Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas

One of the easiest lunches you’ll ever make.

Spread peanut butter or sunflower seed butter onto a tortilla, add a banana, roll it up, and slice into bite-sized rounds. If your child enjoys vegetables, try adding finely grated carrots or zucchini before rolling. It sounds unusual, but it’s surprisingly delicious.

Here’s how to make banana roll ups with grated carrots and zucchini, one of my son’s all-time fav!

Simply spread yogurt, cream cheese, or nut/seed butter onto one pancake and then press another one on top!

If your child struggles to eat their vegetables, try cutting into fun shapes using these cookie cutters. They truly are magical!

Pictured: spinach pancakes with cream cheese, hard boiled egg, mashed avocado, carrots and cucumber, butternut squash, raspberries.

Here’s the ultimate list of healthy pancakes for toddlers and kids (and babies!)

3. Rice Ball Bento Box

Rice balls are perfect for lunch boxes because they are portable, easy to pack, and can be enjoyed without utensils. They offer a nutritious and balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins, with customizable fillings like chicken, salmon, and vegetables. 

Include some fruits and/or vegetables to round out the lunch.

• Chicken Rice Balls
• Jumeokbap – Korean Rice Balls

These broccoli bites are easy to make, nutritious, and a great source of protein. They also freeze well, so I recommend making a batch in advance. Just thaw them in the fridge overnight, and they’re ready to pack cold or warm up briefly for a quick lunch.

Pictured: Hawaiian roll with sunflower seed butter + pears + carrots + cucumber

Pinwheel sandwiches are a fun twist on traditional sandwiches.

Simply spread your favorite filling onto a tortilla, roll tightly, and slice into pinwheels.

Try:

• Turkey and cheese
• Cream cheese and cucumber
• Chicken salad (like this chicken salad with grapes and southwest chicken salad)
• Hummus and veggies

Finish the lunch with fruit and crunchy vegetables.

These savory veggie muffins are an easy and delicious way to get extra veggies into your child’s diet! Pair with fruit and protein of choice (pictured: Instant Pot shredded chicken).

Homemade muffins are a fantastic way to pack a lot of nutrition into a fun and easy-to-eat form for kids. Here are the best tried-and-true muffins for toddlers and kids that are not only easy to make but also delicious and healthy.

11. Chicken Nugget Bento Box

Chicken nuggets are always a win. You can take the help from the store or make this homemade chicken nuggets with veggies.

They’re easy to prepare and delicious, especially when served with your child’s favorite dip. For a lunch box, consider pairing them with fresh fruit, carrot sticks and hummus, yogurt topped with granola, or a small salad.

Roast a large batch of broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and potatoes with cumin, paprika, and garlic powder to enjoy throughout the week.

Add leftovers to lunch box (delicious cold so no need to reheat) along with black beans, avocado, cheese, and sliced bread or tortilla. Here are the best healthy store bought bread options to try!

13. DIY pasta salad bento lunch idea

Deconstructed meals are wonderful as depending on your child’s mood and preferences, they can eat the individual components separately or mix them together. 

Add cooked pasta (vary the shape for fun and variety) along with cheese, protein, and vegetables.

Here are some EASY homemade sauces and dips to help bring everything together. You can certainly use store-bought for convenience for days when you just can’t! We all have those days, don’t we?

• Iron-rich tomato sauce
• Broccoli hummus
• Zucchini pesto
• Beetroot pesto pasta sauce
• Sweet potato sauce

Try these banana protein muffins with 8 grams of protein per muffin! And of course you need more! Here’s a list of my top healthy muffins for kids that have a boost of protein, fiber, and veggies.

Add in some type of protein, fruit and vegetable to round out the meal.

You can’t go wrong with this combination! For younger toddlers, choose crackers that are easier to bite into and chew (pictured: Triscuit thins).

Again, add in fresh fruit and veggies and you’ve got a 5 minute no-cook lunch that is delicious and well-balanced.

Scrambled egg sandwich is the perfect freezer breakfast sandwich! You can use mini bagels, brioche buns, croissants, or english muffins.

Slice in half or bite-sized pieces for toddlers. Serve alongside cantaloupe and bell pepper slices.