Are you a "mom of munchers" or do you have a picky eater? We know packing school lunches can be a PITA -- and we don't mean the pocket bread kind! The typical sandwich for lunch that many of us grew up eating has left the cafeteria and this can make preparing school lunches complicated, and we feel you. Throw food allergies and school restriction on certain foods into the mix, and you may be ready to throw in the towel. Don't worry - we've got an idea for you. Enter bento boxes.
bento [ ben-toh; Japanese ben-taw ]
A meal, served in a box that is divided into sections for holding individual portions of food.
Bento boxes have continued to grow in popularity at school -- it seemed the back-to-school aisles were full of them this year in place of traditional lunchboxes. So this month we've compiled a few "out of the box" bento box lunch ideas that make the grade:
Pinwheels
Use your MacKid's favorite protein and wrap with veggies and their favorite toppings. Add a spread, wrap with love, and cut into pinwheels.
Ingredient ideas:
- Tortillas
- Deli meat, pepperoni, or tuna
- Sliced or shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, olives, cucumbers, sprouts
- Cream cheese, mayo, mustard, or plain
Try our BLT or Shredded Chicken BLT recipes for school lunch!
Taco Locos
Deconstruct what you would typically use to make tacos. It's a fun way for your MacKid to enjoy their lunch!
Ingredient ideas:
- Tortillas, corn chips, tortilla chips
- Cooked ground beef, turkey, or cooked chicken cubed
- Corn kernels
- Avocado slices
- Shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Black olives
- Salsa
Not-so-sushi
Deconstruct your typical sushi into different compartments to make each bite different.
Ingredient ideas:
- White rice
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Toasted seaweed
- Avocado chunks
- Dipping sauce of choice
- Add a protein: Imitation crab, turkey, scrambled eggs, hotdog, or smoked salmon
- Don't forget the chopsticks and fortune cookie!
Za-salad bar
Just like at the all-you-can-eat salad bars -- but all of their favorites. The sky is the limit!
Ingredient ideas:
- Lettuce, baby spinach, spring mix, sprouts
- Shredded chicken, tuna, hard-boiled eggs and/or sliced deli meat
- Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, mushrooms
- Shredded cheese, cottage cheese
- Black beans or chickpeas
The Traditional
Ok, so some of our kids still love sandwiches, and we do too!
Traditional school lunch items that work in a bento box:
- Favorite sandwich
- Sliced carrots
- Mixed nuts (if your school allows them)
- Sliced apples, grapes, and/or fresh berries
Other fun "out of the box" ideas:
Bento box obsessed like us? We love these:
Leak-proof, dishwasher safe, BPA-free, and with durable hinges, this bento box from Stuck On You comes in large and mini size. Each box comes with a suggested layout for including all the major food groups and which fits best in each section. A sandwich tray is also available for kids who prefer that option -- because, hey -- some of us still love our sammies!
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Find more back to school products we love!
Worried about food allergies this year? Check out Heather's Food Awareness Article to stay in the know.
