit from a perfectly hermetic system, for soups in particular.
Other accessories or features can be very useful. This is the case of removable compartments that allow you to add or remove a floor depending on the dishes.
The presence of an ergonomic carrying handle makes it easier to hold and transport. Finally, some models are equipped with a space for cutlery, a very practical all-in-one for outdoor meals.
The style
If the insulated bento box must above all be functional, it does not forget to be aesthetic. With a round or rectangular design, floral prints, childish patterns, artistic elements or simply a solid, matte or metallic color... the reusable bento box will accompany you for many years, so choose it to your liking and why not match your insulated water bottle .