If you’re ready to start focusing on your health and fitness or you simply want to save money by bringing your meals and snacks from home when you’re at work, a meal prep bag with a container set is one of the best ways to help you achieve your goals. Having a spot for every protein, vegetable, fruit, carb, drink and snack makes it easy to plan out your day and stay on track with your eating habits.
For a meal prep bag to work, it requires specific features. A variety of container sizes that can be kept cold or microwaved makes it easy to warm up cold food when it’s time to eat. Being able to put the containers in the dishwasher at the end of the day adds to their usability and saves you time.
An insulated bag keeps food cool and safe to eat, as does extra ice packs included with the bag. Having a spot for additional items, including water bottles, shaker bottles, utensils and personal items means users will be able to carry everything in one organized place.
Whether you’re packing pre and post-workout snacks or taking all three to six meals for the day on the go, the best meal prep bag and container sets will get you organized on your road to healthy eating. Check out these comprehensive meal prep kits.
1. ThinkFit Insulated Meal Prep Lunch Box
Keep your meals and snacks cool all day with the ThinkFit Insulated Meal Prep Lunch Box. Double insulation will help keep hot items hot and cool items cool. Two XL ice packs are included and the bag has an exterior mesh pocket for drinks and an exterior zippered pocket for personal items and utensils. The six containers in the kit, which include four medium (2.5 cups) and two small (1.5 cups) are all made with BPA-free plastic and can be put in the dishwasher, freezer and microwave. The containers each have their own lid that creates a tight seal. An adjustable padded shoulder strap can be used for carrying. ThinkFit also includes an additional seven-day vitamin dispenser.
Pros: The ThinkFit comes with a 20-ounce shaker bottle that includes a stainless steel whisk for mixing protein powder, which can be stored in the screw-on storage container on the bottle of the cup. There’s also a storage section for pills and vitamins.
Cons: The ice packs included in the kit don’t stay cold for extended periods and may need to be replaced with higher quality packs. The containers are also on the smaller size and better for small portion meal prep.
2. A2S Complete Meal Prep Lunch Box
Get everything you need to eat warm and cold meals throughout the day with the A2S Complete Meal Prep Lunch Box. The A2S is the only kit that comes with its own set of stainless steel cutlery, which makes it that much easier to avoid single-use plastics on the go. The three leak-proof containers come with four smaller compartments that can be used to separate smaller items. All containers are BPA-free and can be used in the microwave, freezer and dishwasher. An adjustable shoulder strap is included for easy carrying and two ice packs come with the bag.
Pros: The A2S has a side compartment that can hold one shaker bottle or a small bottle of water and the Thermos included with the set, which is perfect for holding hot soup, coffee or tea.
Cons: The A2S has a side opening that can make it difficult to access all of the containers.
3. Isobag Meal Prep Lunch Box
For the ultimate meal prepper, the Meal Prep Lunch Box ISOBAG includes 12 containers to keep you going all day or enable users to pack enough food for two or more people. Designed to keep food cold between 12 and 16 hours, the Isobag has an insulated top and includes three ice packs. Customers can add containers through the opening on the top of the bag or the zippered front loading opening. Two outside mesh pockets are designed to hold bottles and a top mesh compartment can hold additional items. Two insulated zippered side compartments can be used for shaker bottles or utensils and personal items, as well as bars, vitamins and protein powder.
Pros: Designed to hold enough food for six meals, users can pack their Isobag with a selection of the BPA-free, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe containers that include two 12 ounce, six 16 ounce, two 28 ounce and two 38 ounce containers. The Isobag can hold up to eight containers at once.
Cons: The Isobag is heavy and weighs 4.5 pounds when empty. It’s also the most expensive and largest bag on our list, measuring 8 x 18 x 9 inches.
4. Meal Prep Bag by To Go
For a bag with enough room and containers for a whole day meal prep without the bulk, try the Meal Prep Bag by To Go. This bag comes with four large 20-ounce containers and two smaller 12-ounce containers. All six containers are leak-proof, BPA-free and can be used in the microwave or dishwasher. A leak-proof 23 ounce BPA shaker bottle is included with the bag and can be stored in a side mesh compartment. Personal items can be kept safe in an outside zippered pocket. Items are kept cool thanks to the bag’s insulation and two included ice packs.
Pros: The To Go bag includes two spots for vitamins, including a twist-off storage area on the shaker bottle and a separate seven-compartment pill dispenser. Two ice packs are included.
Cons: The To Go bag is only available in black, which can make it difficult to spot among other lunch bags in the office fridge. It also doesn’t come with a thermos or utensils.