How to Choose the Best Meal Tray for Office Lunches

For many people, lunch at the office is far more than simply a meal. Lunch is a necessary break, a time to refresh, and sometimes, even a time to be creative with your leftovers. One of the most overlooked aspects of enjoying your lunch is probably your meal tray. 

Whether you order takeout from your favourite food place out of convenience or you are preparing your meals ahead of time, the right meal tray will help you keep everything organized, useful, and appetizing. In today's busy, environmentally conscious world of lunch at the office, meal trays are gaining crazy popularity and for great reasons.

Let's take a look at how you can select the best meal tray for your office lunches, and we will also explore EcoSoul's Organic Bamboo Wooden Serving Tray, providing a premium, eco-friendly option for your gourmet lunchtime pleasure and aesthetic.

Why Is Your Meal Tray Important?

When you’re juggling meetings, emails, and deadlines, your lunch should be the least stressful part of your day. A good meal tray helps by:

• Keeping food items separate (no more soggy bread or mixed-up curries!)
• Preventing leaks and spills in your bag or fridge
• Supporting portion control
• Offering convenience and hygiene
  
  

And, of course, if it’s compostable, it should also be eco-friendly, because sustainability matters more than ever.

Understanding Different Types of Meal Trays

Meal trays are not one-size-fits-all. The best tray for you depends on your eating habits, food types, and work environment. 

Here are a few common types: 

• 3CP Meal Tray: A 3-compartment plate is great for a simple meal like having a main, a side, and salad/dessert. 
• 5CP Meal Tray: A 5-compartment tray gives more options and is suggested for anyone who combines a lot of different foods separate from one another on their plate. You could use a 5-tray for all full-course meals like Indian thalis or combo meals. 
• Disposable Compartments: These plates are disposable and not very waste-friendly; however, they are super convenient if you do not have any kitchen access for cleaning. 
• Lidded Meal Trays: These are great for transporting to work, for food safety, and for those who keep meals in a shared office fridge. 

Knowing your portion size and meal complexity will help you determine if a 3CP meal tray or a 5CP meal tray will work best for you.

Key Features That Enhance the Office Lunch Experience

When determining which meal tray is right for you, remember it is not just about the number of compartments! Consider these additional features for an even better lunch experience:

Grease-Resistant Lid: A properly secured meal tray with a lid will keep your food fresh and avoid messes, especially with meals that have gravy or sauces. 

Microwave Safe Material: If you plan to reheat your lunch, you want it to be safe and easy. The best materials are heat-resistant materials like sugarcane bagasse and BPA-free plastics. 

Stackable: If you meal prep your lunches for the week, stackable meal trays save space in the fridge and in your office bag. 

Compartment Depth: Deeper compartments mean a lower chance of food spilling over and mixing with other foods.

Combining these features in meal trays adds convenience in addition to preserving your food.

Considerations for Health & Safety

Food safety is of utmost importance when a meal is stored for hours before consumption. The considerations below will look like:

• Food grade materials: Stay away from inexpensive and flimsy plastic meal trays, which could leach harmful toxins when heated.
• Seal tight lids: ensure no contamination occurs from moisture or heat, especially if shared space or to-go meal containers are used.
• Vent options: Many meal trays with lids come with steam vents to limit the mess in the microwave.

Last, but not least, ensure you are using food trays that are made from certified, non-toxic, sustainable, and, preferably, biodegradable materials.

Style And Aesthetics For Work

Let's be real—what your food comes from can affect how you feel. Using a stylish tray for your lunch is more enjoyable and makes everything feel a little more luxurious.

EcoSoul Organic Bamboo Wooden Serving Tray

This gorgeous, eco-friendly bamboo tray is more than just a serving tool; it's part of a lifestyle of conscious living.

• 100% FSC-certified bamboo
• Water-Resistant
• Toxin Free
• Lightweight yet durable, with ergonomically placed handles
• Brings rustic-style professionalism to your desk setup
• Antibacterial and Odor-Resistant
• Reusable and sustainable

Although it does not have compartments, you can easily add bento boxes or other meal containers. Perfect for the aesthetic and eco-conscious individual.

Low-Cost Options that Don't Sacrifice Quality

If you're packing lunch every day, cost is an important factor to consider. Not to worry, you can find an abundance of economical disposable options that are durable, great for the environment, and don't break the bank.

Here's how to be cheap:

• Buy in bulk: Often packs of disposable plates compartments can have a lower price per piece.
• Use a reusable tray for dry meals and disposable for messy meals.
• Look for compostable disposables - both variable costs and no waste.

You don't need to be concerned if you're worried about price point or quality - many sustainable brands offer a cheap option with many characteristics found on their expensive version.

Environmental Consequences of Your Meal Tray Options

As climate change and plastic pollution play on people's minds, it is also important to think about the environment when you make lunchware choices.

In place of traditional plastic trays, consider:

• Compostable meal trays made with bagasse, cornstarch or palm leaf
• Bamboo trays such as the EcoSoul tray for long-lasting reusable use
• Meal trays with lids that can be used multiple times, then discarded

Each of our decisions, including switching to eco-friendly disposable plates turning to eco-friendly compartments, add up over time, and will impact our carbon footprint.

Conclusion

There is more to selecting a meal tray for your office lunches than simply choosing a plate. You must take into consideration functionality, your aesthetic, budget, and sustainable impact. If you are looking for lighter meals, 3cp meal trays are relatively light on your work day menu, and if you want to include several items you’ll want a 5cp! No matter which option you choose, always be sure that you find a meal tray with a lid that meets your available options to better suit your available lifestyle.

And, if you want something elegant and sustainable, EcoSoul’s Organic Bamboo Wooden Serving Tray is a lovely addition to lunch.

Lunch is fuel, we know that! But it can also be a small part of your day to pause and take that moment for yourself. Make it matter with that meal tray!