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For my next trick, super cute and easy kids’ lunch box ideas! I won’t lie, I also pack these for myself sometimes, and yes I do cut my sandwiches into shapes. Bento boxes are super customizable and tidy, which is honestly my favorite part. You can pack a complete and wholesome meal without any mingling or spillage… what’s not to love?
For more kid-friendly options, check out my Back to School Snack Board, PB&J Snack Board, Rainbow Board, Girl Scout Cookies Board, and other snack boards for kids.
What Are Bento Boxes?
In its essence, bento is Japanese single-serve meals made for packing and going. You may have seen bento on the menu at your local sushi restaurant–it usually comes with some hand rolls, dumplings, teriyaki, a salad, and maybe some spring rolls. Traditionally speaking, bento includes rice or noodles for a base, a protein, and some veggies. It’s a balanced meal you can take with you!
This take is pretty far from the traditional (see more below!), but has become an increasingly popular way to serve lunches in the last few years. The most important part of a bento box is that all the goodies are separated into their own sections and that it’s packed to take on the run.
Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Kids
I have 3 approaches when it comes to bento boxing for kids…
- Sandwich + Sides: Sandwiches are a beloved staple for kids lunches! I like to take it a step further and use cookie cutters to make cute little shaped sandwiches (these heart and star-shaped cookie cutters are my faves). Then I include dips (like nut butter, ranch, or hummus) and some fruit and/or veggies for the dipping.
- Leftovers + Sides: In this case I had leftover pasta salad and then added some fruits, veggies, pretzels, and a little cookie treat. I like pasta salad because it travels well, but you can do this with any of your leftovers!
- Charcuterie Lunchable: Who doesn’t love cheese and crackers? This one’s not just for the kids–feel free to pack it for your next picnic or winery tour! I packed it with some of my favorite charcuterie Accoutrements (see more in my charcuterie 101 and find some budget-friendly charcuterie items in my Trader Joe’s Cheese Board post), but feel free to swap in your personal faves or more kid-friendly options.
How To Make Kids Bento Boxes
Sandwich + Sides
- Nut butter & Jam Sandwiches, cut into shapes with cookie cutters
- Edamame, shelled
- Veggie straws
- Apple slices
- Nut butter, for dipping
In a 4 to 5-compartment bento box (like this one), add sandwiches, edamame, veggies straws, and apple slices to separate compartments.
Add nut butter to its own compartment or add it to the same compartment with the apple slices.
Leftovers + Sides
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Cucumber, sliced
- Clementine, peeled and segmented
- Raspberries
- Pretzels
- Alphabet cookies
In a 5 compartment bento box (like this silicone one), add pasta salad to the largest compartment. Then add the cucumber, clementine, raspberries, and pretzels to separate remaining compartments.
Add letter cookies on top of pretzels. I spelled out “Hi” for a cute note.
Charcuterie Lunchable
- Salami, sliced
- Peppered Salami, folded
- Dill havarti, cubed
- Raspberries
- Green grapes, halved if necessary or desired
- Assorted olives
- Roasted almonds
- Crackers
- Mini chocolate chip cookies
In a 5 to 6-compartment bento box (like this stainless steel one), add the sliced salami, dill havarti, and folded salami in separate sections to the largest compartment. Combine the raspberries and grapes in another compartment. Add the olives and almonds to another compartment (if there is an extra compartment, add them to separate compartments).
Add the crackers and cookies to separate compartments.
Note: this is a large serving of charcuterie, so it’s best for an adult or teenager, but could easily be shared by younger kids. And if you want a smaller option, try this awesome stainless steel bento box.
Pack This Instead
Need inspiration for what to pack in a bento lunch box? Mix and match the following food groups
| Protein | Starch | Fruit | Veggie | Treat |
| Rotisserie Chicken (Shredded or Diced) | Crackers | Mixed Berries | Carrots | Mini Muffins |
| Chicken Salad/Tuna Salad | Pretzels | Grapes | Cucumbers | Cookies |
| Meatballs | Quinoa | Orange Segments | Cherry Tomatoes | Granola Bites |
| Hard-Boiled Egg | Pita Pockets | Fruit Cup | Bell Peppers | Cheddar Crackers |
| Deli Meat (Turkey, Ham) | Pasta Salad | Cubed Melon | Edamame | Trail Mix |
| Salami/Pepperoni | Couscous | Apple Slices | Pickles | Rice Cereal Treats |
| Crispy Tofu | Rice Cakes | Cubed Pineapple | Broccoli | Popcorn |
| Chicken Nuggets | Seed Crackers | Banana | Celery | Fruit Snacks |
| SunButter Sandwich | Rice | Kiwi | Sugar Snap Peas | Granola Bars |
Best Bento Box for Kids
These bento boxes serve as food containers AND lunch boxes, so they’ve gotta be good. I love shopping for them on Amazon because there is a lot of selection, but you can also find bento boxes at a lot of your local shops–I’ve even seen them at TJ Maxx. Here are my favorite finds, but no matter what you end up with always make sure you buy BPA-free! Check out my favorite Stainless steel bento box, Leakproof bento box and Silicone Bento Box with details below.
Stainless Steel Bento Box
If I had to choose only one bento box, this would be it. Stainless-steel is a great option when it comes to anything food related because it’s plastic-free, non-toxic (meaning it contains no lead, PVC, phthalates, or BPA material), easy to clean (i.e. dishwasher-safe), and super durable.
The 5 compartments make variety easy and fits plenty of food to satisfy you or your little one.
However, if this one is a little bit big for you, this other stainless steel option is a favorite among my friends’ kiddos and comes highly recommended.
Leakproof Bento Box
You pretty much always want your bento box to be leak-proof (especially when packing dips!). While many of them are, my biggest tip is to READ. THE. LABEL. No one wants ranch all over their backpack! This one says it’s leakproof and it’s “Amazon’s Choice” bento box, plus you get to pick from a bunch of colors.
Silicone Bento Box
Silicone is also a great option for food. This one is leak-proof and the compartments are deep, which makes it particularly good for larger portions of food like pasta, salads, and such. Check out this great video PSA about properly cleaning silicone products (see her caption for details).
FAQs
The answer is not really. You can certainly buy insulated bento boxes that will help keep the temperature, but it definitely won’t be piping hot or ice cold by the time lunch rolls around.
Other than insulated options, stainless steel is probably your best bet. My general rule of thumb is to pack things that aren’t super temperature sensitive and to also pack things with similar temperature needs. For instance, I wouldn’t pack hot pasta with cold apple sauce.
You can also consider a bento box with built-in cooler or pack any of these bento boxes in a mini lunch box cooler with reusable ice packs.
You can create a well-balanced and delicious lunch for kids in a bento box by adding an assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, dips, savory snacks like crackers or pretzels, and something sweet such as cookies.
As a rule of thumb, try to stick to foods that don’t need to be kept warm or be reheated in order to be enjoyed. I like to get creative and use mini cookie cutters in the shape of stars, hearts, or letters to cut out sandwiches, fruit, and produce to make lunchtime that much sweeter for my daughter.
There are so many options of easy children’s lunch ideas that you can pack in advance. Foods that I like to prep the night before (or even a few days in advance!) include make-ahead burritos, egg bites, sandwiches, mini muffins, meatballs, tuna or chicken salad, and pasta salad.
If you want to add some protein to your kids bento box lunch, some of my go-tos include shredded or diced rotisserie chicken, salami or pepperoni, and deli meat like ham and turkey. If you want meat-free options, try hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, cheese, hummus, and nuts to add more protein.
Yes, you can pack kids’ bento box the night before school or camp.
Be sure to store wet and dry foods separately so that dry foods (like crackers, rice, or bread) don’t absorb too much moisture and get soggy.
If I’m including dips such as hummus or guacamole, I recommend covering them with a small piece of plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. I also like to wait to add cut fruit until the morning so that they don’t brown as easily.
There are so many possibilities beyond sandwiches! Start with a protein such as diced chicken breast, shredded rotisserie chicken, deli meats like turkey or ham, meatballs, or hard-boiled eggs; add fruits and veggies like sliced apples, grapes, fresh berries, orange segments, baby carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, and edamame; and snacks such as pretzels, crackers, granola bites, tortilla chips, or mini cookies. You can create a themed lunch based on a certain style of cuisine or just mix-and-match with what you have in your fridge and pantry.
The best way to prevent crackers and sandwiches from getting soggy in a bento box is by storing them separately from any soft foods such as cheese or dips. I also recommend wrapping the sandwich in a paper towel, which will help to absorb moisture in the container.
Look for a bento box with an airtight, leakproof lid; dishwasher-safe materials; multiple compartments (I like one with 5- or 6-compartments for variety!); and a durable exterior design.
When packing a kid’s bento box, avoid liquids like soup, yogurt, or anything super sauce=y to avoid spills and messes. You also shouldn’t include undercooked meats or seafood, or anything that needs to be kept warm or served hot.
Most bento boxes are dishwasher-safe but check the manufacturer label (typically printed on the bottom of the bento box). Otherwise, I’d recommend hand-washing the bento box with hot soapy water and drying thoroughly before reusing.
This method calls for building a kid-friendly lunch including a protein, a starch, a fruit, a veggie, and a fun treat. It’s the method I follow for building my kid’s bento lunch box.
Bento Box Lunch Sides Ideas
The options for bento box sides are endless, but in terms of variety, I like to pull from those traditional tenets and include a carb, a protein, and something fresh. I also like to add a fun little treat!
Fruit Ideas for Bento Boxes: Use what’s in season and safe for your kid.
- Grapes, halved if necessary (or preferred)
- Raspberries
- Clemintines
- Apple slices
Veggie ideas for Bento Boxes
- Cucumber slices
- Edamame, shelled
- Carrot sticks or baby carrots
Carb Ideas for Bento Boxes
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Popcorn
Something fun
- Cookies (I like these letter cookies)
- Gummies (I like this dye-free option)
- Chocolate or M&Ms
Show Me Your Bento
I hope this post inspires you to make a bento box. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and meals you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!
And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.
Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Kids
Ingredients
Sandwich + Sides
- Nut butter & Jam Sandwiches cut into shapes with cookie cutters
- Edamame shelled
- Veggie straws
- Apple slices
- Nut butter for dipping
Leftovers + Sides
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Cucumber sliced
- Clementine peeled and segmented
- Raspberries
- Pretzels
- Alphabet cookies
Charcuterie Lunchable
- Salami sliced
- Peppered Salami sliced
- Dill havarti cubed
- Raspberries
- Green grapes halved if necessary or desired
- Assorted olives
- Roasted almonds
- Crackers
- Mini chocolate chip cookies
Mediterranean Bento Box
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Hummus
- Cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- Bell peppers halved
- Pita bread cut into triangles
- Yogurt-covered pretzels
Italian Bento Box
- Cooked cheese tortellini
- Cubed mozzarella cheese
- Pepperoni slices
- Cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- Grissini breadsticks
- Biscotti
Southern-Style Bento Box
- Chicken salad
- Pimento cheese dip
- Butter crackers
- Peaches diced or sliced
- Grapes, halved (if desired)
- Pound cake slices
Breakfast-Inspired Bento Box
- Egg bites
- Breakfast sausage links
- Mini muffins chocolate chip or blueberry
- Banana
- Orange slices
- Fresh mixed berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and/or raspberries
Instructions
Sandwich + Sides
- In a 4 to 5-compartment bento box, add the sandwiches, edamame, veggies straws, and apple slices to separate compartments. Add the nut butter to its own compartment or to the compartment with the apple slices.
Leftovers + Sides
- In a 5-compartment bento box, add the pasta salad to the largest compartment. Divide the cucumber, clementine, raspberries, and pretzels between the remaining compartments.
- Add letter cookies on top of the pretzels. (I spelled out “Hi” for a cute note.)
Charcuterie Lunchable
- In a 5 to 6-compartment bento box, add the sliced salami, dill havarti, and folded salami in the largest compartment. Combine the raspberries and grapes in another compartment. Add the olives and almonds to another compartment (if there is an extra compartment, add them to separate compartments). Add the crackers and cookies to separate compartments.
Mediterranean Bento Box
- In a 5- to 6-compartment bento box, add the shredded rotisserie chicken. In one container, add the hummus. Combine the tomatoes and bell peppers in another compartment (if there is an extra compartment, add them to separate compartments). Divide the pita bread and yogurt-covered pretzels between the remaining two compartments.
Italian Bento Box
- In a 6-compartment bento box, divide the cooked cheese tortellini, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, tomatoes, breadsticks, and biscotti.
Southern-Style Bento Box
- In a 6-compartment bento box, divide the chicken salad, pimento cheese dip, butter crackers, peaches, grapes, and pound cake slices.
Breakfast-Inspired Bento Box
- In a 6-compartment bento box, divide the egg bites, breakfast sausage, mini muffins, bananas, orange slices, and berries.
Photos by Haley Hunt Davis of Salt Worth Creative. Food styling with Ryan Norton.
These were easy and cute for my daughters lunch!