Packing Your Lunch Matters

Today, March 10th, is National Pack Your Lunch Day.

We have yet to learn who or when initiated this momentous day to raise awareness to bring lunch boxes, but stumbled a fascinating history of the school’s lunch box.

Lunchbox style

In the 1900s, the kids who attended school either went home to eat lunch with family or carried leftovers from home for lunch wrapped in a metal pail, many of which were recycled tobacco boxes.

Until the 1920s, lunch food from home was still covered in metal ware or wrapped in handkerchiefs. It was not until 1950 that school lunch entered a new era, and kids started bringing mini-suitcase-like lunchboxes to the schools. Those lunch boxes are often printed with a popular image to show off each one’s unique brand. At the same time, many private companies entered the school’s lunch business, and schools began to set up full cafeterias on campus.

Though plastics and vinyl make most lunch boxes that we see nowadays, it was only until the 1990s those metal lunch boxes were replaced by the plastic containers that were first invented during the 1940s’ Tupperware boom.

Lunch Choices

Speaking about lunch choices, while peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are still popular, turkey hotdog roasted vegetables and organic offerings have gradually become a trend for the carried lunch to schools. This nutrition-oriented focus was fulfilled in the 2010s, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in congress brought people’s attention back to the nutrition aspect of school lunches.

“Bring Your Lunch” is Healthy

A survey from the American Heart Association said that more than 56% of employed Americans who typically eat lunch during work hours struggle to make it healthy. While the reason why they don’t have healthy lunch choices was not apparent, reading about the lunchbox’s fascinating history reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Space that allows individuals to reheat or assemble food prepared at home can support healthy eating habits and cooking skills. Sufficient storage space can ensure safe food storage to accommodate the storage need of individuals who brings meals from home.”
-WELL N10, Food Preperation.

On this momentous day, we place this card in our kitchen and felt thankful for our well-thought-out working environment. The adequate reheat and storage space helps us learn and work better every day.