Ever since our son started school, it has been a challenge for me to come up with healthy yet filling snack box recipes for him. Like me, I know many mothers struggle with the early morning school routine and preparing lunch boxes is an added challenge. In today’s post, I collate a list of 7 toddler bento box ideas that are quick to prepare and don’t compromise on nutrition.
These ideas are great for a snack break, lunch break, or daycare.
We use the Yumbox Panino, which keeps the food fresh with no leaks.
Related reading: What my toddler eats in a week
Let’s get started!
TODDLER LUNCH BOX IDEAS FOR THE WEEK
Here are some toddler bento box ideas for the week. I hope you find some recipes that your children will love. I tried my best to include bento box lunches for picky eaters too.
I usually like to have one main cooked dish and add 3-4 prepped ingredients like fresh fruit, roasted nuts, and seeds. This way I can ensure to offer a balanced meal at school.
Toddler Bento Box Idea 1
Mediterranean pasta, pomegranate, cashews, and lightly toasted pumpkin seeds
Recipe for Mediterranean pasta
Boil half a cup of pasta. To this add 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ chopped tomato, and chopped black olives. Add some salt, pepper, and grated cheese. Mix well and pack in the lunchbox.
Toddler Bento Box Idea 2
Quinoa and potato patty, pomegranate, cashews, and walnuts
Recipe for Quinoa potato patty
Boil 2 potatoes. Mash the potatoes and combine with cooked quinoa. Add dried oregano flakes (I use this one), salt, and pepper to this mash and combine well. Make into tiny patty shapes and coat in roasted semolina or breadcrumbs. Pan fry on each side until light golden brown.
Toddler Bento Box Idea 3
Tomato gram flour omelet, roasted chana, apples, raisins, and walnuts
Recipe for the Tomato gram flour omelet.
Toddler Bento box idea 4
Sheera, grapes, banana, and walnuts
Recipe for Sheera
Dry roast 5-6 tablespoons of semolina until it turns dark colored and a strong fragrance comes through as you roast.
Add the coconut milk, just enough to cover the semolina in the pot. Followed by ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder and 1 tsp sugar/jaggery.
Cook until the coconut milk combines with the semolina to give a thick gloopy consistency. Add chopped almonds or cashews as toppings.
Toddler Bento box idea 5
Slurrpfarm chocolate pancakes, bananas, raisins, and homemade Nutella.
For the pancakes, I followed the instructions on the packet. I also added honey on the side after the picture was clicked. Pancake for lunch is a great little surprise for little ones on special occasions. A good idea for birthdays at school or Valentine’s day or end-of-the-week lunch box.
Toddler Bento box idea 6
French toast, banana, black and green grapes, and walnuts
Recipe for French toast
Make a french toast batter using 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1-2 teaspoons coconut sugar, 1-2 drops pure vanilla extract, and whisk this batter to an even consistency. Cut the bread into squares and dip it in the french toast batter. Fry the bread in a hot pan until golden brown on all sides.
Toddler Bento box idea 7
Semolina appe, apples, black raisins, and peanut butter
Recipe for Semolina appe
In a mixing bowl soak about ½ cup semolina (suji) with 3- 4 tablespoons of yogurt. Let this sit for about 15 minutes. The semolina will absorb all the yogurt. Now add a little water and mix well until it is like the consistency of a pancake batter. Add salt to the batter.
In a hot appe pan pour out spoonfuls of this batter and cook on each side until golden brown color.
I hope this post inspires you to pack some healthy bento box lunches for your toddlers. For more bento box school lunch ideas check the next post in this series.
If you try any of these recipes, do tag me on Instagram @easymommylife.
Until next time
Ciao!
Very useful content
Wow, so many great ideas for kindergarten lunch. Thank you.