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.