Clockwise from upper left: 1) carrots, peas, and roasted red-pepper hummus; 2) almond & rice crackers; 3) tomatoes, avocados, black olives and mozzarella cheese with salt & pepper; 4) lentil soup.

Today I got a Mr. Bento system, which is basically a large thermos that holds four bowls which stack on top of each other. Traditionally, the bento is a Japanese lunch box with many separate compartments for a variety of foods. Some people get really cute about Japanese bento boxes and try to make them as pretty as possible, but what appeals to me about bento is the idea of bringing a variety of foods with you.

Every day, I bring pretty much the same lunch to work: Turkey sandwich, orange, banana. Don't get me wrong; I truly believe that those three foods are among the most perfect on earth. But still, even though I occasionally toss a plum in there to stir things up, it gets a little boring.

Leftovers are great when you have them, but smaller items like vegetables, chips, and crackers aren't so convenient to bring to work. Sure, you can buy them in individual packages at 35 times their worth not to mention the extra garbage they produce. And then there are things like hummus and dips, which are just too annoying to pack for travel. All in all, it's easier to eat the same thing every day, and avoid variety altogether.

Which is why I picked up this Mr. Bento system. It all packs together in one container, doesn't need refrigeration, and allows for infinite variety.

Still, I have my reservations. I'll let you know how it works out.