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–+ servings

27+ Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Kids

Easy and delicious bento box ideas for kids and school! Use my simple formula: choose a main, veggie, fruit, and crunch to easily and quickly pack a bento box each week. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Print Recipe
8 bento box lunches laid out with different foods packed inside each one.
Prep Time:20 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 bento lunchbox see recommendations above in the article

Ingredients

Choose a Main

  • Cheese, Crackers, Turkey Lunchable
  • Homemade Pizza
  • Egg Muffins
  • Turkey Roll Ups
  • Hard-boiled Eggs
  • Taquitos
  • Build Your Own Parfait
  • Banana "Sushi" Roll Ups
  • Pancakes
  • Pancake or Waffle Sandwich
  • Hummus and Turkey Pita Sandwich
  • Salad
  • Chicken and Rice
  • Chicken Nuggets / Tenders and Ranch Dip
  • Hot Dogs
  • Banana Bread Cream Cheese Sandwich
  • Pasta Salad
  • Classic Sandwich
  • Soup
  • Oatmeal
  • Apple Sandwich
  • Cheese Quesadilla
  • Meatballs and Dipping Sauce
  • Chicken or Tuna Salad Wrap
  • Pizza Muffins
  • Mac and Cheese
  • Yogurt

Choose a Fruit

  • Grapes
  • Apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon or lemon juice
  • Orange slices
  • Clementines
  • Pitted cherries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Watermelon chunks
  • Pineapple Slices
  • Cantaloupe chunks
  • Honeydew chunks
  • Peach slices
  • Applesauce
  • 100% fruit bars
  • Dried fruit

Choose a Veggie

  • Cucumber slices
  • Carrot sticks
  • Salad
  • Bell pepper slices or mini sweet peppers
  • Roasted broccoli
  • Roasted carrot sticks
  • Dried vegetables

Choose a "Crunch"

  • Pretzels
  • Crackers
  • Cheese cubes
  • Yogurt stick
  • Popcorn
  • Trail mix
  • Nuts or seeds
  • Pita bread slices
  • Tortila chips
  • Homemade muffin
  • Granola bar
  • Granola

Instructions

  • Choose one main, one fruit, one veggie, and one "crunch" to easily build a bento box lunch.
    Cheese quesadilla with grapes, cucumber and carrot slices with hummus, applesauce, and pretzels in a lunchbox.
  • Mix and match the options above to create many different bento lunch options. Print this list and download my free 42 easy lunch ideas cheat sheet for more ideas!

Notes

  • Use small dipper containers when packing dips, like ranch dip and hummus, for veggies, pretzels, or salad. 
  • Use a large dip container when packing applesauce, yogurt, and other foods that can easily leak and spill, unless using a leak-proof bento box.
  • Use a separate thermos with the bento box when packing hot foods, like oatmeal, soup, or chicken and rice. Or, use a bento box like Omielife, with a built-in thermos.
  • Many foods may be served at room temperature, including meatballs, quesadillas, pizza, and pancakes. Pack an ice pack for safety.
Servings: 1 lunch for each idea
Author: Kristin Marr