19 handy meal prep containers whether you’re in the office or WFH, because meal deals can be damn spenny

Though the majority of us remain WFH, there are still a few who pop into the office from time to time for a welcomed break from the mundanity of it all. Admittedly, among the excitement of being somewhere other than our own four walls for the day, we’ve been treating ourselves to one-too-many Pret lunches in the process. While there’s absolutely no harm in doing that (Sunshine Wrap, we love ya), our bank accounts could do with a little rest from spending unnecessary money 24/7. Remember when your mum used to say “there’s food at home”? She was right.

Enter: our search for the best meal prep containers. You’d be surprised at just how many different varieties there are when it comes to food storage. There are Amazon meal prep containers and glass meal prep containers. Some collapse entirely, some have a sectioned-out interior for all your different snacks, and some even come with their own cutlery! Who knew?

Prepping your meals – whether with a meal delivery service or not – especially during the week for when you’re at work, makes your life a breeze. It can also help you to meet your dietary or fitness goals as you’re more likely to have healthier meals on hand and less likely to go looking for quick fixes (no shame in a cheeky afternoon chocolate bar though). There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, however; meal prepping will look different for different people which is why it’s always good to have a variety of container sizes and types to suit your preferences.

The really organised peeps among us will batch-cook meals ahead of time, portioning it out for the week ahead. Other people will make or prepare meals the night before they intend to eat it. Whichever way you swing, there’s a meal prep container out there for you.

Convenience and time management are two more key factors to meal prepping. Your to-buy list will become much more simple when you know exactly what you’ll be eating and when, plus having a supply of standby meals in the fridge or freezer is a lifesaver during busy weeks when you just don’t fancy cooking. It’ll also save you a ton of money; meal prepping is V budget friendly as you buy ingredients in bulk, which is often cheaper, and you’re using your oven or microwave less!

What are the best containers for meal prep?

One thing is for sure, you definitely don’t want a meal-prep container that’s going to leak if you plan on taking it with you to work. No one wants to open their handbag after a long commute to find their laptop is now covered in tomato pasta and their planner is smeared with hummus. Containers like these air-tight ones from Joseph Joseph are ideal, plus the variety of sizes means you can take one for a starter, one for your main and one for pud (yay).

This black+blum travel lunch pot set comes with its own little spork making it perfect for soups or pasta. Its made with leak-proof silicone which seals everything in – dreamy for picnics – and also features millilitre and fluid ounce markings inside the bigger pot to measure liquid ingredients. Or perhaps you’re looking to buy a larger set of meal-prep containers? In which case, this 40-piece set from Amazon should tick all your boxes (no pun intended). Don’t forget the old faithful bento box style lunch boxes, too, if you’re one for separating your foods.

For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Associate Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.

Keen to get batch cooking? For our round-up of the best meal-prep containers, keep reading.