Bento Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
Today I am sharing some easy bento lunch box ideas for kids.
With summer days slowly dwindling, and the new school year right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about packing lunches for school.
If you are a mom who is packing lunches each day, I know that it can very quickly start to feel like an arduous chore. Over the years I've figured out a system that works for us, and it helps make packing lunches a little easier and quicker.
Check out these kid bento box lunch ideas for some inspiration, and try our system to make lunches quick and easy each morning (or night).
*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may make a small commission at no cost to you.
What is a bento box?
A bento box is a Japanese-style lunch box container that can hold a variety of foods in small compartments. There are so many different options out there, you can decide on the best one for your kids based on their age. My favorites are below!
What is the purpose of a bento box?
- Bento boxes make it easy to incorporate a variety of foods in your child's lunch.
- Bento boxes create less waste, as you do not need to package lunch items separately.
- Bento boxes save you money, since you will need to buy less pre-packaged snacks.
- Bento boxes can cut back on food waste, since you can control how much of each item you pack.
- Bento boxes can help to create a more balanced and nutritious lunch.
- Bento boxes can be fun for kids who are ready to pack their own lunches.
Tips for Packing a Bento Box Lunch
Create a plan that you can repeat.
This may seem boring, but kids actually like predictability and routine. Have a plan for what you will pack each day, and repeat it multiple days or each week. Easier for you, and kids know what to expect. Maybe you have 3 days that are sandwiches or bagels, one that is a cheese and cracker type lunch, and one that has their favorite chicken nuggets (we do this on Wednesdays). No need to reinvent the wheel every day.
Have a set number of items for the box.
We tend to do one main, one fruit, one vegetable, one crunchy snack and a small treat. It's the same for every lunch. As long as I have items for each of these on hand, it's easy to pack. My 9-year-old packs hers herself now, and she knows what and where the options are.
Include school lunches in your weekly meal/grocery planning.
I didn't used to do this. My grocery list primarily involved fruits and vegetables, proteins, things we needed for meals, etc. Now I make sure to have the items I will need for lunches as a part of my grocery planning. Check your cupboards or pantry. Components for main meal? Crunchy snack or two? Fruits and veggies? With a little planning, you'll feel less stressed during the morning rush.
Prep some items in advance.
Along the same lines as above, in order to make things quick and easy you want to have easy-to-grab items. This might mean some prep on the weekend, or at the start of the week. For me, this often looks like washing, drying and cutting up fruits and veggies so they are in containers ready to go.
Get your kids involved.
Kid's tastes often change. While I want to include lots of filling, healthy options in their lunch, they are only going to get eaten if I am giving my kids things they like. Make a list of their favorite fruits, veggies, crunchy snacks and sweet treats. Let them be involved in the planning process, and if they are older, packing their own box.
Lunch Ideas for Bento Boxes
Fruits & Vegetables
We include at least two of these in each lunch.
- Sliced apples
- Sliced pears
- Clementines (peel in advance)
- Berries (all kinds)
- Cantaloupe
- Grapes
- Carrots or carrot chips
- Cucumbers
- Celery sticks
- Sliced bell peppers or mini peppers
- Olives
Mains
We include one main for each lunch.
- Classic PB&J - use Sunbutter if your school is nut-free (we do a half to fit in the box)
- Bagel with cream cheese - my daughter's favorite (we do a half to fit in the box)
- Turkey and cheese roll-up on a tortilla, or just sliced turkey and cheese rolled up (we like Mission for gluten free wraps)
- Quesadilla - we make these at night and cut into strips, my kids like them room temp
- Charcuterie - cheese, crackers, beef stick or pepperoni, hummus and veggies - often our end of the week option
- Hard boiled eggs cut in half with salt and pepper
- Pancakes (cut into strips or rolled up) with sliced turkey sausage links
- Yogurt and granola (put yogurt in small silicone container)
- Rotisserie or grilled chicken (in pieces, with ketchup for dipping)
- Chicken nuggets - I make these in the oven in the morning, let come to room temp, and put in bento box (our favorite is Applegate Farms gluten free nuggets)
Crunchy Snacks & Treats
Choose whatever you and your kids like best! We try to have at least two options in our cupboard and these usually include pretzels and a cheesy snack like Made Good Star crackers. For treats we'll tuck in a cookie, a small piece of chocolate, or fruit snacks. I like Made Good or Partake cookies because they are allergy-friendly. Check out our favorite gluten free snacks for more ideas!
Our Favorite Bento Boxes & Accessories
Bentgo Kids 5-Compartment Leak Proof Box
This is my favorite box for young kids, from preschool through 2nd grade. We've used these for years, and have never had to replace. They come in lots of colors and designs, and have 5 compartments that fit exactly what we want. You can also get an insulated tote for your box, with room for flat ice packs if needed.
Bentgo Chill Kids 4-Compartment Leak Proof Box
This is the box that my daughter started using in 3rd grade and will continue to use this year. It has 4 compartments. This one comes with a removable ice pack, that you can include or not depending on what is in your box.
Bentgo Kids Stainless Steel 3-Compartment Box
My 11 year old son uses this box (when he isn't buying school lunch). It's made of stainless steel, as opposed to plastic, and it has three larger compartments. It comes with a small silicone container as well, to separate items.
PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Bento Box
This one is a bit pricey, but it's a really great box. We used this one when my oldest started kindergarten, and he used it throughout elementary school. It's stainless steel, and has 5 perfect sized compartments. You can also purchase a case for the box.
Bentgo Kids Snack Container
This container is perfect if your kids bring a snack to school. It's small in size, with two compartments. It can help save on the cost of pre-packaged snacks (you can buy a large size instead of individually portioned) and gives kids an option for some variety. We usually include a fruit and then a dry snack such as crackers, granola balls, pretzels, etc.
Bentgo Sidekicks Silicone Containers
I just ordered these silicone reusable containers for this upcoming school year. They fit the bentgo boxes that I shared above. They are leakproof and perfect for dips, sauces, yogurt, fruit, etc.
Animal Food Picks
We love these cute little food picks to stick in bento boxes, perfect for picking up cut up fruits.
Here's to a school year with less lunch stress!
With a little prep and planning, you can make packing lunch a bit easier on yourself and your kids with these lunch ideas for bento boxes.
For more school lunch resources, check out these easy lunch box ideas for kids and these healthy school snack ideas for kids.
Before you go, I'd love for you to subscribe to The Weekly Notes, my bi-weekly newsletter. You'll get links to new content, product recommendations, recipes, tips for to make mom life easier, and more! Drop your email below and you'll also get my healthy snack swap guide sent right to your inbox!
2 comments
Comments are closed.
Super helpful, thank you very much!
You're welcome, so glad it is helpful! Thank you for your comment!