Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
No Cook Lunch Prep That Replaced My Sad Desk Salad Forever
30
items Staring at a wilted salad at noon while your coworker heats up something that smells incredible? Same. I started building snack plates with crackers, cheese, turkey, and grapes and haven't looked back. This is for anyone who hates cooking lunch but r...
Sections
5
Snack Plates and Boards That Actually Fit in a Work Bag
Crackers That Hold Up to Cheese Without Crumbling
Cheese and Turkey That Taste Good Cold for Five Days
Fruits and Extras That Round Out the Plate
Small Tools That Make Sunday Prep Take Ten Minutes
Snack Plates and Boards That Actually Fit in a Work Bag
I went through three flimsy divided containers before finding ones that keep crackers from getting soggy and grapes from rolling into the cheese. These are the ones that survived my commute.
Grab this if you need separate compartments so your crackers stay crunchy. I packed mine every day for three months and the seal never leaked once in my tote bag.
25 Real Life Kids Bento Box Lunch Ideas
Perfect for the person who wants a smaller portion. I use one side for turkey rolls and the other for cheese cubes. Fits in even a cluttered purse.
Sistema Snack Attack Duo To Go Food Storage Container
Switch to this if condensation keeps making your lunch soggy. The vents actually work. My crackers stayed crispy sitting in my car for four hours on a hot day.
Rubbermaid 3.2 Cup Brilliance Glass Food Storage
Use these if you're tired of plastic absorbing smells. I prep five on Sunday and stack them in the fridge. They look way nicer than my old Tupperware graveyard.
Prep Naturals - Glass Food Storage Containers
Keep one at your desk permanently. I store backup crackers and nuts in mine so I always have a base layer ready when I forget to pack a full plate.
Anchor Hocking Glass Food Storage Container with Lid
Try this for keeping sliced cheese fresh all week. The adjustable date dial on the lid saved me from playing the sniff test game every morning.
Food Storage Containers
Crackers That Hold Up to Cheese Without Crumbling
Nothing worse than a cracker that snaps the second you put a slice of cheddar on it. I tested a bunch and these are the ones that don't turn to dust in your container.
Pair these with sharp cheddar and you'll forget you didn't cook anything. Sturdy enough to scoop hummus too. My coworker stole three and then bought her own box.
Triscuit, Whole Grain Wheat Crackers, 8.5 oz, Vegan Snacks
Grab a box if gluten wrecks your stomach. They taste buttery without any dairy and hold up under a thick slice of gouda for a full workday in the fridge.
Simple Mills, Crackers, Fine Ground Sea Salt
Sometimes you just want the nostalgic classic. Stack turkey and cheese on these like tiny open-faced sandwiches. My five-year-old calls them pizza crackers and honestly same energy.
Are Ritz Crackers Healthy? What a Dietitian Wants You
Swap these in when you want something with more texture. They're thin but surprisingly strong. I loaded one with cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning and it held.
Crunchmaster Original Multi-Seed Crackers
Keep a box in your desk drawer for emergencies. They're the workhorse cracker. Not fancy, never disappointing, and they pair with literally every cheese I've tried.
Wheat Thins, Snack Crackers, 14 oz
Toss a handful in when you want variety. They're not crackers technically but they hold salsa and guac on snack plate days when I want a southwest vibe.
LATE JULY, Organic Tortilla Chips, 10.1 oz Bag, Sea Salt
Cheese and Turkey That Taste Good Cold for Five Days
Cold turkey can taste like cardboard if you buy the wrong brand. And pre-sliced cheese dries out fast. These actually stayed fresh through Friday without getting weird.
Use this if you roll your turkey around cheese sticks like I do. Ultra thin means it actually wraps without tearing. One package lasts me four lunches easily.
Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Sliced Honey Roasted Turkey
Slice this yourself on Sunday night. Pre-sliced dries out by Wednesday but a block stays perfect all week. The flavor is sharper than most grocery store cheddars.
Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese Block, 16 oz
Bring one of these as a backup snack plate when you forgot to prep. It's basically a mini version of the whole concept in one tiny package. Saved me twice last week.
Sargento® Balanced Breaks® Cheese & Crackers
Toss two or three into your container. The wax keeps them fresh way longer than naked cheese slices. Plus peeling the wrapper is weirdly satisfying at your desk.
Mini Babybel Original Cheese Snacks
Try this when regular turkey starts boring you. The pepper crust gives it actual flavor without adding anything. I pair it with mild provolone so the spice stands out.
Home - City of Columbus, Ohio
Spread this on a Triscuit and tell me it doesn't taste like a fancy appetizer. One container lasts about a week of lunches. Way cheaper than buying a cheese board at a restaurant.
Boursin, Garlic & Fine Herbs Spreadable Cheese, 5.2 oz
Fruits and Extras That Round Out the Plate
A plate with only crackers and protein gets old by Thursday. Grapes, berries, and a few extras keep it interesting enough that I actually look forward to lunch again.
Wash a whole bag Sunday and portion into containers. They stay firm for days and add sweetness between salty bites. My go-to since literally the first plate I ever made.
Welch's 100% Juice, Red Grape, 64 fl oz Bottle, Vitamin C
Toss a small handful in for crunch and protein. No shells means no desk mess. I started adding these after my 2pm energy crash disappeared within a week.
Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Roasted & Salted Nuts
Perfect for the person who finds grapes boring after a while. Pop a few between cheese bites. They're sweet enough to feel like dessert without the sugar crash at 3pm.
Sweetest Batch® Premium Blueberries Punnet 200g
Keep a bag in your pantry for weeks when fresh fruit sells out. They add a tart chew that pairs ridiculously well with sharp cheddar. Basically the raisin upgrade nobody asked for but everyone needs.
Ocean Spray Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries
Bring one of these single-serve cups when you want a Mediterranean vibe. Salty, briny, and they make a regular snack plate feel like something from a wine bar.
Pearls Manzanilla Olives, Pimiento Stuffed, 5.75 oz Jar.
Use these when you want a dip element. I pair them with a small container of hummus and suddenly my desk lunch looks like a charcuterie spread. People ask questions.
RW Garcia Crackers Snacks Cookies Chips Variety
Small Tools That Make Sunday Prep Take Ten Minutes
I used to spend thirty minutes prepping plates until I got a few cheap tools that cut the time down. Now I do all five weekday lunches during one commercial break.
Grab this if you're tired of uneven cheese slices. One pull gives you uniform pieces every time. I went from hacking at a block with a butter knife to looking like a deli counter.
Zulay Kitchen Wire Cheese Slicer with Adjustable
Use this to make thin cheese ribbons when you want to get fancy. Also peels apples for the plate in about fifteen seconds. Paid for itself the first Sunday.
OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler
Portion nuts, olives, and dried fruit into these on Sunday. Pop them out each morning and drop them into your container. Cut my morning prep from ten minutes to about ninety seconds.
Ello Snap & Nest Divided Meal Prep Set
Ditch your giant chef knife for plate prep. This smaller blade slices turkey, cheese, and fruit without feeling like overkill. It's the only knife I pull out on Sundays now.
Farberware, Knife Set, 6-Piece, Stainless Steel
Keep dressings, hummus, or extra dip in these. They seal tight and stack in the fridge door. Way better than those cheap deli containers that leak in your bag.
Ball, Mason Jars, 8 oz, Regular Mouth
Stick one on each prepped container with the day written on it. Sounds silly but it stopped me from grabbing Friday's lunch on Tuesday and wondering why the grapes were soft.
Post-it Super Sticky Notes, 3x3 in, Summer Joy Collection