8 Creative Halloween Bento Lunch Box Ideas
Seasonal Bento lunch boxes are one of those “Pinterest mom” things that are just too adorable to pass up. These Halloween Bento lunch box ideas are not only fun, but they’re adorably spooky for your little ones!
Spooky season is upon us and it’s a time where I like to get creative, especially when it involves feeding my soon to be three year old. He loves Halloween, and he loves to eat. Any boy moms can relate, am I right?
I grew up with the smell of more traditional bento box lunches which usually include a protein (fish or poultry), rice, and assorted vegetables. I get a little nostalgic anytime I have a beautifully arranged bento because presentation is just as important as flavor.
So, with all this in mind, I decided to put my spin on Halloween bento lunch box ideas that you can recreate at home, pack for school, or take on a trip.
My Japanese Mom friends would be so proud. Also, not all bento boxes are created equal, so I’ve linked my favorite bento boxes that I’ve come to love below.
Best Bento Lunch Boxes for Kids
So many bentos on the market, so much room for error. Some are expensive and yet they don’t keep cold food cold, or hot food hot. Some leak. Others don’t hold enough quantity. Some are very hard to clean. Others leak toxic chemicals. With that said, I think I’ve found my favorites and this is why.
1. Bentgo Omie Box
This bento box lasts a very long time, and for the price point it’s a solid buy. It keeps cold food cold and hot food hot simultaneously in one box which is wonderful if your little wants soup and chilled strawberries at the same time.
2. Saffron & Sage: Japanese Style Bento
This bento is quite simple and chic. It’s typical Japanese style which is probably why I gravitate towards it, but also it literally stacks up. fully leak proof as well as microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, making it low maintenance. BPA free and comes with dividers. Every time I take it outside of the house, I get compliments!
3. Stainless Steel Bento
Stainless steel products are very environmentally friendly and they don’t leak toxins like their plastic counterparts. I like this bento for those reasons but also it holds a lot of food. And while a toddler could very well eat nicely from this container, I would say it’s meant for an adult sized portion.
Cute Halloween Bento Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
“Ghost Onigiri”
To make these cute ghost rice balls, shape your freshly cooked white rice (warm) into a ball the size of your palm and gently pull down to make a tear drop shape. Create the black eyes with seaweed, you can use kitchen scissors to literally cut out shapes from seaweed sheets.
*If you don’t want to do this by hand, they actually have ghost molds that you can find here to make them more uniform. Or, use a cookie cutter like these ones, whichever method you prefer they all will turn out cute!
Speaking of cookie cutters, cut outs are a lot of fun. I do this with kamaboko, which is fish cake (seen above) but you can do this with anything. From cheese, to deli slices, to bread and pancakes. And also they just make for fun shapes to eat.
“Sandwich Monsters”
To make these lil sandwich monsters come to life, all you need is a few toothpicks and some stuffed olives. This also goes really well with an egg sandwich.
Cut your bread into 2 circles using a round cookie cutter.
Roll one piece of ham or turkey as the “monster tongue”
Layer in between cheese (you can cut cheese into circles as well.)
Using toothpicks, secure your olives on top to act as the eyes. I personally like the green olives for this sandwich, but you can use black too.
More Halloween Bento Lunch Ideas
Deviled Egg Spiders - Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Take yolks out and mash in a separate bowl as you would traditional egg salad with mayo, salt, and pepper. Place yolk mixture back in the eggs. Cut 1 whole black olive in half. Place one half of the olive on top of the egg mixture to act as the spider’s body. Thinly slice the other olive half into 8 pieces, put 4 legs on each side and voila.
Mummy Hotdog/Sausage - Wrap pastry dough strips around a hot dog or sausage and airfry til cooked. Dot some ketchup for eyes after it’s cooled from the fryer.
Spooky Spaghetti - Simply mound spaghetti with sauce of choice. From red to pesto, anything works and put into a bento compartment. Add small mozzarella balls for eyes and cut black olives to put on top for a more realistic eyeball. Now you have a creepy pasta dish looking back at you.
Hot Dog/Sausage Octopus - This is kind of a classic you’ll find in Japanese kids bento boxes. It’s quite cute, and easy as the hotdog will look like an octopus once cooked. *Look for mini sausages or cocktail sausages since these will go into a bento box.Hold sausage sideways and cut 8 legs, leaving some room at the top which will be the octopus’s head. Next, cook in a well oiled pan or airfryer and once cooked the legs will shrivel up and splay outwards creating your octopus shape. Simple!
Frankenstein Avo Toast - Kind of self explanatory, but avocado toast is so easy so why don’t make it festive this Halloween. Spread mashed avocado on bread of choice. Cut zig zag “hair piece” using kitchen scissors and a seaweed sheet and place on one side of your bread to create Frankie’s hair. Cut 2 pieces of radish into half circles for eyes and half a tomato slice for the mouth.
Ghost Toast/Pumpkin Toast - This one is so cute for breakfast. Using a 3” cookie cutter in either a ghost shape or pumpkin, whatever you want really. Cut one shape in your bread of choice. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Toast your bread on one side in the pan until golden. Flip, and add an egg white to the cut out shape. Cover the pan for about 2 minutes or until the egg sets. You can add sriracha or hot sauce to dot eyes.
More Halloween Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
1. Halloween Spiderweb Hard Boiled Eggs
For Halloween morning, these Halloween Spiderweb Hard-Boiled Eggs make a perfect breakfast choice, offering a delightful and eerie surprise.
2. Halloween Mummy Dogs
Making these Mummy Dogs is a breeze and a beloved childhood treat, perfect for Halloween parties and kids' lunches throughout October! Refrigerated crescent roll dough comes to the rescue, making these adorable little snacks in under 15 minutes.
3. Halloween Baked Cheese
Baked Halloween cheese is a simple and delightful Halloween snack, ideal for serving as a spooky appetizer at your Halloween party or as a fun pre-trick-or-treat dinner for the kids.
4. Halloween Deviled Eggs
These straightforward Keto Halloween Deviled Eggs are an ideal Halloween party snack for your kiddos!
5. Halloween Pancakes
Halloween pancakes make for an enjoyable morning ritual for kids during the Halloween season. Your little ones will adore these Halloween-themed pancakes designed as pumpkins, ghosts, and spider webs.
6. Halloween Fruit Kebabs
Creating these vibrant Halloween Fruit Kabobs is incredibly easy! They're a delightful addition to parties, after-school snacks, or enhancing an October fruit platter. We provide numerous recommendations for customizing them to your liking, along with presentation concepts and delectable dips to accompany them.
7. Frankenstein Kiwis
Crafting these adorable Franken-kiwis is a breeze, making them a delightful and wholesome Halloween treat. They're not only enjoyable to create, akin to delectable Halloween craft projects, but also an ideal addition to Halloween fruit platters, enjoyable after-school snacks, and edible decorations for Halloween parties!
8. Crescent Mummy Meatballs
Take a look at this effortless recipe for crescent mummy meatballs with only four ingredients. It's a delightful meal concept that the entire family will relish, making it an ideal choice for Halloween dinner or any occasion.
9. Halloween Grilled Cheese
When it comes to adding some excitement to snacks, these Halloween Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are a breeze to make, with versatile ingredients to cater to everyone's tastes, and they're a huge hit with the kids.
10. Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas
Prepared within minutes, these charming Jack o'Lantern quesadillas serve as an ideal Halloween dinner for selective eaters. With straightforward ingredients and an uncomplicated method, they are a breeze to create!
11. Mummy Pizzas
These petite mummy pizzas make for a delightful and nutritious Halloween treat. With a mere four ingredients, you can have them ready in just fifteen minutes! Absolutely spook-tacular!
12. Toxic Waste Halloween Mac and Cheese
This Mac and Cheese with a "Toxic Waste" twist is surprisingly tasty and genuinely nutritious. It makes for the perfect Halloween-season meal, and the kids will thoroughly enjoy digging into it!
13. Halloween Sandwiches
The Owl Halloween Sandwich offers a spooky and delightful way to delight your children during the Halloween season, and you won't require any special tools to create it!
14. Crescent Roll Mummies
Utilize this recipe for crescent roll mummies to craft charming snacks for your party or Halloween dinner guests. Simply prepare the dough and fill it with your preferred pizza ingredients to whip up these speedy and straightforward pizza pockets in the comfort of your home.
I hope you found some cute Halloween Bento lunch box ideas for your littles from this post! Which one was your favorite? I’d love to hear in the comments or in a DM on Instagram (@Lauren.As.of.Late)
