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This chocolate muffin snack bento takes basically no time to assemble, is healthier than prepackaged versions and can easily be prepped ahead! Learn how to pack it in the post below!
Easy Snack Box for Kids
My kids love buffet restaurants, you know the kind, where you can sample a little (or a lot) of everything! This easy snack box is basically the same idea, just packed up to go. It's got variety, balance, and of course, a little something sweet.
I always bake extra of these zucchini chocolate muffins just to have some left for this bento. SO moist and chocolatey, you can’t even taste the zucchini in these babies! Not into chocolate? Check out these other kid-approved healthy muffins!
What You Need
The best thing about a snack bento is how easy it is to make it your own! Choose what goes in, adjust portions, and customize for any appetite. Here's what's in this one:
- Muffins: use any store-bought your kids love or a homemade favorite.
- Cheese: a classic with crackers and adds protein! Swap it for hummus or nut butter for a creamy alternative.
- Something crunchy: crackers, pita chips, or pretzels are great to balance out the softer snacks.
- Almonds & Raisins: a naturally sweet and salty mix for extra energy. If nuts aren’t allowed at school, switch it out with baked banana chips or any of these other nut-free snacks or lunch sides.
How to Pack a Filling Bento Box for Kids
With the right packing tips, snack boxes like this muffin bento will stay fresh for hours so you can just grab one for sports, school or anything else!
Use the right container
Having a compartmentalized bento-style lunch container is crucial when you want to assemble multiple ingredients under one lid and prevent everything from mixing or getting squished.
Snack Prep Made Easy
Prep veggies, fruits, and protein in advance and store them in separate containers in the fridge. With everything chopped and ready to go, assembling any bento takes seconds!
Separate “wet” and “dry” ingredients
Pack ingredients in separate compartments to keep flavors fresh. This will allow wetter ingredients like fruit and veggies to stay crisp while dry snacks like crackers and nuts stay crunchy.
Keep it cool
If you're making the snack box in advance, store it in the refrigerator until just before you leave, then add an ice pack to the lunch bag to keep everything inside cool and fresh.
More Snack Boxes for Kids
I’ve got tons of epic snack box ideas just like this one to keep every appetite happy! Go classic with a ham and cheese snack box or get creative with a tomato mozzarella skewers snack box or Mediterranean bento.
Chocolate muffin snack bento
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cheese
- ¼ cup crackers
- 2 regular sized muffins or 4 mini muffins
- ½ cup almonds and raisins
Instructions
Assemble
- Place muffins in one compartment. Put the rest of the items in different compartments to keep them from mixing. Keep dry ingredients like crackers separate so they don’t get soggy.
Pack for school
- Refrigerate everything until ready to use and then pack in a lunch bag with an ice pack.
Sarah says
At their new school my kids now need a lunch and a snack packed, I sent them with this muffin snack box today and the box came home empty! I call that a win!