Everything you need to know to face the Tupperware era
The trend of bringing home-prepared food to the office in a lunchbox is growing.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for 2024, food waste in Spanish households has decreased by 19.5% since 2020. In addition to greater social awareness about the importance of not throwing away food and microeconomic data, one of the reasons cited is bringing home-cooked food to work.
Eating out, a luxury
A 2022 study by the Mapfre Foundation and the CEU reveals that 74% of Spaniards eat out at least once during the week, and that 32.8% do so due to work schedules. Meanwhile, the price of the daily menu has risen 19.5% since 2016, according to the latest report by the Spanish Hospitality Association and Edenred, based on data from 2024: from €11.70 to €14 on average nationwide, and in Barcelona it's already €15.10.
The triumph of the Tupperware
With these daily menu prices, it's no surprise that nearly 9 out of 10 Catalans have opted for a more economical option: the Tupperware.
The figures for capers
Plastic, glass and myths
Although the typical prototype of the Tupperware container—and even the original Tupperware, the now-bankrupt company that gave the object its name—is made of plastic, experts recommend buying glass, especially if we plan to heat food. For cold dishes, plastic ones—as long as they're good quality—are also fine.
Some tips
If you have previously frozen capers, remember to defrost them in the refrigerator and not at room temperature.
In the case of salads, it is advisable to dress them just before eating, otherwise they will become wilted.
Some dishes are better prepared: sauces like mayonnaise have a fragile balance and are best kept at home.
Bring whole pieces of fruit to prevent them from oxidizing.
Food storage temperatures are between 4 and 6°C. Insulated bags are good for transport, not storage.
- 19th Century. The first lunchboxes<p>With the Industrial Revolution, many workers had to eat away from home. They began using metal or wooden boxes to carry simple foods, such as bread, cheese, or stews. These were the first lunchboxes.</p>
- 1930s-40s. Decorated metal boxes and picnic<p>During these years, the use of tin cans and boxes with lids—often recycled from biscuits or coffee—became popular for carrying food. They were practical and durable, ideal for taking lunch to the factory or on an outing.</p>
- 1946 Birth of 'Tupperware'<p>American inventor Earl S. Tupper created the first airtight plastic containers, the famous Tupperware containers that gave modern lunchboxes their name. They were lightweight, safe, and reusable, and soon became popular worldwide thanks to the famous "Tupperware parties" of the 1950s.</p>
- 1970s-80s. Tupperware arrives in offices<p>During these years, more and more people worked in offices, factories, or service jobs far from home and had little time for lunch. The Tupperware quickly became a symbol of practicality and economy.</p>
- 1990s-2000s. Offices and microwaves<p>Companies began equipping break rooms with microwaves and refrigerators, which made home-cooked meals much easier. Durable plastic lunchboxes with compartments and safety lids became more common, allowing for a wider variety of food.</p><p></p>
- 2010-2020. Modern and eco-friendly lunchboxes <p>Environmental awareness is making a comeback: materials like glass, stainless steel, and bamboo are being revived. Lunchboxes are more aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, and sustainable.</p>
- The Tupperware, today<p>Today, bringing food from home to the office is common. There are countless types of lunch boxes: airtight, insulated, collapsible, with compartments, and even connected (smart lunch boxes). Takeout has become a healthy and modern habit.</p>
The recipes
One of the most common mistakes when preparing capers is the recipes chosen, and existential boredom is a frequent ingredient. Whether due to eating boring or dull dishes, or a certain inertia that leads to repeating the same dishes every week, some people find that their lunches always end up tasting like boiled rice and grilled chicken. Therefore, it's important to remember that a balanced diet is a varied diet, and that good nutrition is essential to being able to continue with our day. Here are four easy, healthy, and complete suggestions made with seasonal products for each season to enjoy every meal.
-Pumpkin and carrot cream with ginger
-Grilled chicken with baked sweet potato and sauteed spinach
-Apple or pear
-Seasonal vegetable cream
-Lentils stewed with vegetables and hard-boiled egg
-Mandarins or oranges
-Pea and mint cream
-Chickpea salad, chickpeas, tuna and olives
-Loquats or apricots
-Gazpacho
-Trout with potatoes or some seasonal vegetables
-Cherries