From Kathy M, Solutions’ resident expert on home & garden tips & how-to’s:
For those of us who work full time, going out to lunch or getting take-out every day can be hard on the wallet – not to mention the waistline! That’s why this winter I decided to start bringing my lunch from home…

Gourmet Getaway Bag

Figuring out how to transport a lunch can be a hassle; I’m really too old for the cartoon lunch box of my childhood, and the ubiquitous paper bag is pretty flimsy – plus, it doesn’t accommodate oddly shaped containers. Going by the reviews, the Gourmet Getaway is a big hit with our customers, so I decided to give it a try. I’m only sorry I waited so long! Small enough to carry easily, the stretchy neoprene lets me squeeze in containers of many different sizes. Plus, it keeps hot foods warm and cold foods chilled – a great feature for long car rides. On hot days, I toss a Re-usable Ice Mat in with my lunch in case I get stuck in traffic.

Another thing: I’ve more than once experienced the annoyance of having a container of soup leak into my lunch bag. Talk about annoying – you not only lose your lunch when that happens, you have to deal with cleaning the bag, too. Not anymore – I can just toss the Gourmet Getaway Bag in the washing machine!

I also love the way this bag looks. I got the SoHo pattern, which is easy to spot in our office fridge.

10-oz Thermos® Stainless Steel Food Jar

Speaking of spilled soup – that doesn’t happen anymore since I started using the 10-oz. Thermos® Stainless Steel Food Jar. The leak-proof lid screws shut, making it perfect for soup, stew and leftover pasta or casserole. Unlike drinking thermoses, its wide mouth makes it easy to eat out of – there’s no need for me to transfer the food to a bowl at lunchtime. I got one for my husband, who travels a lot for work and often finds himself eating on the road. He’s even used it to keep cold potato salad chilled in warm weather.

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Last but not least on my list this month is the Stainless Steel Water Bottle. We all know staying hydrated is important, and this bottle holds 16 ounces, making it easy for me to track my amounts during the day. This bottle is not only better for the earth than disposable plastic, it’s healthier to drink from, and the water tastes better than it does from an aluminum bottle.

With such great “on the go” lunch problem-solvers, eating in can be as easy as eating out – and much more affordable!

Best,
Kathy