Fun bento box ideas for kids’ school lunch, snacks for kids, or fun ideas for picnic foods! These creative snacks and healthy food options get even the picky eaters excited about mealtime. They are simple and nutritious recipes, perfect for busy parents and take the stress out of lunchbox ideas or after school snacks. Great for kids’ travel snacks, too!
Easy Bento Box Ideas For Kids
Bookmark this post so you have it saved for later when you need ideas for packing school lunch, after school snack ideas, or a list of fun travel snacks for kids of all ages!
If you’re worried that this isn’t filling enough for kids and that they will still be hungry, don’t! Adjust the sizes and amounts based on your kids’ preferences.
(I eat that apple and peanut butter bento a few times a week and it is so filling, even as an adult!)
If you’re looking for bento box ideas for teenagers or adults, we got these lunch boxes and love them! The compartments are larger and deeper for bigger appetites!
Also, place the items in the compartment of the lunch box and let kids assemble their own lunch. They’ll think it’s fun!
What are good things to put in a bento box?
Grilled Chicken Bento: Grilled chicken strips, brown rice, steamed broccoli, and apple slices.
Falafel Bento: Falafel (I buy the boxed mix and think it’s good!), pita bread triangles, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices with a small container of tzatziki dipping sauce or a Ranch cup.
TIP: I just buy the big containers of dipping sauces or dips and portion them into resusable cups with lids like this. It saves money!
Shrimp & Veggie Bento: Cooked shrimp, quinoa, steamed green beans, and pineapple chunks.
Stuffed Bell Peppers Bento: Bell pepper halves stuffed with your favorite rice, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and grapes.
Veggie Hummus Pinwheels Bento: Veggie pinwheels (hummus, cucumbers, baby carrots, bell pepper strips), dipping sauce of choice (like Ranch), and orange segments.
TIP: If your kids love pinwheels as finger foods, my daughter loves these fiesta rollups!
Turkey Meatball Bento: Mini turkey meatballs, whole grain pasta, steamed peas or green beans, and strawberries.
Tofu Bento: Baked tofu cubes, brown rice, edamame, and mango chunks.
Egg Salad & Crackers Bento: Egg salad, whole grain crackers, grape tomatoes, and apple slices.
GET AN EASY EGG SALAD RECIPE HERE
Veggie Burger Bento: Mini veggie burger patties, whole wheat bun halves, carrot sticks, and blueberries.
Chicken Teriyaki Bento: Chicken teriyaki, brown rice, steamed broccoli, and watermelon cubes.
Egg & Veggie Bento: Sliced hard-boiled eggs, whole grain crackers, cucumber sticks or bell pepper sticks (different colors), dipping sauce, and apple slices.
Tuna & Avocado Bento: Tuna salad, avocado slices, tortillas, cherry tomatoes, and grapes.
Chicken & Sweet Potato Bento: Grilled chicken strips, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, and strawberries.
Pita & Hummus Bento: Whole wheat pita wedges, hummus, cucumber slices, and grapes.
(Honestly? This is one of my favorite bento box ideas! I could eat this every day!)
Spinach & Feta Wrap Bento: Spinach and feta wrap, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and apple slices.
Cheese & Crackers Bento: Whole grain crackers, cheese slices, cucumber sticks, and berries.
Chicken Salad Bento: Chicken salad, whole grain crackers, baby carrots, and melon cubes.
MORE SCHOOL SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS: 35 Days Of Easy After School Snacks For Kids
Edamame & Rice Bento: Steamed edamame, brown rice, bell pepper strips, and blueberries.
Turkey & Veggie Bento: Turkey slices, whole grain crackers, grape tomatoes, and canned peach slices
Veggie & Cheese Quesadilla Bento: Whole wheat quesadilla, cream cheese, vegetable slices, shredded cheese, baby carrots, and strawberries.
Peanut Butter & Apple Bento: Apple slices with peanut butter (or a nut butter substitute), whole grain crackers and cheese, and baby carrots.
RECIPE TIP: Slice the apples (instead of cutting them into wedges) and call them “apple pizzas” where they get to spread the peanut butter and then put a few other items in the lunch box for them to make their “pizza toppings” like coconut (for “cheese”), mini chocolate chips, raisins, and more.
Caprese Salad Bento: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls or Babybel cheese, tortillas, and grapes.
Mini Frittata Bento: Mini vegetable frittatas or eggs cups cooked in mini muffin tins, cucumber slices, grape tomatoes, and apple slices.
Salmon Bagel Bento: Salmon slices, cream cheese, mini bagels, cherry tomatoes, and sliced kiwi.
Beef & Veggie Skewer Bento: Mini beef and veggie skewers, brown rice, steamed broccoli, and strawberries.
Bean And Corn Salad Bento: Bean and Corn salad, tortilla chips, avocado slices, and melon cubes.
This dip with tortilla chips is one of my daughter’s favorite lunches!
GET THE CORN AND BEAN DIP RECIPE
Ham, Yogurt & Granola Bento: Greek yogurt, granola, mixed berries, ham cubes, and baby carrots.
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps Bento: Grilled chicken, romaine lettuce leaves (larger ones to make a wrap), cherry tomatoes, whole grain croutons, and a small container of Caesar dressing.
Sushi Roll Bento: Veggie sushi rolls, edamame, carrot sticks, and kiwi slices.
Lunch Meat & Cheese Kabob Bento: Rolled lunch meat and cheese cube kabobs (mini skewers with toothpicks), cucumber slices, carrot sticks, and grapes.
MORE EASY SNACKS FOR CHILDREN: 57+ Fun Beach Snacks For Kids
I hope you enjoy these bento box ideas for kids!