Brilliant Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Feeding Kids
How to Build an Easy Bento Box Lunch for Kids!
Need new lunch ideas your kids will love? Bento boxes are perfect for packing school lunches, taking on trips, and also as an every day lunch idea that will keep your kids full till dinner!
The idea of the bento box originated in Japan as a means for creating a wholesome meal through an assortment of compartmentalized ingredients pairing nicely together to create delicious and nourishing meals.
The brilliance of a bento box lunch for kids is the understanding that kids love to snack! Bento box lunches provide the opportunity to do just that! With a wide range of delicious lunch items to choose from, your kids will fully enjoy eating bento box lunches throughout the week.
Bento Box Lunches for Picky Eaters
Getting picky eaters to eat their lunch does not have to be complicated. Let our guide on building easy bento box lunches be your solution to getting your picky eater to eat healthy lunches throughout the week.
When creating an easy bento box lunch for picky eaters it is important to create a list of food items your child does enjoy. This list of food items will serve as the foundation for you child's bento box lunch then check out our list below of bento box lunch items as a guide for introducing new foods to lunch time.
Use our list to create the perfect bento box lunch for kids by simply mixing and matching the food items below into a bento box container to offer a variety of healthy options to choose from.
Create the ideal proportions using bento box lunches and capture your child's interest by using attractive food arrangements and a variety of colors to create a delicious bento box that offers a wide range of nutrition through a variety of healthy food combinations.
Choose a Fruit for Your Bento Box Lunch
· Avocado
· Strawberries
· Apples
· Blueberries
· Peaches
· Grapes
· Cucumbers
· Tomatoes
· Bananas
· Oranges
Choose a Vegetable for Your Bento Box Lunch
· Broccoli
· Green Peas
· Squash
· Zucchini
· Mushrooms
· Carrots
· Green Beans
· Corn
. Lettuce
. Celery
Choose a Protein for Your Bento Box Lunch
· Chicken
· Steak
· Shrimp
· Tofu
· Turkey
· Ground Beef
· Sliced Deli Meat
· Fish
. Hard Boiled Egg
. Cheese
. Peanut Butter
. Hummus
. Beans
Choose a Carbohydrate for Your Bento Box Lunch
· Rice
· Baked Potato
· Sweet Potato
· Chickpeas
· Toast
· Plantains
· Pasta
. Sliced Bread
· Crackers
· Cereal
. Croissants
. Bagels
Choose a Sweet Crunchy Treat for Your Bento Box Lunch
. Cereal Bars
. Fruit Snacks
. Chocolates
. Cookies
. Graham Crackers
. Jello
. Trail Mix
. Parfait
Bam! Just like that you can construct a healthy bento box lunch for kids with well rounded nutritious content divided into categories and attractively arranged to to totally entice you kids appetite at lunch time.
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Bento Box Lunch Easy Composed Ideas
Creating a bento box lunch is one of the easiest way to ensure a nutritious lunch for your kid by offering a wide variety of healthy food options. The easiest way to create a simple bento box is by simply choosing one or two food items from each category on our list.
Also you can create more gourmet bento box lunches with simple meal prep like in our bento box lunch ideas below.
Here you can find our list of gourmet bento box lunch ideas for kids to get you started in making delicious bento box lunches that offer great nutrition for feeding kids healthy.
Pinwheel Roll Ups
Simply fill a flour tortilla with your favorite sandwich combinations and add your favorite spread then roll and slice to create perfect pinwheels for your kid's bento box lunch.
Cracker Lunchables
Create your own bento box cracker launchable by offering a selection of deli meats, cheeses, and crunchy crackers followed along with a fresh fruit and vegetable to create this easy classic lunch idea.
Egg Muffins
Meal prep egg muffins at the beginning of the week to easily create this simple bento box lunch idea with a variety of combinations available these bite size protein portions are perfect for building delicious bento box lunches.
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Taco Salad
Perfect for adding a variety of healthy food items, taco salad bento boxes are super easy to create. Simply portion ground meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, and don't forget the toppings like sliced avocado, salsa, and sour cream with a single serving of crunchy tortilla chips to top off this easy delicious bento box lunch idea.
Tuna Bento
This option offers a protein packed bento box that is easy to create and inexpensive to make. Create a simple tuna mixture with mayo and tuna. Portion your tuna and serve with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and some crunchy crackers to create a super simple and healthy bento box lunch.
Muffins and Yogurt Parfait
Enjoy a sweet muffin with a light yogurt parfait paired with fresh fruit and crunchy granola for this easy to make refreshingly light bento box lunch idea for kids.
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Fried Rice
Create a super simple fried rice recipe using left over rice or meal prep rice to use in your meals throughout the week. This healthy bento box lunch is versatile allowing your to combine your child's favorite vegetables to create a wholesome and delicious lunch.
Simply combine cooked rice in a heated pan with your favorite vegetables like steamed carrots and peas or sautéed mushrooms and broccoli with a light splash of soy sauce to create an easy fried rice bento box.
Served nicely with crunchy cucumber sticks, a fresh salad of mixed greens, and a sweet treat.
Mini Meatballs
These bite size mini meatballs are a big hit when creating bento box lunches for kids. Simply heat premade meatballs in a sauté pan then add your favorite pasta sauce to quickly create the foundation for your mini meatball bento box.
Add some grated parmesan cheese, garlic toast bites, and green peas with a fruit for dessert to create an Italian bento box lunch perfect for feeding kids a healthy lunch.
Shrimp Bites
Steamed shrimp is a protein packed bento box lunch option that offers great nutrition and is simple to make. Simply peel and steam shrimp or pan sear for 7-10 minutes or until shrimp has turned pink. Remove from heat and allow to cool in the fridge.
These delicious shrimp bites pair perfectly with crisp fresh lettuce and a vegetable melody of crunchy cucumber and carrot sticks served with a cool ranch and crunchy artisan bread.
Chicken Salad
The easiest chicken salad recipe calls for rotisserie chicken. Simply shred chicken, add minced white onion, and sliced grapes with a dollop of mayo and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste to create this super simple bento box lunch idea.
This chicken salad recipe is too simple to make and your kids will absolutely love it. Portion chicken salad and serve with a variety of yummy treats like crunchy crackers and fresh fruit with sliced cheese and trail mix to create a perfect bento box lunch for kids.
Chicken Parmesan Nuggets
Make chicken parmesan the easy way with prepared chicken nuggets. Simply heat nuggets in the oven until cooked then add marinara sauce and provolone cheese to create this classic Italian dish bento box.
Served nicely with fresh green peas, garlic toast bites, crunchy spring mix greens, and a hard boiled egg with a cool ranch dipping sauce to create a delicious bento box for kids.
Smashed Plantains
Plantains are a South American favorite, but also work nicely in creating bento boxes for kids. Often plantains can be found in the prepared frozen food section of your grocery store. Simply heat in the oven and serve with a variety of South American flavors like rice, sliced avocado, sweet corn, and chopped grilled chicken to create a unique bento box that introduces children to new flavors.
Turkey Avocado
This bento box can be easily prepared in a matter of minutes by simply combining left over turkey or deli turkey slices with sliced cheese and fresh avocado served with crackers and trail mix with fresh fruit as dessert.
Beef and Broccoli
Add this Asian dish to your bento box rotation for feeding kids healthy bento box combinations. This simple combination can be made easily with common left over ingredients or with simple meal prep.
Using ground beef and prepared rice, simply mix in a splash of soy sauce and steamed broccoli to prepare this delicious bento box idea easily.
Served nicely with crunchy cucumber sticks and fresh spring greens to create a nutritious bento box for kids.
Chicken Quesadilla
Prepare ahead of time delicious cheesy quesadillas for a super easy bento box idea. Quesadilla can be made with a variety of ingredients making it an easy option for feeding even the pickiest of kids.
Simply prepare quesadilla on a flour tortilla by sprinkling shredded cheese and your favorite topping like grilled chicken, shrimp, or even sautéed mushrooms. Place in the oven at 375 degree F for about 10 minutes flipping half way through or once tortilla is golden brown.
Serve this classic recipe with a variety of pairings including avocado, plantains, fresh spring greens, black beans, sweet corn, and tortilla chips to create a perfect bento box lunch for kids.
Bento Box Lunch Meal Prep
Many of our bento box combinations can be made in a matter of minutes with our simple meal prep plan.
Create a simple meal prep plan by preparing ahead of time the staple ingredients used in our bento box lunch ideas for creating healthy bento box lunches in no time.
Bento Box Meal Prep Staple Ingredients:
Rice
Ground Beef
Grilled Chicken
Steamed Shrimp
Chicken Salad
Hard Boiled Eggs
Wash and Chop Fresh Produce
Surprise you kids with these delicious Bento Box Lunches that offer real nutrition with wholesome ingredients your kids are sure to love. Even picky eaters will love these bento box lunch combinations with their vibrant colors and snack like approach.
Remember to make it even easier to create these delicious bento box combinations by simply meal prepping staple ingredients at the start of each week, so all you have to do is grab, combine, and go with super nutritious and fun bento box lunches for kids.
Now that lunch is taken care of, what's for dinner? Check out some great ideas below to get you started!
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