A lunchbox you won’t be embarrassed to use

Lunch can be one of the most aggravating things about your workday. Our busy, stressful lives afford us little time to prepare nutritious food in advance, so we end up purchasing that expensive sandwich or bento box. Very rarely do we even know what’s inside the food we just bought – but we eat it anyway because we’re so darned hungry.

Eating out is convenient, but studies suggest the average person can save up to US$2,400 every year simply by avoiding store-bought coffee and lunch, and making them at home instead. Think of it this way: with a little extra effort, you could save enough cash to splurge on a vacation.

But the dreary state of most lunchboxes certainly doesn’t help the situation. Their generic, plastic feel isn’t inspiring or stylish. On the contrary, when we do bring them to the workplace, we try our best to keep them out of sight. It’s best they stay hidden lest someone starts chuckling.

Hong Kong-based Prepd, a new take on the lunchbox, is trying to change this. It’s a slick, snazzy, and ergonomic case that comes with modular containers and magnetic cutlery. The startup is trying to encourage people to prepare their own food in advance and eat with grandeur at the workplace.

“We’ve created a lunchbox that someone is proud of using, looks and works really good, and has a very good user experience. The way you prepare your food, the way you pack it, and store it, all of it,” explains Chris Place, co-founder of Prepd.

Clash of the Tritans

Prepd’s Kickstarter has another month left to run, but it’s already well past its modest goal of US$25,000. The cheapest package retails for US$50, with estimated shipping dates by June.

Chris says one of the major reasons why people don’t prepare their own lunch is, simply, not knowing what to cook. To overcome the problem, Prepd is working with culinary professionals and online communities to push recipes through its app. Every week the startup will release new recipes, designed to cater to a variety of dietary requirements and health goals. Also, if you buy the fancy lunchbox, it’ll allow you to create a profile on Prepd’s app. Then you can share recipes with the larger community and track progress of personal goals.

“Lunchboxes are cheap, plastic crap but people buy it because it’s the only option. With our products you’re not only proud to take it, but the app also encourages you, inspires you, and gives you a behavioral change,” affirms Chris.

Prepd lunchboxes are made out of Tritan, which means they’re microwaveable, freezable, and perfectly safe for storing food. Chris claims it’s the best alternative to glass – and way better than plastic. There’s also an enclosed mat, which folds out, preventing crumbs accumulating on your keyboard or desk.