This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
If you're tired of packing the same sandwich and need something easy that still feels like a complete lunch, these bento box lunch ideas make it simple to mix things up. You can build them with foods you already have, adjust the portions for different ages, and pack enough variety to keep lunch interesting without making several separate dishes.
Bento Box Lunches
I've packed these bento lunches for my kids from preschool through high school because they are easy to customize with what we have and simple to adjust as appetites grow. For my teens, I bulk it up by adding extra protein and filling sides or packing a snack box so there's enough food for a longer school day. After the ideas, you'll find a simple guide for building a bento, tips for packing it ahead without soggy food or spills, and the containers I’ve tested over the years.
Laura’s Tips for Building a Bento Box Lunch
Yes. Pack the bento the night before, cover it, and refrigerate it until morning. A compartmentalized lunchbox helps keep foods separated so wet ingredients do not soften crackers, bread, or other dry foods.
Start with a protein, then add a carbohydrate, fruit or veggies, and a dip or small extra. Good options include hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs, cheese, crackers, veggies, fruit, hummus, guacamole, olives, deli meat, oatmeal energy bites, and leftover chicken. Mix and match based on what you have and how much your child eats.
Use compartments to keep dips, juicy fruit, and other wet foods away from crackers, bread, and anything that can get soggy.
Pack hummus, pesto, guacamole, and other dips in a small lidded container instead of directly in the lunchbox.
Hard-boiled eggs, sliced veggies and cheese, rolled deli meat, or assembled skewers ahead of time. If packing apples or pears, use these tips to keep them from browning.
Compartmentalized bento boxes make it easier to separate wet and dry foods and portion several items in one container. They also work well for sandwich lunches when you want fruit and veggies packed alongside. See my tested lunch container recommendations for the pros and cons of the ones I use for school.
Deli Bento Box +25 Lunch Ideas
Ingredients
Turkey & Cheese Cracker Stacker Bento
- 2 ounces deli turkey
- 1 ounce cheddar cheese, sliced
- 6 whole-grain crackers
- 1 hard boiled egg
- 1 serving of veggies
- 1 serving of fruit
Instructions
- On a flat surface, roll up the deli turkey slices and cut them into a few pieces. Place them inside the lunch container.
- Slice 1 to 2 slices of cheddar cheese and place them in the lunch container.
- Peel and slice the hard-boiled egg in half or, into smaller pieces for younger kids. Place the hard boiled egg inside the compartment of the lunch container.
- Pack the crackers inside a separate compartment or zip bag so they stay fresh until lunchtime.
- Add a serving of fruit and veggies to this lunch to round up the nutrition.
Leave a Reply