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A packed lunch can be the highlight of your day.

I have recently become obsessed with this channel on Youtube,, where this lady shares videos of the bento boxes she cooks and packs for her husband each week. She makes these delicious-looking meals every day, often Asian inspired, other times using simple ingredients such as rice, egg, and sausages, or sometimes even gourmet sandwiches. She makes it look so effortless, as she constructs these vibrant dishes and precisely and delicately packs them into a lunchbox. 

Perhaps the time commitment involved is a little bit unrealistic for some of us (getting up at 6:30am every day, I wouldn't dare!), but it has inspired me to be more creative with my packed lunches for work and uni. It is hardly new information that bringing your own lunch can be healthier and more cost-effective, yet often the motivation is lacking. I think back to the days of a soggy tuna sandwich in high school, and the prospect of a rice bowl from the Hub becomes more promising, despite the price. 

However, I am slowly getting better at making my lunches. I am forgetting that a sandwich can actually be delicious! My two new obsessions right now? One, a baguette with Jarlsberg cheese, prosciutto, and basil. Two, a wrap with greens and cooked chicken, with added Peri-Peri sauce. Both require minimum prep, but are so good! 

Your packed lunch skills can also be improved with some meal prepping. I am starting to learn how to bulk make fried rice or pasta dishes, so that they can last a few days at work. There are so many handy resources on the Internet (and probably TikTok!) for recipes and meal ideas, that you would struggle to ever run out of ideas. 

My bento box video obsession has also taught me that the container helps motivate too, as silly as that may sound. I have recently upgraded from my boring, old, Sistema container. I am now the proud owner of a pink Hello Kitty lunchbox (no shame!) and it makes bring my packed lunch in even more exciting. 

So perhaps I won't be reaching Imamu Room heights with my lunches, but I do think you can find ways to make lunch much more exciting!