Soft fruits need their own seat

Soft fruits get bruised when they bounce against hard things, so the fix is to give them a stable, cushioned spot that doesn’t move.

The simplest move: pack heavy stuff (sandwich, thermos, yogurt) at the bottom, then put fruit on top. Gravity already does half the work. But the real trick is stopping sideways jostling—if your lunchbox is half empty, everything slides around. Fill the gaps. Use small containers, silicone muffin cups, or just tuck a handful of grapes or cherry tomatoes next to the peach. They act as bumpers.

If you’re packing something delicate like raspberries or ripe plums, give them their own rigid container with a lid. And a paper towel on the bottom (and sometimes on top) absorbs moisture and adds a little cushion. Cut-up fruit in a container is even more forgiving than whole fruit—less surface area to hit, and no stem poking anything.

Or skip the hassle: pack an apple, a mandarin, or grapes. They travel like troopers. Peaches, pears, and berries are the divas.

Lunch shouldn’t be a game of fruit roulette.