The Organized Mom Life

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Bento box ideas for kids: 6 school lunch ideas

Every morning I pack a lunch for my 2nd grader and Kindergartener.

And I’ve found that using bento boxes can make the process a little bit easier and more fun.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Note: As an Amazon and Bentgo Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Categories

Here’s the basic system that I follow each day when I’m packing up the kids’ bento boxes. (Although I don’t always include every single category.)

  • Main course: I try to include something with protein, dairy, carbohydrates, or all 3.
  • Fruit: Usually something chopped up, and then I give the rest to the kids for breakfast.
  • Veggie: Usually raw veggies or some kind of salad
  • Snack: Crackers, pretzels, granola bar, crunchy mixes, etc.
  • Treat/dip: In the little section in the middle of the box I either put some kind of dipping sauce, or a little treat like chocolate chips.

Favorite lunch boxes:

Note: For all Bentgo products linked here, use code ORGMOM15 for 15% off!

Bentgo Kids: (up to 7 years old) Available in tons of colors and cute prints like this dino one!

Bentgo Fresh (over 7 years old)

OmieBox: For warm food- includes a built-in thermos.

Use code MOMLIFE10 for 10% off.

Insulated lunch bag

The best way to keep everything cold until lunch time, is by packing your kid’s lunch box in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.

(Don’t forget to use code ORGMOM15 for 15% off!)

Bento box ideas for kids: 6 examples

Lunch 1: Spinach turkey roll-ups

Main course: Spinach turkey roll-ups

To make these, I spread a little bit of garden-veggie cream cheese on a tortilla, then added spinach, turkey (or ham) and cheese. Then I just roll up the tortilla and cut it into pieces.

I also added a Babybel cheese.

Fruit: Nectarines

Veggie: Caprese salad

Mix halved cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt and pepper.

Snack: Munchies snack mix

Treat/dip: Gummy ice cream cones

We found these cute little treats at a candy store at the beach.

Lunch 2: Deli sandwich

Main course: A sandwich

They key to keeping sandwiches interesting for my kids is to choose a variety of types of bread/rolls. Today I used half of a sandwich roll, and added chipped ham, cheese, and spinach for a little crunch.

Sometimes I’ll substitute the roll for different kinds of bread, wraps, croissants, dinner or Hawaiian rolls, etc.

Fruit: A fruit salad

I mixed up chopped strawberries, nectarines, and golden kiwi.

Veggie: A mixture of raw veggies

Baby carrots, raw broccoli, and a snack pepper

Snack: Oyster crackers

Treat/dip: Ranch salad dressing to dip the veggies in

Lunch 3: Quesadillas

Main course: Cheese quesadillas

To make these, lay out a tortilla and spread a very thin layer of sour cream on in. Then fill it with shredded cheese (I like cheddar and Monterey Jack) and add a little sprinkle of taco seasoning.

Then top with a second tortilla, and fry on both sides in a hot pan with a little oil.

I let them cool completely and cut them up before adding them to the Bentgo, and add a side of salsa for dipping.

Fruit: Cherries

Veggie: Caprese salad

(See lunch #1 for a description of how I make this. It is one of my girls’ favorites!)

Treat/dip: MMs

Lunch 4: Mini sandwiches

Main course: Mini sandwiches

This is just a little twist on the regular sandwich I showed above. My kids think it’s more fun to eat four little sandwiches than one big one.

I often do this with peanut butter and jelly, but today I used ham, cheese, bologna, and lettuce.

Then I added a granola bar.

Fruit: Golden kiwi

Veggie: Cherry tomatoes

Snack: Pretzel sticks

Treat/dip: peanut MMs

Lunch 5: Chips and bean dip

Main course: Chips and bean dip

I filled the large compartment of the Bentgo with tortilla chips, and then assembled a 5-layer dip in a different compartment:

The layers:

  1. Refried beans mixed with taco seasoning.
  2. Sour cream
  3. Lettuce
  4. Cherry tomatoes
  5. Shredded cheddar cheese

I also added a cheese stick.

Fruit: Peaches

Snack: Jello

My kids thought this was so fun. I actually made the jello the night before, and poured it right into this compartment to gel overnight.

Treat/dip: Chocolate chips

Lunch 6: Chicken wraps

Main course: Chicken wraps

I make batches of chicken in the slow cooker ahead of time: Just cook 2 chicken breasts and a packet of taco seasoning all day. Then shred it and pop it in the freezer to use in wraps or with rice in burrito bowls.

For today, I also added rice, lettuce, tomato, and cheese to these wraps.

Fruit: Golden kiwi

Veggie: Snack peppers

Snack: Chex mix

I actually made my own chex mix this time, and it turned out so yummy! This is the recipe I used to make the sauce, and then I added my own assortment of crunchies. 😉

Treat/dip: Yogurt covered raisins

Lunch box menu

Be sure to check out this post about how I use a lunch box menu to make this job so much easier!

That’s it! Let me know any other favorite ideas in the comments.

Thanks for reading, and happy lunch packing!

-Laura

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Comments

  1. Kristin Duncan says

    What are you using to keep lunches warm? Like if you do pizza slices or something do you just serve them cold?

    Reply

    • admin says

      Yes, I always do cold lunches. It’s just easier for us, and my kids don’t mind eating cold pizza. 🙂 (Neither do I!)

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