17 Easy Peasy Bento Box Kids Lunch Ideas to Try
School is back in session, and it is time for those Bento Box lunch ideas, right? I love a good Bento Box lunch, and so does my son. They make for super easy lunch solutions for kids of all ages!
Today I am sharing with you a list of 17 Bento Box kids’s lunch ideas that all ages will love!
Love a good themed lunch as well? Halloween will be here before we know it. Save my Halloween Bento Box lunch ideas for later!
This post contains affiliate links of which I make a small commission.
Best Stainless Bento Boxes for Kids
I love a good stainless Bento Box! They are easy to clean and, IMO, will last longer than the plastic ones.
Here are some great opinions so you can find a great stainless Bento Box for your kids!
17 Yummy Bento Box Lunches for Kids
1. Cucumber Roll Bento
What's Inside:
Cucumber rolls
A protein stick (The Primal or Chomps)
Seasonal fruit (blackberries)
Sweet mochi (Connor's favorite!)
Chopsticks
How to Make It:
Cucumber Rolls: Thinly slice cucumbers lengthwise and roll them up tightly. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
Protein Stick: Pack your kid’s favorite protein stick, like The Primal or Chomps.
Fruit: Add a handful of fresh, seasonal fruit. Blackberries are perfect for this bento.
Something Sweet: Include a couple of pieces of sweet mochi.
Extras: Don't forget to pack chopsticks for a fun eating experience!
2. Protein Pack Bento
What's Inside:
Wild smoked salmon
Hard-boiled egg
Cheese sticks
Cucumber slices
Crackers
How to Make It:
Smoked Salmon: Roll up slices of wild smoked salmon and place them in the bento box.
Hard-Boiled Egg: Peel and halve a hard-boiled egg.
Cheese Sticks: Add a couple of cheese sticks for a calcium boost.
Cucumber Slices: Cut cucumber into rounds or sticks.
Crackers: Pack a handful of your kid’s favorite crackers.
3. From the Garden Bento
What's Inside:
Sweet peppers
Cherry tomatoes
Carrot sticks
Grapes
Crackers
Hummus
How to Make It:
Sweet Peppers: Slice sweet peppers into rings or strips.
Cherry Tomatoes: Add a handful of cherry tomatoes.
Carrot Sticks: Cut carrots into sticks.
Grapes: Include a small bunch of grapes.
Crackers: Pack some crackers to pair with the veggies.
Hummus: Fill a small container with hummus for dipping.
4. Classic Bento
What's Inside:
PBJ on whole wheat
Strawberries
Apple slices
Chocolate chip protein bar (Perfect Bar)
How to Make It:
PBJ Sandwich: Make a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich using whole wheat bread. Cut into fun shapes if you like!
Strawberries: Add some fresh strawberries, hulled and halved.
Apple Slices: Slice up an apple and pack it in.
Protein Bar: Include a chocolate chip protein bar for a sweet and nutritious treat.
5. “Chinese Takeout” Style Bento
What's Inside:
Chow Mein
Steamed broccoli
Veggie dumplings
Chicken or shrimp
How to Make It:
Chow Mein: Cook and cool chow mein noodles, then place them in the bento box.
Steamed Broccoli: Lightly steam broccoli and let it cool before adding.
Veggie Dumplings: Prepare or heat veggie dumplings and pack them in.
6. Peanut Butter & Jelly Bento
What's Inside:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (use a cookie cutter for fun shapes)
Fresh strawberries
Carrot sticks
Dark chocolate chips
Hard-boiled egg
How to Make It:
PB&J Sandwich: Make a classic PB&J on whole wheat bread and cut into fun shapes with a cookie cutter.
Strawberries: Add a few fresh strawberries.
Carrot Sticks: Peel and cut carrots into sticks.
Dark Chocolate Chips: Include a small handful of dark chocolate chips.
Hard-Boiled Egg: Peel and halve a hard-boiled egg.
7. Veggie Delight Bento
What's Inside:
Cucumber slices
Cherry tomatoes
Bell pepper strips
Hummus
Babybel cheese
How to Make It:
Cucumber Slices: Slice cucumber into rounds.
Cherry Tomatoes: Add a handful of cherry tomatoes.
Bell Pepper Strips: Slice bell peppers into strips.
Hummus: Fill a small container with hummus for dipping.
Babybel Cheese: Include a Babybel cheese.
8. Protein Power Bento
What's Inside:
Deli meat roll-ups
Mozzarella cheese sticks
Celery sticks with cream cheese
Apple slices
Crackers
How to Make It:
Deli Meat Roll-Ups: Roll up slices of deli meat (turkey or ham).
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks: Add a couple of mozzarella cheese sticks.
Celery Sticks: Fill celery sticks with cream cheese.
Apple Slices: Slice an apple and pack it in.
Crackers: Include a handful of crackers.
9. Fun Finger Foods Bento
What's Inside:
Chicken nuggets
Sweet potato fries
Ranch dressing
Fresh grapes
Dark chocolate chip cookie
How to Make It:
Chicken Nuggets: Cook and cool chicken nuggets.
Sweet Potato Fries: Bake sweet potato fries and let them cool.
Ranch Dressing: Pack a small container of ranch dressing for dipping.
Grapes: Add a small bunch of fresh grapes.
Cookie: Include a dark chocolate chip cookie.
10. Mini Pizza Bento
What's Inside:
English muffin mini pizzas
Carrot sticks
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh fruit (grapes or apple slices)
Cottage cheese
How to Make It:
Mini Pizzas: Top English muffin halves with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your kid’s favorite toppings. Bake until the cheese is melted.
Carrot Sticks: Peel and cut carrots into sticks.
Cherry Tomatoes: Add a handful of cherry tomatoes.
Fresh Fruit: Include grapes or apple slices.
Cottage Cheese: Fill a small container with cottage cheese.
11. Savory Muffin Bento
What's Inside:
Savory egg muffins
Bell pepper strips
Fresh strawberries
Cheese cubes
Crackers
How to Make It:
Savory Egg Muffins: Bake egg muffins with veggies and cheese in a muffin tin.
Bell Pepper Strips: Slice bell peppers into strips.
Strawberries: Add some fresh strawberries.
Cheese Cubes: Include a few cheese cubes.
Crackers: Pack a handful of crackers.
12. Noodle & Dumpling Bento
What's Inside:
Cold sesame noodles
Veggie dumplings
Steamed broccoli
Fresh pineapple chunks
Dark chocolate chips
How to Make It:
Sesame Noodles: Prepare sesame noodles and let them cool.
Veggie Dumplings: Cook and cool veggie dumplings.
Steamed Broccoli: Lightly steam broccoli and let it cool.
Pineapple Chunks: Add fresh pineapple chunks.
Dark Chocolate Chips: Include a small handful of dark chocolate chips.
13. Cheese & Crackers Bento
What's Inside:
Cheese slices (variety)
Crackers
Cherry tomatoes
Apple slices
Seed butter (for apple slices)
How to Make It:
Cheese Slices: Include a variety of cheese slices.
Crackers: Add a handful of crackers.
Cherry Tomatoes: Pack some cherry tomatoes.
Apple Slices: Slice an apple and include some seed butter for dipping.
Seed Butter: Fill a small container with seed butter.
14. Cottage Cheese Delight Bento
What's Inside:
Cottage cheese
Fresh blueberries
Cucumber slices
Baby carrots
Crackers
How to Make It:
Cottage Cheese: Fill a small container with cottage cheese.
Blueberries: Add a handful of fresh blueberries.
Cucumber Slices: Slice cucumber into rounds.
Baby Carrots: Include a few baby carrots.
Crackers: Pack some crackers for dipping.
15. Breakfast for Lunch Bento
What's Inside:
Egg muffins
Mini pancakes
Fresh berries
Cheese stick
Apple slices
How to Make It:
Egg Muffins: Bake egg muffins with your choice of veggies and cheese.
Mini Pancakes: Include a few mini pancakes (store-bought or homemade).
Berries: Add a mix of fresh berries.
Cheese Stick: Pack a cheese stick.
Apple Slices: Slice up an apple and pack it in.
16. Veggie Wrap Bento
What's Inside:
Veggie wrap (tortilla with hummus, cucumber, and bell peppers)
Carrot sticks
Fresh grapes
Babybel cheese
Dark chocolate chips
How to Make It:
Veggie Wrap: Spread hummus on a tortilla, add cucumber slices and bell pepper strips, then roll up and slice.
Carrot Sticks: Peel and cut carrots into sticks.
Grapes: Add a small bunch of fresh grapes.
Babybel Cheese: Include a Babybel cheese.
Dark Chocolate Chips: Add a small handful of dark chocolate chips.
17. Classic Turkey Bento
What's Inside:
Turkey and cheese sandwich
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber slices
Fresh strawberries
Cheese cubes
How to Make It:
Turkey Sandwich: Make a turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread.
Cherry Tomatoes: Add a handful of cherry tomatoes.
Cucumber Slices: Slice cucumber into rounds.
Strawberries: Include some fresh strawberries.
Cheese Cubes: Pack a few cheese cubes.
Making Bento Boxes More Fun for Kids
Transforming school lunches into something fun and exciting can make a big difference, especially for picky eaters. Here are some creative ideas to make bento boxes more appealing and enjoyable for your little ones.
Fun Bento Box Ideas
Use a Cookie Cutter: Shape sandwiches, cheese slices, and fruits with cookie cutters to make them more fun. Hearts, stars, and animal shapes can make lunchtime exciting.
Create Food Art: Use veggies like cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper strips to create faces or fun designs in the bento box.
Include Finger Foods: Kids love foods they can pick up and eat easily. Include items like baby carrots, cheese sticks, and mini sandwiches to make eating more fun.
Dip It: Include small containers of dips like hummus, ranch dressing, or peanut butter for fruits and veggies. This makes eating more interactive.
Make Mini Versions: Mini pizzas on English muffins, mini sandwiches, or small wraps can be more appealing to kids than larger portions.
Use Fun Picks and Forks: Colorful picks and small forks can make eating more fun and help with picky eaters. They add a playful element to the meal.
Bright Colors: Use a variety of colorful fruits and veggies like cherry tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, and carrot sticks to make the bento box visually appealing.
Interactive Lunches: Include build-your-own elements like DIY tacos with small tortillas, deli meat, cheese, and veggies, or DIY pizzas with mini crusts, tomato sauce, and toppings.
Themed Lunches: Create themed bento boxes for holidays, favorite movies, or fun events. For example, a "garden" theme with lots of veggies and a small container of ranch for dipping.
Quick Tips for Parents
Use a Leakproof Bento Box: To keep foods fresh and prevent spills, invest in a good leakproof bento box.
Insulated Lunch Bag: An insulated lunch bag can keep food at the right temperature until lunch time. Add an ice pack to keep cold foods fresh.
Easy Meal Prep: Prepare and pack ingredients the night before to save time in the morning.
BPA-Free Plastic and Stainless Steel Options: Choose bpa-free plastic or stainless steel bento boxes for safety and durability.
