5 EASY BENTO BOX LUNCHES FOR KIDS

Moms and dads are busy and pressed for time, and trying to pack a healthy lunch during hectic school day mornings can add to the frustration. But the bento box provides a perfect solution!

Bento is a meal concept originating in Japan, consisting of food items held in different containers within a box. A traditional bento consists of rice or noodles, meat or fish, and vegetables, all inside a box. These items can be easily substituted by any healthy carbohydrate, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetable entrée.

You can even get creative and arrange the different items in a bento to resemble animation characters or objects! Even the kids can get involved and help prep the bento boxes, making meal prepping fun and engaging.

A few added bonuses? You won’t be using multiple plastic baggies, and the individual compartments are a good reminder about portion sizes.

Here are 5 easy bento box lunches that take only five minutes to make:

	Bento box #1 Hummus with white wheat crackers Cucumber slices Orange bell pepper slices Nectarine slices Grapes
	Bento box #2 Chicken avocado sandwich Cherry tomatoes Apple slices Colorful carrots Dried cranberries
	Bento box #3 Peanut butter jelly sandwich with bananas and raisins Walnuts and almonds Prunes and dried apricots Celery sticks Apples and blueberries
	Bento box #4 Turkey rolls Avocado Colorful carrots Steamed peas Nectarine slices
	Bento box #5 Nonfat greek yogurt with blueberries Granola String cheese Celery sticks Dried cranberries with almonds Pear slices

All food items can be substituted for different types of meats, fruits, and vegetables. Remember to avoid giving foods that could be a choking hazard to your little ones, like nuts, whole grapes, or cherry tomatoes.  We hope you enjoy making these healthy and quick bento lunches for your little ones!