20 of the BEST Bento Lunch Ideas for Toddlers
You’re going to love the ease of these Bento Lunch Ideas for Toddlers! All are super simple to make and are the perfect size for kids’ lunches. Not only that, but it’s an eco-friendly way to prepare lunch, too!
With our Bento Lunch Ideas for Kids, you no longer have to be stressed about tomorrow’s lunch!
Instead of using lunch bags daily and being wasteful, why not use a kid-friendly option for their school lunch instead? You’ll find some of the best toddler bento box lunch ideas below!
Finding the best bento box for toddlers doesn’t have to be hard. Just make certain that you find one that is dishwasher safe and easy to clean. And even though this post is about toddlers and younger kids, older kids can easily use them as well!
Be sure to check out these 25+ Toddler Friendly Lunch Ideas!
What are some simple snacks to put into a bento box?
You basically can add in anything that you want but keep in mind that you need to decide if you’re putting in cold food that needs an ice pack or wanting to do hot food instead.
Having simple veggies like sugar snap peas are a great option, as are cherry tomatoes, too.
You can also add in some apple slices and even a handful of chocolate chips for a simple and easy dessert.
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Will picky eaters like bento box lunches?
Maybe, but this is why you try! I think that they’re a great way to try out a variety of foods. Think fresh fruit, healthy snacks, cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs, chicken nuggets, celery sticks, cheese cubes, sunflower seeds, cottage cheese, or any other bento box ideas and foods that you want to add.
Making a bento box is an easy way to introduce new foods, or to have easy lunch ideas where you can make nutritious meals in a fun way.
What are some great brands for bento boxes for kids?
There are actually a lot of options when it comes to bento boxes. Make certain that before you buy, you do your research and find one that is going to work well for your child. Getting their input on this decision will make it easier to know that they’ll love using it later on down the road.
Some great options to consider for bento boxes are:
Bento Lunch Ideas for Toddlers
The best part about these bento lunch ideas for toddlers is that they're really simple and easy to make up in a short amount of time!
Heat up the nuggets in the morning and keep them warm by packing them in a thermos. Add some dipping sauce, a cheese stick, some pudding or fruit and you have a complete lunch!
These rice balls make for an especially fun surprise in the lunchbox. Onigiri are balls of sushi rice and it's really easy to make them!
This Chicken Taco Bento Box Lunch makes school lunch more likely to be eaten because it's more fun!
Make ham and cream cheese roll ups for your kids with pickles, with green onions, or with strawberry jam, whichever they like the best.
These spinach and feta muffins make the perfect snack to pack in the lunchbox! It's easy to make and healthy for lunch.
You can easily create this cute bento lunch idea by first making grilled cheese and cutting it into the shape of a star. Then make your Red, White and Blue Fruit Kabobs by dipping the end of a strawberry in white chocolate or white almond bark and layering them on a toothpick or kabob stick.
These Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Bites are perfect for school and easy to throw into a bento box. They are made from cacao, oats, seeds, dates and sultanas they are a fun side for school lunch.
This Pea Feta and Mint Frittata is perfectly sized when baked in a mini muffin tin. They make a great protein-packed side or main in the lunchbox.
This nutty pesto pasta is a wonderful main dish that can be made ahead of time and eaten at room temperature.
Surprise your kids with these no-bake snack treats made with cereal that are perfect for lunch.
Here are a few simple and easy lunches that can be made in about 5 minutes. Choose whatever sandwich fillings your child enjoys like cheese and veggies sandwich on a stick. Add lunch meat, leftover chicken, or sliced sausages to up the protein.
These chicken bowls are so easy to make ahead of time with roasted peppers and instant pot Chinese fried rice.
These simple Japanese onigiri rice balls are the perfect bento or lunchbox treat. Super fun to make and they look so adorable your kids will love them.
This easy Israeli bento lunch idea is nutritious and filling! These savory bites include eggs, vegetables, breads or pita, and usually hummus.
These ham and cheese roll ups are a lunch idea that can be made in no time and perfect for a quick lunch idea.
Making mini pizzas out of the King’s Hawaiian Savory Original Dinner Rolls is a favorite recipe for kids. They fit perfectly in school bento boxes and add a fun twist to the average sandwich lunch. They are quick and simple to make and help fill them up at lunchtime.
This bento lunch uses cheese, veggies and fruit, which means it’s a healthy and fun option for a lunch.
You can also add other yummy additions like celery, peanut butter, pretzels and more.
Create a bento box full of healthy lunch options to make tuna salad stackers using homemade tuna salad, crackers, black olives, cheese slices, tomato slices, cucumber slices and fruit.
These mini corn dog muffins are so stinking easy you can use a boxed corn muffin mix to keep it simple. Then get the kids to help add the cut hot dogs and cheese to the pan. Then you have easy and quick lunch ideas the kids will love!
Mac and Cheese Pizza Muffins with Horizon Organic #BackToSchool #NaturalFoods #lunchboxesmadeeasy
This pizza muffin recipe is so simple and quick to make using one box of macaroni and cheese to make 6 overstuffed muffins. You can also add turkey, salami, pepperoni or whatever pizza toppings you like!
As you can see, there are so many fun food items that you can store in your bento box that the kids are going to love! And make certain to let them help in packing up their lunch, too!
More Bento Lunch Resources:
Which is these bento lunch ideas for toddlers do you think you’re child is going to love the best?
