Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas For School and Daycare

Bento boxes have become popular on the internet these days. Food presented in a bento box looks aesthetically pleasing and the compartments in the box make it easier to carry a complete meal in one box without hassle. 

I tried our first bento box (The Yumbox) back in 2019 when my son was starting school. The ease of opening and closing the box, the different compartments resembling a toddler section plate, and the ease of adding a variety of foods to the box with fewer chances of it mixing are what converted me to the idea of using bento lunch boxes.

For beginners, if you are wondering.

WHAT IS A BENTO BOX?

A bento is the Japanese version of a single portion home-packed meal or take-out meal. A traditional bento usually contains rice, eggs, fish or meat, and some pickled and cooked vegetables.

WHAT TO PUT IN A BENTO BOX?

Other than the traditional bento versions, bento boxes these days are also used to carry a variety of snacks and meals adapted to the lifestyle of the user.

I usually like to add one main dish either some type of wrap, rice dish, patty, or sandwich along with fruits/vegetables and dried fruit and nuts.

This type of lunch box makes it easy to build a balanced meal that is rich in protein, fats, and fiber.

TYPES OF BENTO BOXES FOR KIDS

Currently, I am using,

The Yumbox Panino

Lunchbots

Preschooler Playtym

For a detailed review and my experience using these bento boxes, check this post of mine.

Let’s look at some easy bento box lunch ideas for school and daycare.

BENTO BOX LUNCH IDEAS FOR KID’S SCHOOL 

These are bento lunch box ideas for 4-year-olds just starting school, but anyone of any age can enjoy these recipes by adjusting for spice and increasing portion sizes.

You can also try modifications of these recipes for daycare to suit a baby led weaning approach.

Note : Do not offer whole nuts to younger children. Pictures showcase the school lunch box of a 6-year-old.

Modify recipes, swap ingredients, and cut into baby-friendly portions to avoid choking risk when making for younger toddlers and babies. To learn more about baby-led weaning and the preparation of baby-friendly foods read this post of mine.

Ready? Let’s go.

Feta Cheese Wrap for Kids School Lunch

Feta cheese wrap, grapes, cashews, and bananas. 

Feta cheese contains fats and protein making it a healthy option to try in moderation. It is a high-sodium cheese so offer in smaller amounts to children over the age of one.

Use a whole wheat chapati or tortilla wrap. For the filling crumble feta cheese evenly over the chapati followed by chopped spinach leaves, tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cut a slit with a knife in one-quarter section of the chapati and then wrap it over to make a triangle. 

Toast the wrap on both sides in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes until golden.

Bagel Sandwich

Bagel sandwich, macaron, sunflower seeds, banana. 

This sandwich bento box is suited for children over age 2.

To make the bagel sandwich spread out cream cheese, add lettuce leaves, tomato slices, black olives, salt, and pepper. That is it. As easy as that.

Potato Pea Wrap

Potato pea wrap, watermelon, sunflower seeds, orange. 

Use wholewheat chapati or tortilla for the wrap. For the filling in the wrap, in a mixing bowl mash 2 boiled potatoes, 1/4 th cup boiled green peas, and add salt, black pepper, pizza seasoning, and oregano. Mix well.

When adding the filling first spread mayonnaise on the chapati and then add the filling, roll, and cut into easy-to-hold pieces.

Ragi Wheat Pancakes

Ragi pancakes, maple syrup, peanut butter, black grapes, and oranges.

Hummus Wrap

Hummus wrap, strawberries, pan-fried french beans, sunflower seeds. 

The whole wheat wrap contains hummus, tomatoes, basil leaves, black olives, salt, and pepper.

To prepare the French beans, cut them lengthwise, heat oil in a pan, and add chopped garlic. Once the oil is flavored with the garlic add the chopped french beans and salt. Stir fry until crisp.

Egg Wrap

Egg wrap, chikoo slices, and jackfruit chips. 

The whole wheat chapati wrap contains an egg filling made by mixing boiled egg pieces in a dressing of mustard 1/4 tsp, mayonnaise 1-2 tsp, salt, and pepper. Roll and cut into easy-to-hold pieces.

Bean Wrap

Kidney bean wrap, roasted broccoli, grapes, and carrot slices. 

The whole wheat bean wrap contains lettuce leaves as a base, boiled and seasoned red kidney beans that are mashed with a fork to make a paste like filling, topped with cheddar cheese and mayonnaise. Wrap and toast on a hot pan for 2-3 minutes on each side until the cheese melts.

Having extra produce on hand makes it easier to build more nutritious sides instead of adding packaged snacks.

Related reading: Toddler lunch ideas.

Bento box lunches for picky eaters.

At the same time as children grow older, they get interested in packaged snacks, instead of completely denying them strive to create regular exposures without overdoing it.

Once or twice a week, add chips, chocolates, and biscuits as sides to the school lunch box to meet the child’s desire for such foods too. Meeting the child’s curiosity and exploration of new foods is a part of the intuitive eating approach.

I believe in a family approach to reducing junk food consumption and building balanced meals instead of preaching or having separate rules for kids.

Hope this post gave you some bento lunch box ideas for school. Drop in your child’s favorite bento box meals in the comment below. We can all pick ideas from each other.

Until next time!