Sending a packed lunched with your child(ren) every school day can become daunting! I find packing lunches with the basic idea shown below, makes it super easy - taking the guess work out of it. Planning what to snag at the grocery store becomes easier too!
My biggest tips:
- While cooking dinner, cut up extra veggies and add to your bento box for the next day!
- Do you have any leftovers that would work?
- Put popcorn and crackers in bento box morning of. No matter the lunch/bento box, they'll sock up the moisture from being in the fridge.
This diagram shows how I fill compartments to build a packed lunch quickly every time. This can be switched up depending on your child and what you have on hand at the time.
Veggie Ideas:
-Switch veggies up by seasoning with salt and pepper only, adding a dipping sauce, adding cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning, add food picks to make funny faces.
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Bell Peppers
- Sweet Peppers
- Celery – add PB as a dip to switch it up
- Snap Peas
- Peas
- Salad
- Tomatoes (I know it’s a fruit but this is the compartment I add them too)
Middle Compartment Ideas:
- Yogurt – Add sprinkles or chocolate chips to switch it up
- Applesauce – Add cinnamon or switch up the color
- Beef Sticks and Cheese
- Crackers
- Corn Puffs
- Salad
- Veggie Straws
- Fruit snack
- A treat
Fruit:
-You can add 1 type of fruit or add multiple fruits together. Make sure to cut fruit to the appropriate size.
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Apple
- Cutie Oranges – Peel before adding to box
Main Meal
-Sandwiches are quick to make and always a favorite. Switch sandwiches up by using sandwich cutters, food picks, different types of bread. Sourdough, Hawaiian Rolls, Buns, and wraps are all great options!
- PBH – Peanut butter and honey – Add banana slices to switch it up
- PBJ – Peanut butter and Jelly
- Ham/Turkey and cheese – Add apple slices to switch it up
- Pizza roll ups
- Sandwich Fingers – Cut sandwich length wise to create fingers
- Soup
- Salad
- Ham/Turkey , Cheese and Ritz Crackers
- Leftovers
- Ham, Apple, Cheese roll ups
If you base all of your bento box ideas off of this, you will be able to build a packed lunch quickly and easily every time! Add cute food picks, hand written notes and fun shapes help keep things fun for both parent and child!