When it comes to lunch ideas, it can be more than difficult to prepare a fresh meal on a consistent basis, which is where these prepackaged varieties come in to help make eating well easy. Everything from full meals to individual snacks can be found on the store shelves, which comes in handy for those who either don't find themselves able to sit still long enough to eat a full meal or who lack the time (or ability) to prepare something fresh beforehand.
What we're seeing in the prepackaged goods industry is a shift towards a total rebranding; instead of avoiding the middle aisles in the grocery store, we're seeing consumers flock to them for lunch ideas to effectively make eating something delicious and nutritious in a pinch a cinch.
20 Prepackaged Lunch Ideas
From Portable Protein Snacks to Biodegradable Origami Bowls:
Michael Hemsworth — Oct 9, 2014 — Lifestyle
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Implement-Patterned Packages
Cook Packaging Celebrates the Tools Necessary for Artistic Food Prep
19
Accordion Sandwich Containers
Eat & Go Packaging Can Be Conveniently Compressed with Every Bite
18
Revealing Sandwich Packaging
This Sandwich Container Has Cutouts to Show the Meat Inside
17
Handy Two-Part Packaging
W-Bags Split into a Pair of Compartments to Store Snack Scraps
16
Coordinated Salad Bowls
Bright Bites' Salad Bowls Match the Vibrancy of the Ingredients Inside
15
Peeking Plane Food Packaging
Antonio Dominguez' In-Flight Meal Packages for Newrest are Playful
14
Biodegradable Origami Bowls
This Food Bowl Design Imagines a Sustainable Way to Eat Ramen
13
Gourmet Garden Merchandizing
Pereg Packaging Communicates the Natural Flavor of its Foods
12
Painterly Food Packaging
Judit Besze's Fictive Food Packaging is Artistically Branded
11
Suggested Intake Food Packaging
'23 a Day' Almonds Provides a Perfect Amount for Daily Snacks
10
Adorable Veggie Packaging
These Vegetarian Food Packages for Kids Makes Meat-Free Options Friendly
9
Busy Snack Branding
Active Packs Packaging Alludes to High-Energy Food
8
Fresh Produce Packaging
The Whole Foods Packaging for Brooklyn Has Local and Regional Appeal
7
Gourmet Camping Meals
Good To-Go Makes Pre-Packaged Gourmet Meals for Outdoor Enthusiasts
6
Fish Jerky Snacks
Otuna's Jerky Meat Snack Swaps Beef for Fish
5
Cavemen Diet Branding
The Primal Kitchen Turns to Ancient Times for Inspiration
4
Mouthwatering Microwaveable Meals
Food Pro Manufacturing Offers These Delicious Frozen Snack Pots
3
Pre-Cooked Salmon Packaging
Patagonia Provisions' Food Packaging Design Makes Eating Fish Easy
2
Chef-Prepped Frozen Meals
Dinner for N's Frozen Food Meals are Like Having a Chef of Your Own
1
Portable Protein Snacks
The Protinis Lunches by Maple Leaf Offer Protein-Rich Foods on the Go
Related Ideas
Bento-Inspired School Lunches
DoorDash and Jessica Biel Debut Ready-Made Lunch Options for $25
Paper-Based Tray Packaging
Verday Vegan Meats are Packed in Shallow Food Trays Made for Recycling
Recyclable Chilled Grocery Bags
The 'Fresh!Bag' Recyclable Cool Bag is Ready to be Branded
Wrapperless Snack Bars
One Good Thing Packages Its Products in an Edible, All-Natural Film
Ready-to-Heat Meal Services
TEMPO Delivers Both Convenience and Taste
Better-for-You Shrimp Bowls
Scott & Jon's Launched Convenient Frozen Shrimp Entrees
Nutrient-Dense Baby Food Pouches
The Once Upon a Farm Advanced Nutrition Pouches are Flavorful
Collaborative Bento-Style Meal Kits
The Monbento x Opinel On-the-Go Meal Kit is All-in-One
Multi-Functional Food Containers
Roll by Haechan Ryu is a Space-Caving Food Container
Edible Snack Skins
Foodberry Creates Edible, Plant-Based Coatings Inspired by Fruit Skins & Peels
Multifunctional Glass Food Containers
These Containers Are Shatterproof, Stackable and Stylish
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Fiber-Based Food Packaging
Hinojosa Unveils the New 'Foodservice' Packaging in Three Formats
Eco-Friendly Consumable Packaging
This Biodegradable Composite Packaging is Transparent and Edible
Plastic-Free Protein Bar Packaging
Moonvalley Protein Bars are Now in Paper Packs from Billerud
Senior-Friendly Snacks
These Packaged Snacks Speak to the Needs of Senior Snackers
Sustainable Restaurant Meal Kits
Moveable Feast is an Eco Fine Dining Meal Kit Delivery Service
Revived 90s Lunch Kits
Lunchables Lunch Kits are Arriving Back in Canada After a 15 Year Hiatus
Plant-Powered Handheld Pockets
Mikey's Microwave Pockets Make a Hot, Flavorful Meal in Seconds
Paper-Made Porridge Packaging
Quaker Porridge Pots are Now Made with Paper for Easy Recycling
Frozen Onigiri Snacks
Konscious Foods' Plant-Based Onigiri is Ready to Thaw and Eat
Nutritionally Complete Breakfast Shakes
BŌL Power Shakes are Packed with Plant-Powered Foods
Bulk Protein Packs
Clean Eatz Kitchen Adds New Just the Meatz Bulk Packs
Vibrant Freezable Lunch Boxes
Packit® Launches the Playtime Lunch Boxes Line
AI-Powered Food Waste Reduction
SnapSnack Uses AI To Turn Ingredients Into Meals
Compostable Food Packaging Brands
Shanghai Timeco Industrial Uses Sugarcane Bagasse for Packaging
Edible Plant-Based Wrappers
Xampla Makes Edible, Biodegradable Plant Protein Packaging
International Allergen Introduction Meals
Globowl Introduces Allergenic Foods with Global Cuisine
Multifunctional Cardboard QSR Packaging
McDonald's and Leo Burnett Unveil the Tablebag
Snackable Back-to-School Lunches
Little Spoon's Lunchers are Nutritious Meals for Big Kids
Pickle-Themed Snack Kits
The HelloFresh Pickle Box is Packed with Tangy and Sweet Snacks
Compostable Foodservice Packaging
The Eco-Products GreenStripe Line Has New Bags and Wraps
Ready-to-Eat Omelet Snacks
Crepini's Line of Omelets To-Go is Conveniently Packaged
Happy Desk Salad Kits
Little Leaf Farms Fights Back Against Stigma Around Eating at Your Desk
Plant-Based Lunch Kits
Mighty Yum's Reformulated Kits are Now Soy-Free and Gluten-Free
Contemporary Meal Prep Kits
W&P’s Eight-Piece Fridge Bundle is Stylish and Effective
Origami-Inspired Lunch Boxes
The FoldiBox 2 Box has a Flatpack and Technical Design
Traditional Food Preservation Containers
The 'Twist' Food Storage Container Has a Hidden Chamber
Paper-Based Yogurt Cups
Nancy’s Probiotic Foods Sustainably Packages Single-Serve Oatmilk Yogurt
Paper-Packaged Snack Chips
Walkers Baked Multipacks Ditch Plastic in Favor of Paper Alternatives
Veggie-Forward Handheld Snacks
MingsBings Now Come in Four Meat-Filled Options
Compostable Foodservice Packaging
The Better Earth Farmer’s Fiber Collection is Being Expanded
Smart Food Diaries
Meals is a Smart Food Diary That Caters to Health Requirements
Longevity-Boosting Frozen Meals
Blue Zones Kitchens Makes the Blue Zone Diet Accessible
Heat-and-Eat Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Lunchables Grilled Cheesies are Ready in 60-Seconds
Recyclable Windowed Packaging
Coveris Debuts the New Packaging for Simply Lunch’s Stir Me Up Range
Protein-Packed Snack Cups
Volpi Foods Snack Cups Come in Two Varieties
Recyclable Kid-Friendly Meals
Little Dish Launches Its New Range in 85% Wood Fibre Packs
Kid-Friendly Stacked Lunches
Lunchables Collaborates with Fresh del Monte for a New Lunch Offering
Educational Snack Packs
Hannaford Snack Pals Teach Children About Healthy Nutrition Habits
Freezable Snack Boxes
PackIt Offers Its Freezable Snack Boxes in a Variety of Patterns
Home-Cooked Dog Food
Artie's Pre-Portioned Artisan-Inspired Meals for Dogs Can Be Made at Home
Plant Protein Oatmeal Cups
Health Bear Food's Oatmeal Cups are Take-Anywhere & Nutritious
Recyclable Salad Packaging
GPI Taps Picadeli for its Recyclable Paperboard Lids for Salad Bowls
Snacking-Friendly Prepackaged Burritos
The Urban Eat Chipotle Chicken Burrito is Microwave-Ready
Replenishing Post-Workout Bowls
QDOBA's Post-Workout Bowls Keep Healthy Lifestyles on Track
Croissant-Shaped Pastas
Crocchi Boasts a Novel Form & Freshness-Preserving Packaging
Globally Inspired Pasta Bowls
ZENB's Pasta Agile Bowls Share a Taste of Yellow Pea Pasta
Eco-Friendly Burger Packaging
GreenDustries' PleatPak Packaging Blends Sustainability and Function
Streamlined Meal Prep Systems
The Prepdeck by Dash Provides Tools and Space for Meal Prep
Nutritious Pouch-Packaged Yogurts
The Nomadic Good To Go Range Includes Three Flavors
Portable School-Safe Healthy Snacks
Amino Balls are Healthy Snacks That Taste Like Dessert
Reusable Food-Preserving Containers
Stasher's Sealable Bags and Bowls are Radical and Functional
Convenient Handheld QSR Burritos
Costa Vida Debuts the 'Handheld Burritos' for Consumers On the Go
Kid-Friendly Hydration Pouches
The iPRO Hydrate Pouch is a Nutritious Lunchbox Staple
Reusable Paper Lunch Bags
Out of the Woods Reinterprets a Nostalgic Lunch Classic
Eco-Friendly Instant Noodle Packaging
Nissin Cup Noodles is Launching a New Paper Cup Packaging
Elevated Sandwich Catering Menus
The Jimmy John's Catering Menu Has New Premium Sides
Blend-at-Home Smoothie Boxes
BlendBox Helps to Make Healthy Eating Easier for Busy People
Protein-Packed Farm Bowls
Bob Evans Just Added New Farm Fresh Protein Bowls
Compostable Foodservice Packaging
These Sabert Pulp Food Containers are Convenient
Plant-Powered Tuna Salads
John West's Plant-Based Salads Feature a Tuna-Style Protein Alternative
Paper-Packaged Popped Snacks
Snack A Jacks Multipacks are Ditching Virgin Plastic Material
Mini BBQ-Flavored Meat Snacks
Peperami BBQ Lunchbox Minis Respond to Consumer Demand
Plant-Based Snack Bar Wrappers
BAR-U-EAT Compostable Bar Wrappers are BPI-Certified
Paper-Based Instant Noodle Cups
The Pot Noodle Paper Pot Design is Headed to Tesco
Sustainable Salad Meal Kit Deliveries
Inspired Go Debuts the New Fraîche Noodle Salad
Veggie-First Children's Meals
Lil’ Gourmets Meal Pouches Make Feeding Kids Vegetables Easy
Convenient Steam-in-Bag Meals
Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals are Perfect for Midweek Lunch or Dinner
Kid-Focused Meal Containers
b.box Launches the Kid-Approved Eco-Friendly Bento Boxes for Meals
Buildable Dinner Boxes
DIG's Dinner in a Box is Affordably Priced and Serves Four
Retail Food Preparation Stations
Urban Eat Debuts a Smart Retail Solution for its Food-to-Go Range
Fridge-Free Protein Snack Packs
Whisps Protein Snackers Come with Meat, Cheese and Fruit
Heat-to-Eat Snack Ranges
This Urban Eat Food-to-Go Range Can Be Heated Inside its Packaging
Snackable Acai Bowls
Clean Juice's Ingredients Boost Monetary & Nutritional Value for Guests
Nutritionist-Crafted Meal Products
Jenny Craig Jenny Fresh Includes a Range of Delicious Options
Rebranded Prepackaged Lunches
Dairylea Lunchers Revamp Recipes and More
One-Ounce Snack Packs
Rivalz Created Single-Serving Packs for the Back-to-School Season
Family-Focused Meal Kits
Home Chef's Family Menu Features Meal Kits for Families
Convenient Seafood Packets
Chicken of the Sea and McCormick Collaborate on Tuna and Salmon Packets
Authentic Heat-and-Eat Meals
Nona Lim Instant Noodle Bowls and Heat & Serve Meat Entrees are Tasty
Kid-Friendly Protein Bars
Ready's Kids Whole Grain Protein Bars Come in Treat-Like Flavors
Nutritious Wintertime Meal Bowls
Jason's Deli Handcrafted Bowls Come in Three Varieties
Ready-to-Eat Vegan Meals
These Jar-Borne Warm Meals Are Nutritious and Deliciously Meat-Free
Heat-and-Eat Pizza Bowls
Banquet MEGA Crustless Pizzas are Cheesy, Saucy and Loaded with Toppings
Paper-Based Meal Subscription Packaging
Lions Prep is Using Ranpak Solutions for its Packaging
Frozen-to-Fresh Poke Bowls
Konscious Foods' Plant-Based Poke Bowls Make Quick Meals
Reduced Plastic Deli Packaging
The Volpi Eco-Pack™ Has 80% Less Plastic Than Alternatives
Grab-and-Go Spinach Dips
Summer Fresh's Spinach Dip Has a Separate Compartment with Crackers
Authentic Burrito Bowl Kits
The SOMOS Burrito Bowl Kit Comes in Two Target-Exclusive Flavors
Gluten-Free Prepackaged Italian Meals
These MamaMancini’s ProductsCome in Three New Options
Easy-Open Snack Pouches
Walki's Pouch Concept Supports Controlled Tearing & Reduces Breaking
Grab-and-Go Dunking Snacks
Lunchables Dunkables Come in Two Tasty Varieties
Chef-Crafted Non-Frozen Ready Meals
Blue Apron Prepared & Ready Meals are Ready in Minutes
Clean Microwavable Meals
Good To-Go's Microwavable Meal Cups Simplify Favorite Recipes
Eco-Friendly Insulated Lunch Bags
CALPAK's Insulated Lunch Bag is a Stylish & Practical Solution
Fiber-Based Meat Packaging
This Chilled Meat Packaging Reduces Plastic by 90%
Meal Inspiration Apps
Omlete is a Meal Planning App Based on What's in Your Fridge
International Cuisine Salad Kits
These New Fresh Express Salad Kits Come in Two Options
Egg Alternative Meal Kits
These Ready-to-Cook Meal Kits in China Feature Plant-Based OnlyEg
Cup-Packaged Deli Meals
The MamaMancini’s in a Cup Range Has Been Expanded
Globally-Inspired Ready-to-Eat Foods
The Asda Food-to-Go Range Has 47 New Options
Pre-Packed Festive Snack Mixes
The Ziploc x Milk Bar Holiday Mix Showcases a Stay-Open Bag
On-the-Go Mini Cookie Packs
Partake Foods Cookies is Introducing Mini Packs for Easy Snacking
Efficiency-Optimized Snack Packaging
This Kellanova Snack Packaging Has Reduced Plastic
Icy Pet Food Packaging
These Hydropac Ice Packs Work to Keep Pet Food Fresh During Shipping
Hearty Heat-and-Eat Meals
Cracker Barrel's Bolstering Its Takeout Menu with New $5 Take-Home Meals
Ready-to-Blend Smoothie Kits
'SmoothieBox' Offers Premade or Customizable Smoothie Kits
Convenient Seafood Protein Pouches
The StarKist Product Range Has Expanded with New Offerings
Dehydrated Plant-Based Meals
Farm to Summit Packages Nourishing Meals in Omnidegradable Bags
Repositioned Deli Meat Brands
The Hormel Natural Choice Brand Debuted a Refreshed Image
Veggie-Filled Meal Kits
Ready Pac Bistro Meal Kits Come in Three Delicious Flavors
Heat-and-Eat Burrito Multipacks
Amy’s Kitchen Frozen Burrito Multipacks Come with Four Servings
Paleo Pasta Meal Kits
Kevin’s Natural Foods Launched Paleo-Certified, Heat-and-Eat Pasta Kits
Beef Jerky Snack Packs
Country Archer Provisions Original Beef Jerky Snack Pack is Convenient
Premade Chicken-Packed Salads
These New Local Bounti Grab & Go Salad Kits are Protein-Packed
Heat-and-Eat Ramen Kits
Crafty Ramen Brings Restaurant-Quality Ramen to the Freezer Aisle
Healthful On-the-Go Wraps
These New Pollen + Grace Wraps Come in Two Varieties
Grab-and-Go Veggie Snacks
The Harvest Snaps Mixed Snack Pack is Here for the Back-to-School Season
Nutritionally Balanced Snack Wraps
Gold Standard Nutrition High Protein Wraps are Satiating
Versatile To-Go Food Wraps
The Novolex Power Prep Wrap is Oil and Grease-Resistant
Premium Heat-and-Eat Soups
Zoup! is Bringing Its Soups in Jars to the Summer Fancy Food Show
Ready-to-Eat Plant-Based Meals
Beyond Meals from Beyond Meat Prioritize Plant-Based Convenience
Vegetable-Packed Recipe Deliveries
The Gousto 'Veg Table' Recipe Boxes Include 12 New Dishes
Ultra-Fresh Deli Meals
Fresh Food For Now Debuts a New Assortment of Sandwiches, Salads, and Wraps
Whole Grain Cereal Bars
These General Mills Portable Cereal Bars are Formulated for Schools
Shelf-Stable Vegan Salamis
Renegade Foods Created Industry-First Vegan Deli Meats
Streamlined Meal Planning Apps
Foodpot Helps with Meal Planning and Recipe Discovery
Protein-Packed Quick-Serve Meals
Perfect Servings Meals Just Need Water and Heating Before Eating
Microwavable Shawarma Bowls
Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma Bowl is Ready in Minutes