I am interested in this context because I frequently travel, whether that is camping or abroad on a plane. When I'm travelling I often find myself bringing packed lunches and snacks however I always have to be cautious of bringing too much as it may take up too much space in my bags, so in choosing this context I aim to explore products that help people to eat away from home and how to make it easier.

Eating away from home presents various challenges due to the lack of essential items available. These essentials include cutlery, utensils, plates, bowls, a surface to eat on such as a table, and equipment to maintain food at the desired temperature, like a fridge. Not having these items can make it difficult to eat a meal as conveniently and comfortably as one would at home.

Eating away also has another issue in the food itself many foods require certain temperatures to remain edible and tasty. This is a huge concern for people who are eating away from home as they will need to consider how long the food they are to take will stay fresh before going bad: these products mostly consist of dairy or meats.

Having to eat away means bringing the food elsewhere, this requires the person to physically carry the meal with them. And as I mentioned in my reasoning behind choosing this context, it takes a lot of space and can often be very heavy to carry. This is hugely inconvenient as most would wish to bring as much food as possible whilst still maintaining space to put other items in their bags.

The first method of transporting the food is to have it already prepared and packed into a container so that the food can be carried without being contaminated, destroyed or leaking into one's bag. This is a difficult challenge, however there are many products on the market posing as a solution varying from cling film wrap to portable lunch boxes. But, many of them still have flaws and ways to improve so as a designer I will aim to learn from their mistakes and also listen to feedback my client gives on already existing products

Another method of eating away from home is to have an already cooked meal that just needs to be re- heated, these are often used in camping as they are very compact and only require boiling water to be heated again. However, these meals aren't often preferable as they don't taste very nice and are not an option some people with allergies as it can be difficult to find a meal without their allergen in it. And these meals will not even be considered in situations when the user doesn't have any method of re- heating the meal. However this option is very good for those who are looking for something lightweight, fast, compact and will last long periods of time.

Food must be properly maintained to ensure it remains fresh, uncontaminated, and tasty. This includes keeping it at an appropriate temperature, sealing it to prevent contamination, and taking taste into consideration. Often, foods that last for a long time without going stale/ expiring are less healthy, as they are likely to be processed and lacking in nutritional value.

It is easy for people to opt for fast food chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Subway when eating away from home for a quick meal. However, relying on fast food over an extended period of time is very unhealthy. These chains offer meals that are high in calories, unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium, as well as being extremely lacking in nutritional value. Constantly eating fast food can lead to varying health issues, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Additionally, these foods often lack essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are necessary for maintaining overall health and well-being. Overall, while fast food may be a convenient, easy and cheap option, it is important to consider the long-term health consequences of eating it so regularly.

Not having enough space is highly inconvenient when trying to take food with you, such as when one is trying to go camping, on holidays, and to work, or school. Limited space in backpacks, suitcases, or lunch bags makes it challenging to pack enough food, especially when trying to include a variety of nutritious options. For example, when people go camping, the need to carry cooking equipment and clothing items further limits available space. As well as for people who are traveling on holiday, finding room for food along with clothes and other essentials can be difficult, often resulting in reliance on less healthy, readily available options. Similarly, individuals going to work or school might struggle to fit a balanced meal into compact lunch containers, leading to repetitive and less nutritious food choices. These space constraints often lead to the person compromising the quality and quantity of food taken, affecting overall convenience and health.

Nowadays, purchasing food from convenience stores often means dealing with plastic, non-renewable and disposable packaging that harms the environment. These single-use plastics contribute to pollution, filling landfills and contaminating natural habitats. Despite not being environmentally friendly, many people opt for these convenient meal choices as preparing and packing meals takes time and effort, and carrying them can be heavy and inconvenient. This convenience however comes at the cost of damaging the environment due to the packaging being very difficult to recycle; often times plastic packaging is placed in landfills or drifts into the ocean.