Eat Well, Live Well - Lunchbox Saint or Sinner?

It costs far less, offers you more choice and gives you much more time to enjoy your precious lunch hour - so why don't more of us enjoy a packed lunch every day? When it comes to lunchboxes, many of us start off with good intentions. But all too often we'll end up discarding our browning bananas and wilting egg salads once the clock strikes one, and heading down to the nearest cafe. So how do you swap a lunchbox sinner for a lunchbox saint? Here's our easy tips...

Lunchbox sinner: Browning bananas

Lunchbox saint: Fruity fun

Yes, we all know bananas are great - they're nutritious, cheap, and easy to peel and eat on the go. But by the end of the week they're always looking a bit sad, and you'd be much better off sticking one in the blender for a smoothie than putting it in your lunchbox. So look beyond bananas and you'll find loads of fruit out there that's just as convenient. Try tinned fruit in airtight containers - like mandarin oranges, pears, peaches, and grapefruit. It's just as nutritious as fresh fruit and you don't have to worry about it being ripe, either. Raid your supermarket's dried fruit section, as well, for dried cherries, cranberries, apricots, and apples.

Lunchbox sinner: Boring sandwiches

Lunchbox saint: Ryvita toppings

No wonder you're daydreaming about takeaway fish and chips for lunch if the alternative is your fifth cheese and pickle on sliced white in a week. So why not try something a bit different - how about Original Ryvita crispbread with Chorizo, Cream Cheese and Avocado for a healthy and filling snack? We have bags of recipes to inspire you, so click here to find out more.

Lunchbox sinner: Wilting salads

Lunchbox saint: Delicious dips

Eat a salad straight away and it's delicious and nutritious. Leave it in a warm plastic box for five hours and it's an ordeal. Why not try ditching your sagging leaves for a bit of fresh crunch with crudities and dips? Sticks of carrot, celery, red pepper and cucumber or our very own Sweet Chilli or Mutiseed Thins keep so much better and they're fabulous with a variety of dips like salsa, hummus or tzatziki.

Lunchbox sinner: Sugary sweets

Lunchbox saint: Filling treats

There's nothing wrong with something sweet at lunchtime - after all, life would be pretty dull without a bit of what we fancy. But to keep your energy up, make sure it's the right kind of treat. Very sugary chocolate bars or cakes will give you a sugar rush which won't last, leading you into that dreaded mid-afternoon dip. Go for gorgeous bakery treats that will fill you up, like wholewheat muffins, flapjacks, or a handful of nuts and seeds. These also keep well if you fancy doing some batch cooking on a Sunday for the week ahead - and if you'd like an even easier treat, just pick up a pack of Banana, Honey & Cinnamon Ryvita Muffins.