The best picnic lunch box has a cutting-board lid.

The best picnic lunch box for doubling as a cutting board and serving tray is a wooden bento box with a flat, food-safe lid.

Wood is the obvious choice here. It’s naturally nice to work with, looks good on a blanket, and a well-sealed bamboo or beech lid gives you a clean surface for slicing tomatoes or laying out crackers. Traditional Japanese makunouchi bento boxes do exactly this — the lid comes off, flips over, and it’s your board.

If you’d rather not deal with wood, look for a bento box with a separate solid tray that sits on top, like a double-decker container. The tray works as a serving dish, but don’t expect it to be a great cutting board — most are flexible plastic. So decide what matters more: chopping or serving.

When you’re shopping, check for three things: a flat top, no grooves or hinges, and a food-safe finish. Avoid anything painted or lacquered unless the manufacturer explicitly says it’s safe. And make sure the lid still seals well when it’s acting as a lunch box, not a snack board.

You’re basically buying a small cutting board that hugs your sandwich. Sounds weird, but it’s the best picnic hack you’ll use.