5 Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas

School is right around the corner and that means it's time to start thinking about packing school lunches again. If you're anything like me, you start the school year out ambitious, doing your best to make the most nutritious, fun, and tasty lunches (can you say cookie cutter heart sandwiches?). Of course, as the year rolls on I find myself starting to slack and by the last month of school my kids are sick of the usual cold sandwich so I'm throwing in some pretzels, a cheese stick, and calling it good.

5 Creative Bento Box Recipes

This year, I've bought our house some bento boxes. If you don't have any already, you really need to get some! According to Bento and Co, a bento box is a reusable Japanese-style lunch box that typically holds a single portion meal consisting of a main dish and some sides. Bento boxes are reusable and many are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. They have nifty compartments so your child's food each has a "place", keeping his lunchbox organized and lunch looking yummy. Wow!

While a traditional bento holds rice or noodles, fish or meat, with pickled and cooked vegetables, here are a few combinations below that will keep lunch time exciting all year. Hopefully, they are easy enough that you will make them from August through May!

The Mediterranean Bento Box

Naan or Tortilla Triangles with Hummus
Cucumber Slices
Mozzarella Cheese Chunks
Mixed Berries; Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries
Chocolate Covered Almonds

The Traditional Bento Box

Alternating Ham and Cheese Cubes on a Pretzel Stick Skewer
Trail Mix of Almonds, Cranberries and Chocolate Chips
Carrot Sticks with Ranch
Cutie Orange

The Vegetarian Bento Box

Almond Butter with Apples Slices
Snap Peas with Hummus
Whole Wheat Crackers with Cheese Slices
Nilla Wafers

The Mini-Fiesta Bento Box

Cheese Quesadilla
Guacamole with Tortilla Chips
Mini Sweet Peppers
Black Bean or Refried Beans
Banana with Chocolate Chips

The Italian Bento Box

Pasta Salad with Mini Tomatoes, Pepperoni, and Shredded Cheese (tossed in Italian Dressing)
Broccoli with Ranch Dressing
Grapes
Vanilla Yogurt with Granola and Walnut Pieces

I hope these ideas look easy and scrumptious (my stomach is grumbling as I write this). Who knows, you might find yourself packing some of these same bento box lunches for yourself. Enjoy!

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