Bento box

A bento box is a lunch container divided into two or more compartments, a format that traces back to Japanese single-portion meal boxes but is now used broadly in meal prep for keeping foods separate. Instead of one big container where a dressing or sauce can soak into everything else, each compartment holds its own component.

When choosing one for meal prep, check whether it is leak proof around each compartment, not just around the outer lid, since a poorly sealed divider lets sauce cross over anyway. Microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe materials matter if you plan to reheat lunch at work, and a slim, stackable shape makes it easier to fit into a lunch bag alongside an ice pack.

A common mistake is using a bento box for foods that need to stay hot, since most are designed for room-temperature or cold lunches rather than insulated heat retention. If you want a hot lunch to stay hot for hours, a food thermos is a better match, with the bento box reserved for salads, grain bowls, and cold or reheat-at-work meals.