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Lunchboxes: The Ultimate Guide for 2026
Let's be honest: after a long day at work, who feels like wandering around the supermarket and then spending hours in the kitchen? Meal boxes promise to be the solution—fresh ingredients delivered right to your doorstep, without all the planning stress. But hold back on the euphoria. Are these boxes really as practical as they are advertised to be? And how much do they actually cost compared to a normal shopping trip?
8 min. reading time
Carolin Schmitt
19.12.2025
In this guide, we take a closer look at everything involved: prices, sustainability, and whether you'll get fed up with it after a few months.
Why lunch boxes are so popular: convenience and time savings
The main reason is obvious: you save a tremendous amount of time. No standing around at the checkout, no frantic "What shall I cook today?" pondering in the evening. The ingredients come in precise portions, the recipes are included, and the meal is on the table in 20 to 30 minutes. This sounds particularly appealing to people with busy schedules—commuters, parents who have a thousand other things to do in the evening. And if we're honest, it works. The time savings are real, no question about it.
Subscription models and flexibility
Many providers have now realized that nobody wants to be tied down for months. Most meal box services now allow you to juggle things around quite easily. Want to pause deliveries? No problem. Need to adjust portion sizes because you have spontaneous visitors? That's usually possible too. Whether you live alone, are in a couple, or need plenty of protein after your workout—there are suitable packages for almost every situation. This flexibility makes the whole service much more attractive than if you had to commit to a rigid system.
Costs compared to supermarket purchases: How expensive are meal boxes really?
Now we come to the sensitive topic: money. Providers like to tell you that you'll save money compared to eating out at restaurants. That's true, of course. But what about compared to shopping at REWE, ALDI, or EDEKA? That's a different story. What often gets overlooked are shipping costs, premium surcharges for organic quality, and—watch out—the fact that basics like oil, salt, and pepper are often not included. It all adds up faster than you'd like.
Price calculator: Lunch box vs. supermarket
Conclusion: On average, meal kits from well-known providers such as HelloFresh or Marley Spoon cost around 30-40% more than buying the ingredients yourself at the supermarket. However, they offer considerable time savings (approx. 4.5 hours per week), which is a decisive factor for many customers.
Sustainability of lunch boxes: More than just food waste
Sounds good at first: less food waste because everything is delivered in precise portions. Great in theory. In practice? Well, take a look at the packaging. Everything comes individually wrapped, often in plastic bags, with ice packs and insulating material. This may be practical for delivery, but it's not exactly great for the environment. Packaging waste is a real problem that suppliers like to downplay.
Life cycle assessment matrix: The downside of flexibility
What environmental experts say: The carbon footprint caused by individual shipping and packaging is significant. Even if less food ends up in the trash, the overall balance is often worse than you might think.
Long-term suitability for everyday use: What happens after 6 months?
This is where it gets interesting. The first few weeks with a meal box? Usually pretty cool. New recipes, no planning, everything runs smoothly. But then, after a few months, you might realize: Wait a minute, I had that curry three weeks ago. And the pasta too.
This phenomenon is called "recipe fatigue" – you simply get tired of eating the same dishes over and over again. This is a classic problem with subscription models. Some providers respond to this better than others by regularly rotating their menus or making personalized suggestions. Nevertheless, it can become monotonous in the long run.
Lunch box vs. ready meals: which is the better choice?
Not all box solutions are the same. There are differences between classic meal kits, where you still have to do the cooking yourself, and ready meals, which you just need to heat up. And then there are snack boxes, which are more intended for the office.
Decision tree: What type of box are you?
1
For athletes:
Meal boxes with lots of protein make sense if you're focused on building muscle.
2
For commuters:
Ready meals are more convenient when you're in a hurry and don't feel like cooking.
3
For families:
Larger portions are usually cheaper per person – pay attention to scalability.
3
For vegans/
Vegetarian:
There are now some really good options for plant-based nutrition, so keep an eye out for them.
Conclusion: Are lunch boxes the right choice?
Lunch boxes definitely have their strengths—especially when it comes to saving time and convenience. But they're not perfect. The additional costs compared to the supermarket are real, and the ecological balance is not as green as is sometimes suggested. Whether it's worth it for you depends on how much your time is worth to you and how important sustainability is to you. Get a realistic picture – with all the pros and cons. Then you can decide whether a meal box fits into your everyday life or whether you'd rather stroll through the supermarket aisles yourself.
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QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
It depends on the ingredients, but you can usually expect 3 to 4 days. Some providers also offer frozen options if you want to plan further ahead.
For most of them, yes. Allergies, gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian—that's often possible. It's best to check directly on the website to see how flexible the respective provider is.
With a meal box, you still have to cook—chop, fry, mix. With ready meals, you just throw them in the microwave or oven. It depends on how much time and energy you have.
Sure, the range of products on offer is constantly growing. Many suppliers have special lines for plant-based nutrition—completely free of animal products.
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