Lunchtime is one of the most challenging meals of the day because whether you’re dining out or brown-bagging it, it’s hard to track the specifics of what you’re consuming. In most cases, people are forced to keep things simple because Ziplock bags are only so good at keeping food fresh and in order. For the health conscious, although there’s no shortage of fitness trackers, it’s been fairly difficult to keep track of lunch nutrition at reasonably precise levels – while of course transporting that lunch in an efficient, attractive container.
San Francisco based Prepd recently began tackling this issue by developing a smart, stylish lunchbox. Rather than relying on complex sensors to measure food and estimate calories, the Prepd Pack is a bit more practical. The concept of the lunchbox revolves around a modular design and a companion Android and iOS mobile app that contains pre-measured recipes created by professional nutritionists and chefs designed to fit a variety of diet types and health goals.
In addition to showing the recipes, the companion mobile app provides users with custom shopping lists so they know the exact ingredients they need to buy when they head to the store. Prepd Pack integrates with HealthKit on iOS so users can view all their health and fitness data in a single location.
There’s also a few notable accessories which take Prepd Pack beyond just being a lunch box; the magnetic cutlery, for example, is stackable so that you always have your spoon, fork, knife, and even chopsticks stored and ready to go. Another innovative accessory is the Prepd Sleeve; a fabric lined Neoprine insulator which keeps meals hot or cold throughout the day.
Of course, no 21st century food product would be complete without the ability to share your meals; which is why Prepd Pack also has a social networking component built in. When users join the Prepd community, they’re given a profile page where they can save recipes and curate their own meal plans. Users can even connect with like-minded members to share tips and tricks.
Prepd Pack is currently available for pre-order via their Indiegogo campaign starting at $55 for the basic kit, and $100 for a bundle containing two Prepd Packs. Oh, and did I mention that that campaign has raised over $1.9 million? That’s almost 5800% of their original goal.
Although the pack costs a bit more than your typical lunch box, a Lunch Survey by Visa found that the average cost of dining out is $17.60, while the cost of preparing lunch is around $6.30. With Prepd Pack, users can easily create restaurant quality meals while still saving $11.30/day.
The first units are expected to be shipped in July, 2016.
