Packed Lunch: The Italian Way

Schiscetta, sporta, gamella, brachin… so many names, a single tradition.
Every Italian region has its own way of saying it, but the meaning is always the same: a lunch prepared at home and taken with you, wherever you’re headed.
Because in Italy, lunch, even when it’s a packed lunch, is much more than a quick meal: it’s a daily ritual, a gesture of care, a moment of conviviality… a little corner of home to be enjoyed even when you’re elsewhere.

A Bit of History

Since the Middle Ages, peasants on the Italian peninsula were accustomed to bringing food from home to get through the long days in the fields. This consisted of foods that could withstand the heat and not spoil easily, such as bread, mature cheeses, cured meats, hard-boiled eggs, and grilled or preserved vegetables.

With industrialisation and the development of the railways, more and more people began to travel for work, and the packed lunch became a widespread solution. It was in this context that gavette—military metal containers adapted for everyday use—were born. In the post-war period, the packed lunch also found its place in other areas of social life, no longer just for workers, but also for students and hikers.

Why Choose a Packed Lunch?

Why not simply go to a restaurant, buy something ready-made at the supermarket, order a delivery, or skip lunch altogether to save time?

Because preparing a home-made meal, even for when you’re out, is first and foremost an act of self-love—respecting your own pace, your dietary needs, and, of course, your own taste. It’s a way to take care of your body without compromise, even if it means getting up a little earlier in the morning or being more organised the evening before.

Some do it for health reasons, to avoid skipping a meal or having to rely on pre-packaged, less nutritious foods.
Some do it to save money, avoiding restaurants or takeaways every day.
Some do it for pleasure, to express creativity in the kitchen, or are lucky enough to have someone who prepares it for them with affection.

The packed lunch has become a true Italian institution, so much so that even on the school benches, children who have just entered the classroom ask each other: “What have you got for your break?”
A question that, later in life, transforms in the office into: “What did you bring for lunch today?”

And we think that’s beautiful.