1. Thermos duo lunch kit (insulated lunchbox), £8.49, www.lunchboxesetc.co.uk

This dual compartment insulated lunchbox (it comes in three colours) is clever. The two pockets are insulated and will keep your food hot or cold, so you can keep one of Thomasina's delicious recipes warm in one compartment, and your fruit and drink cool in the other. This lunchbox even comes with a nifty plastic box that slots into the bottom.

2. Warm Soup Container, £9.99, www.lakeland.co.uk

I have fallen madly in love with this one, which works for more than soup. It also takes pasta, rice, warm salads. Its insulatory qualities are not as good as the other products mentioned here - your food won't stay piping hot for more than an hour or two - but as it is microwaveable you can always give it a quick burst. The best bit, not counting the built-in spoon, is a secret compartment in the base for croutons, parmesan, etc. Ingenious.

3. Stanley vacuum food jar, £17.99, www.lakeland.co.uk

The original stainless steel flask is rust- proof, strong and doesn't dent. It also comes in attractive colours, pink for the girls, and khaki for the boys. The wide top makes it easy to clean (a good thing too because the Stanley can't go in the dishwasher), and it lives up to its claim to keep food piping hot for 12 hours. At 0.5l, it is large enough to hold a decent-sized portion of lunch.

4. HiGear hot gel reusable handwarmers, £7.49, www.blacks.co.uk

If you're dubious about magic lunchboxes claiming to keep your food hot for ages, pop one of these hot gel pads in your lunchbox for extra heating ability. And if you get chilly on the way to work, slip them into your gloves for ten minutes for toasty warm paws. They're designed for outdoorsy types to ward off chilblains, but why should that stop you? They are rechargeable and they can be reused 100 times.

5. It's in the bag, £22, www.quirkybags.co.uk

Why should children get all the good lunchboxes? I've been carrying my lunch to work in a plastic bag since the credit crunch took its toll, and it's not a good look. This neoprene (wetsuit material) bag comes in a natty, very Paul Smith-esque style.It looks more like a handbag than a lunchbox and will brighten up the dullest of days. It has a separate pocket for your cool drink and will keep your soup/pasta/rice toasty warm for up to four hours. And now for the best bit...it opens up into a placemat. Which is lucky, really, because what self-respecting office worker would eat lunch without one?

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