Pack for the backpack, not the picnic.

Pack food that can take a beating, in containers that won’t leak, and assume your backpack will get tossed around.

Your lunchbox is going to get squished. Trail mix, jerky, hard cheese, apples, and tortillas all survive being buried under a puffy jacket. Sandwiches on soft bread, chips, and anything with a “crunch” texture will come out as sad crumbs. Use tortillas or pita instead of sliced bread. Skip the glass containers entirely — one bad step and you’re picking shards out of your sleeping bag.

For containers, use a soft-sided insulated lunch bag, not a hard bento box. It squishes into whatever gap your pack has left and flexes when you drop your bag. Everything needs to be leak-proof, even if you think it isn’t liquid — hummus, yogurt, dressing. One leak ruins the whole trip. Freeze a small water bottle the night before and use it as both an ice pack and drinking water later. It weighs the same as the water you’d carry anyway.

Pack your lunch on top of your gear, or against your back if you want to keep it cold. And remember: whatever goes in comes out. Bring a small trash bag or reuse your lunch bag for the empties.

Your hike is the main event — lunch just needs to show up in one piece.