September 13, 2017
updated
All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
For years, my daughter would constantly ask me to buy the lavish store-bought meals in the brightly colored boxes. As you may know, I’m a firm believer in fresh food, especially for my children. But I must say, my daughter’s pleas for these boxed lunches got me thinking.
My solution: bento box lunches full of fresh ingredients my kids love.
Bento Lunch Ideas
Here are three of my easy bento box lunches that will bring a fresh variety to your kid’s lunches and make meal prep a breeze.
The backbone of these bento boxes is fresh cut fruit and vegetables. You may have seen my previous posts on how I prevent apples from browning; like in my Donut Apples Slices and my Apple Pie S’mores recipes.
To keep my apples, carrots, and other produce from browning too fast, I use Natureseal for Fresh Cut Produce, our favorite partner to bring you innovative ways to keep apples from browning. Their signature blend of vitamins and minerals allows cut fruits & veggies last for up to 14 days in the fridge!
As you can see in the video below, the whole process is fast and seamless, since the apples get soaked immediately after being sliced.
Bento Recipes
And yes, browning can be a real problem if you are chopping your fruits and vegetables ahead of time to get ready for a party or prep lunches for the week.
The whole purpose of preparing all your fruits and vegetables at once is to be able to have them on hand, and ready to use, to make healthier choices throughout the day.
This same method can be done with carrots, celery, pears, and stone fruits. You can meal prep for the entire week and keep them fresh in the fridge without browning for up to 14 days. Just like the fruit you find pre-cut at the grocery store but without paying a premium.
Between my kids and I, I’m not sure who loves these bento boxes more. They get to enjoy their favorite snacks for lunch, and I save myself a headache when taking on weekly meal prep. Below you’ll find the ingredients lists for these three boxes. Happy snacking!
What will you put in your bento boxes?
ABC’s Bento Lunch
Ingredients
- Apple slices
- Boiled egg
- Celery
- Carrots
- Cheese
- Crackers
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a lunchbox and enjoy.
Classic MOMable Bento Lunch
Ingredients
- Turkey slices
- Boiled Egg
- Cheese
- Apple Slices
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a lunchbox and enjoy.
Rainbow Bento Lunch
Ingredients
- Green Apples
- Boiled Eggs
- Celery
- Carrots
- Cheese
- Crackers
- Deli Turkey
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Bread
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a lunchbox and enjoy.
Hayley
I was wondering, if you make these lunches ahead of time, how long can you keep them in the fridge before you need them? Also will they stay good while waiting at school before lunch time?
Laura Fuentes
Yes. I make these up to 3 days ahead -at the very least prep them and minimal assembly in the morning. I pack them in a lunch bag with an ice pack if it’s to hot outside.
Amy J.
My daughter loves “sandwiches” made from sliced apples w/PB. Fresh fruit and veggies are popular with my kids too.. I’m not very good at getting more creative yet though :p.
Rachel
I love all fresh fruits and veggies. I love this idea. Does the eggs and meat leave a weird smell being in the same container as fruit and veggies?
Laura Fuentes
I have never noticed weird smells and my kids have never complained.
Abbelina
Loves ham -n-cheese roll ups. Any fresh fruit. Apple sauce pouches. Yogurt!
Jenny Simmons
We love, lunch meats,crackers and cheese to make our own lunchables we always add some fruit as well
Heather Mandell
Her new fave is Joshua’s flatbread “pizza rolls” – flatbread, 2% mozzarella and Turkey pepperoni rolled up and grilled on our Foreman to melt & seal. Served with pizza dipping sauce. Sides are olives and a rainbow of plum tomatoes plus a clementine and a small homemade cookie for a treat.
Kim
Ham and turkey circles with cheese and wheat crackers, along with sliced apples using the amazing Natureseal, or other fresh fruit, carrot sticks and red, yellow, orange, green peppers.
Amery
My daughter loves tortilla roll-ups or sandwiches cut in shapes, string cheese, cut fruits and yogurt.
Melissa
My kids love what we call “snacky lunches.” Some favorites include, whole grain crackers, cheese, chunks of grilled chicken, carrots, bell peppers, fruit, and nuts. Sometimes I’ll make a veggie wrap with cream cheese seasoned with my homemade ranch mix, roll it tightly in plastic wrap overnight, then slice into rounds.
Be
Fruit, hard boiled eggs, slices of mozzarella cheese and baby carrots…they love those. Although on ocassion I’ve had to include some crackers and a cookie so that it mimics the store bought meals!
Katie
Salami, cheese, fruit and hummus
Chantal Labelle
My kids love ham and cheese sandwiches lol. Makes it easy on me sometimes but I always like to change up their lunches. They also love strawberries, babybel cheese, yogurt drinks and gummies
Jill
My five year old twins are the n kindergarten and packing lunch is a new experience. One son loves breakfast for lunch: banana waffle sticks w/syrup, chicken-apple sausages and Greek yogurt with cut up (frozen) cherries. My other son is more adventurous. His favorite “bento” lunch this year was: Naked “fried” ravioli, meatballs w/marinara sauce for dipping, salad of tomato, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper and olives, grapes. This is what I have to deal with. Two very different kids with very different tastes.
Laura Fuentes
I would love those lunches too! 😉
Molly
Hummus with crackers, boiled eggs and cheese and berries for sure!
TS
Our favorite bento style lunch is Rainbow. We slice up different fruits and veggies for each color (Red strawberries, orange slices, yellow pears etc). Then I add a slice or two of cheese and some pita chips. I’ve been buying Natureseal on Amazon since your post on the guacamole. I bought it for a party and then I discovered the apple browning solution and my life was changed for meal prep! Thanks, Laura.
These bento boxes look great. Thanks for the ideas!
Maryanne W.
We like to do hummus, pretzels, grapes, blueberries, bagel.
Diane
My son usually has cheese, fruit, yogurt, and mini sandwiches in his. I tend to take snack ones with me to work that include fruit and veggies!
Melissa
I put fruit kabobs with blueberry yogurt dip, ham and egg muffin cups with green onions, and Amish oatmeal wth brown sugar, and string cheese!! YUM-O
Amy
My twins love eating a homemade lunch and these lunch boxes look amazing! They love turkey and veggie wraps, grapes, strawberries, and cucumbers. I have never been able to pack apples yet and would love to try what you used to prevent browning! Thanks for sharing. Amy
Marion
My kids love almond butter & jam sushi with strawberries, apples and carrots. Oh can’t forget the cheese chunks.
Pam
My granddaughter loves turkey (cut out in cute shapes, of course), cheese and crackers, and green apples.
Jennifer Fleming
Cheese, crackers, nuts, fruits and veggies.
Tara Kidd
My favorite ingredient is any kind of fruit or cheese ☺️
Carin
Hummus, veggies, fruit, feta, and a piece of dark chocolate 🙂
Maria
My daughter likes boiled eggs, celery, grapes, Apple slices with peanut butter, and yogurt.
Angela
When my son first started school, he didn’t like any of his food touching. So Bento box lunches were perfect for him. Things I put in are turkey and cheese slices, pea pods, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, strawberries, peach slices, plum slices, apple sauce, mini meatballs, crackers, grapes, sometimes a banana mini muffin or zucchini mini muffin as a treat.
latanya
turkey sandwich, apple slices, milk, and cheese is something I know my son will eat
Stacey
Cheese, crackers, strawberries and carrots
Kelli
My kiddos love nuggets and since they tend to eat everything room temp, I cook up some nuggets and send them cooked down. Plus varrots, grapes, cheese slices nd a dip
Jennifer R.
My son likes when I do “make your own pizza” boxes and sandwich crackers (meat, cheese, and crackers they can stack together) with fruit.
Sally Babcock
My daughter loves tuna on lettuce leaves,hard boiled egg,and apple with peanut butter dip.
Cathy Hansen
Eggs, cheese crackers, snap peas, oranges and rolled lunch meat.
Kerry
Sliced cheese and crackers,veggies with hummus and fresh fruit.
Zita
I know it’s not fresh, but my kids love Bear’s (bearnibbles) pure fruit yoyos next to their lunches 🙂
Ramona Holland
Any type of seasonal fruit and sandwiches
Karen
My favorite add in is one little chocolate or piece of candy, it ups the wow factor and makes my little guy happy to eat all the healthy food and enjoy a little treat too.
Kate Olson
My son has been loving grapes, strawberries, peanut butter and apples, baby carrots and popcorn for his kindergarten snack! These boxes would be perfect. I definitely need a new system because I can’t handle all the baggies!
Emily
My boys favorite bento boxes are pb&j triangles, strawberries, carrots, and cucumbers! They are healthy and super easy.
Sylvia Argueta
I love crackers, ham, cheese, carrots, and grapes.
Nicole Bu.
My son loves the fish theme – sandwich (any kind) cut like a fish, blueberries for bubbles, goldfish crackers, dried seaweed & those gummi “swimmers” from Trader Joe’s (if I haven’t finished the bag off).
Alex
My kids love turkey butterflies. I fold half a slice of turkey into a wing shape, thread it onto a toothpick, followed by a mini pickle, and then the second half of the turkey slice also folded into a wing. Cute and tasty! Quick and easy for me to make too.
Vicky H.
My kids love turkey sandwiches, carrots, ranch, fresh fruit and cubed cheddar cheese. I haven’t won them over it hard boiled eggs yet, but working on it
Kim Saban
Cucumbers in dressing, carrots, lunch meat rolled up (turkey, ham, salami), cheese, berries, or apples with yogurt or Clementines. Another thing that works are the reusable silicone cupcake liners to keep food separate for those of us with kids who like things “separate” 🙂
Kellie
This is our first year using Bento lunch boxes and we LOVE them! One of our favorites is homemade guacamole with turkey, cheese, and crackers.
Ivy
My son loves lunchables and I cringe when he asks me to buy some. I’d make my own and add some cut up apple! He loves apples but hates when they brown.
Debbie
We love sprouted English muffin pizzas (inspired by your cookbook) with fruit and yogurt on the side.
Lisa
My go to bento for my toddler is chicken, olives, and a tangerine.
Dawn
First off; I’ve never heard of Natureseal!!! Thanks for introducing it to me!!! Have I been living under a rock?! Lol.
MY Bento would contain:
Blueberries
Snap peas
Apple
Deli Turkey or jerky
Mixed nuts
1 square Ghirardelli 72% dark chocolate
Joellyn Aldrich
Faves in our house include string cheese or other cheese sticks/cubes, hummus and carrots/celery or pita chips, hard boiled eggs, turkey and ham, strawberries, raspberries, and peaches
Mada
My kids love fresh fruit and cheese! Eggs are not as loved, so I usually use turkey, ham or salami as proteins
Viviannette
Peanut butter cup, pretzels, apple slices and carrot sticks
Rachel Sanders
Boiled eggs, turkey, string cheese, fruit are some favorites!
Rebecca
I pack what my kids call a “Deli Yumbox”. It is basically all yummy bits & pieces from the deli, with some dried fruit and vegie sticks. So special cheeses, deli meats, olives, marinated artichokes, plus a carb like crackers or sourdough toast. It looks so pretty for very little effort, and always comes home empty!
Laura Fuentes
Congrats on being chosen as our Back To School Giveaway WINNER!! Check your email for more info from [email protected]
Julia Flanagan-Schmidt
I love a colorful assortment of veggies and fruits (especially berries with some banana slices thrown in), as well as hard boiled eggs. I love to include a little dark chocolate or a home baked mini muffin for a little treat.
Sarah Mc
Fresh fruits and hard boiled eggs!
Amy
Cheese, veggie sticks, and hummus! Also pinwheel sandwiches or tortilla wraps.
I have one starting school and one starting solids this week. I would love to win!
Kyla
Breakfast is a fave, they love taking crepes rolled with jam or nut free butter, French toast or pancake strips to dip or cereal and a thermos of milk. A quick go to easy to whip up and always have the ingredients on hand.
Lisa
Deli turkey and cheese, fresh berries, cut up veggies, and pretzels go into many lunch boxes around here!
Lisa
Beans and rice, yellow bell pepper and kiwi
Edie
Natural lunch meat slices or a boiled egg, raw veggie slices, raw fruit, cheese (sometimes with crackers), and a homemade “trail mix” of some kind with raw nuts/seeds, dried fruit, and unsweetened coconut. Once aweek we usually do tuna salad &/or send a thermos with warmed up favorite leftovers as well.
Sylvia Baker
My kids love cheese, crackers and berries! I usually add boiled egg or sometimes pepperoni.
Sandy
Hard boiled egg (sliced), strawberries, grapes, baby carrots and cheese. A yummy and filling lunch
Toccara N. W.
My favorite bento box ingredients are to make a cheese plate bento and includes:
Chunk of Smoked Gouda
Slices of Cheddar Cheese
Chunk of Brie
Apple Slices
Dried fruit
Pretzel crisps
Grapes (red and green)
Almonds, roasted and salted
Jody
I just love a bento box filled with spring rolls & nut butter dip, hard boiled eggs, nuts & seeds, berries and a small square of dark chocolate!! Yum!!
Jennifer
Fresh fruit and veggies
Heidi
My kids love bento boxes, too! My first grade daughter spends quite a. It of time packing her lunch, with fresh ingredients she finds in the fridge.
Jenn
We love eggs- from egg salad to egg muffins, and sweet muffins like blueberry, banana, etc (made with nut butter or oats and almond). Yogurt will make a weekly appearance, and of course a fresh fruit like apple, grapes or pears. Maybe popcorn or nuts.
I have to try those non-browning packs!
Lori
Pretzels, guacamole, fruit, cheese, & yogurt with granola.
Kate
Cheese and crackers are my go-to lunches. Also apple slices, grapes,and nuts.
Cristina
Hummus, pretzels, carrots, cucumbers, cheese, grapes and some peanut butter is a winner in my house.
Erin K.
We have a few allergies in our family (eggs and nuts) so we have to be pretty careful and sometimes I feel like we use the same thing over and over again. However, the kids seem to still enjoy it! We like pretzels, cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, apples, strawberries, and turkey slices.
Laura
Meat and cheese roll ups, berries, snap peas
Annie
Popcorn, watermelon, ham and mozzarella
Sai
My daughter loves to take bread with Nutella,bread with jam with a fruit/cucumber slices,sometimes with cookies and she’s fond of cherry tomatoes with lettuce leaves
As I’m Indian sometimes her lunch would be rice with veggies gravy and paratha(stuffed vegetables in wheat flour make into flat bread/tortilla)
I loved bentobox a lot,because you can give many varieties on a single box ,where kids can be happy
virginia newcomb
my sons favorite is burritos, veg and fruit normally berries, we do fruit and veg juice cause he doesnt always like his veggies
Laura Fuentes
Virginia, You have been chosen as our winner! Check your email for details from [email protected]
Ruthie
Hummus, pretzels, carrot sticks, and apple slices are a favorite.
Jen B.
We love fresh fruit and mini sandwiches.
Alma Beraza
hard boiled eggs, grapes, yogurt
Jessika
It seems like it’s popular because it works!
Cheese, fruit and veggies make it in there one way or another! 🙂
Teeandra
Our favs are cheese and crackers, hummus, veggies and berries. But the choices for a fresh healthy lunch are endless with the bento box!
Sharon
Dried fruits, nuts, cheese, and raw veggies.
Shillu
Eggs, veggies, cheese & fruits .
Jennifer C
I love doing a simple box on days where I am a little rushed – meat, cheese, eggs, fruit, and maybe a few nuts or gluten free crackers. Easy, and my daughter loves it.
carey
My kindergartener loves hard boiled egg, string cheese, grapes, yogurt, crackers and walnuts in her lunch box.
Lauren D.
Fresh fruit and veggies, boiled eggs, beans, weaps, sandwiches.
Deborah Dadlani
My kids love turkey sandwiches, grapes, strawberries, carrots, cucumbers and zucchini muffins.