Give the chips their own box

Chips get smashed because they’re at the bottom or sandwiched between heavier stuff. The fix is simple: pack them on top, or better, put them in a separate rigid container.

The classic move is putting a hard plastic container or a piece of fruit at the bottom, then laying a napkin over that, and placing the chips on top. That creates a cushion and keeps the weight off. But honestly, the most reliable way is a small tupperware or a bento box compartment just for the chips. It doesn’t have to be fancy—a clean yogurt cup or a cookie tin works fine.

If you’re using a regular lunch bag, the real enemy is motion. Stuff shifts when you walk. So even if you put chips on top, they can slide under other things. That’s why a dedicated container wins: it can literally get banged around and the chips stay intact because the walls take the hit. If you’re not into extra plastic, wrap the chip bag in a few layers of paper towel and shove it into the back corner where it won’t move.

Think of it as paying a few seconds of packing time to avoid the sad crumble at lunch. Your future self will thank you.