Bringing your own lunch to work each day not only saves money, it means you’re better placed to make healthier choices in your food intake which, in turn, improves your mood and productivity.
Boost your brain power and your energy levels by staying ahead of the cravings, maintaining portion control and crushing the afternoon slump with clean, crisp and crunchy snacks.
Here are three tips for packing a tempting lunch each day:
- Plan ahead to have healthy ingredients and/or leftovers ready to go each morning.
- Keep it interesting – go beyond sandwiches to soup and salads.
- Include a treat – dried fruit or a small square of dark chocolate makes the vending machine less tempting.
So boost your budget, body and mind with a prepared lunch each day in an insulated lunch bag or lunch box, and shop our top ten picks for the perfect lunch tote:

01
Warm tea cooler bag
$20 (usually $39.99), Surf Stitch
Brighten up your work day with this fun cooler bag from surf brand Roxy – created for women, by women and made from recycled polyester with a generous shoulder strap and measuring H18 x W25 x D14.5cm.

02
Pelli Bags insulated lunch bag in Spanish Villa
$59.95, The Iconic
Lightweight, flexible and easy to sling over your shoulder, this lunch bag has you sorted for busy days with space to fit lunch and snacks, and a nifty handle to carry it. It comes in three colours made of either natural jute or canvas.

03
SoYoung large linen insulated lunch bag in Sand & Stone
$49.95, Biome
This chic linen design is spacious enough for adult-sized lunches with a removable inner lining for easy cleaning. It comes with a detachable strap for versatility.

04
GetGo medium Bento box in Blue
$29.97 (usuall6 $34.95, Myer
Leak-resistant, durable and stylish, this compartmentalised lunch box is flexible, stylish and practical to fit lunch every day. Just one part of the “GetGo” range, it comes in three shades (Blue, Black or Pink) and there’s also a snack box and insulated container.

05
Piknik cooler bag
$49.99, Kikki.K
A sophisticated lunch bag with wide handles and an open top for easy access. It’s designed to fit the Takeout Lunch Box perfectly. Choose from six shades with an optional personalised monogram.

06
Crimson Haze lunch satchel
$44.95, The Somewhere Co
With a stylish (vegan leather) strap for a hands-free commute, this compact, bright lunch satchel is your new best friend. A strong magnet and velcro closure will keep everything in place right up until lunchtime.

07
Porcelain bowls (700ml & 1500ml) with glass lids in Cloud
$79.95, David Jones
This set of two bowls, one large and one small, are handy if you want to bring a salad to work, with an airtight seal to keep everything fresh, or for leftovers that need to be warmed up. They’re freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher-safe and also come in Blushed and Mint Gelato shades.

08
Golden Suns insulated lunch bag in Gold
$64.95, The Iconic
Why should kids have all the fun?! This pretty lunch bag is roomy, insulated and perfect for packing your food and snacks for the day. It has a mesh pocket for an ice pack and is small enough to tuck under your arm or stack in the fridge at work.

09
OiOi insulated lunch bag with pocket in Tropical
$75.96 (usually $94.95), Myer
It’s all about the strap for us and this versatile beauty will go anywhere with you and keep your food cool or warm. Wipes clean easily with a damp cloth and has a zip pocket in the lid for your cutlery so you can bypass the work kitchen altogether.

10
Yeti Daytrip packable lunch bag
$298.92, Amazon
When you’re serious about lunch, you need an insulated cooler that won’t let you down. Yeti’s ‘Daytrip’ lunch bag is made using coldcell flex insulation, meaning it keeps hot things hot, and cold things cold. Available in 23 colourways, you can adjust the size of the bag to accommodate everything from a light snack to a three-course lunch. Once break time is over, all you need to do is fold it flat and off you go.