bento box

Bento box lunches are a great way to pack for lunch on-the-go. Choose an assortment of healthy ingredients for vibrant meals and balanced nutrition that’s utterly convenient for work or school.

Bento Box Lunch Ideas (For School or Work)

recipe zucchini noodle caprese

chicken breast

baby arugula

raspberries and blueberries

recipe tuna salad

gluten-free bread

avocado (sliced)

recipe melon mozzarella salad with basil

cucumber (sliced)

recipe greek salad

recipe hummus

celery (chopped)

recipe smoked salmon pinwheels

baby spinach

recipe watermelon, cucumber, and feta salad

recipe matcha pistachio bliss balls

Make and Assemble

Follow each of the individual recipes to make the components. Then assemble and place in the bento boxes.

Bento box lunches are a great way to pack for lunch on-the-go. Choose an assortment of healthy ingredients for vibrant meals and balanced nutrition that's utterly convenient for work or school. The best part? You often don't need to heat them up. So all you have to do is open the box, dig in, and enjoy.

Because I love to meal prep, I also chose salads, snacks, and other recipes that are durable and can be meal prepped, saving you time in the kitchen throughout the week. It makes for fast bento box assembly! 

🖨  PRINTABLE BENTO BOX RECIPES: https://downshiftology.com/bento-box-lunch-ideas/ (+ tips!)

► BENTO BOXES
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#bentobox #lunchideas #healthy

BENTO BOX LUNCH IDEAS | for work or back to school + healthy meal prep recipes

Bento Box with Tonkatsu as a main is called Tonkatsu Bento. It consists of cooked rice, tonkatsu and a small amount of a few side dishes. It is intended to be eaten at room temperature.&nbsp;I have written my instructions on how to pack the box to make it look like the photo of the bento box in the post. But you don’t need to place the ingredients in the same way.Because bento is usually made mostly from the left-over dishes or make-ahead dishes, the time indicated in this recipe only shows the time to pack the bento box.

Bento Box - Tonkatsu Bento

rice ((note 1))

tomato

cabbage

Tonkatsu

Black sesame seeds

Bulldog tonkatsu sauce

mini foil cupcake liner ((note 6))

While the rice is still hot or warm, place the rice in the bento box and let it cool.

Put snow pea shoots goma-ae in a foil cupcake liner and place it next to the rice.

In a small space next to the cupcake liner containing goma-ae, place tomato wedges.

1st Box

Place the potato salad at one end of the box.

Place shredded cabbage next to the potato salad, allowing sufficient space for the tonkatsu to fit in.

Place the tonkatsu pieces to fill the box.

If the container of tonkatsu sauce is small enough to fit in the corner of the bento box, put it in the box. Otherwise, pack it separately.

2nd Box

The main dish of today’s bento is Shumai but my Shumai Bento is a colourful bento - the rice is covered with Japanese scrambled eggs and green peas, and decorated with the flower-shaped carrots. The pickled red cabbage adds an extra colour to the already colourful bento!Because bento is usually made mostly from left-over dishes or make-ahead dishes, the time indicated in this recipe only shows the time to pack the bento box.

Bento Box – Shumai Bento

Shumai ((note 2))

½ portion Iri Tamago

½ portion Peas from Sanshoku Bento recipe

carrot

tbsp Sweet and Sour Pickled Red Cabbage

okazu

Fill about half of the bento box with the rice, allowing for 1cm / ⅜” margin at the top (see the first photo in this post).

Place Shumai pieces next to the rice, filling most of the remaining space of the bento box.

Put Pickled Red Cabbage in the okazu cup and place it next to the shumai.

Cover half of the rice with Iri Tamago and the rest with Peas.

Place the flower-shaped carrots over the line between the egg and the peas.

Adjust these portions for the usual appetite of your child. Nutrition will vary based on the ingredients and portions you serve.

15 Easy Bento Lunch Box Ideas

Egg Muffin Lunch: 1-2 Egg Muffins, 1/4-1/2 cup cantaloupe, 1/4-1/2 cup sliced cucumbers, 1/2 cup puffs

Lunch:

cucumber

Salad

Hummus and Crackers Lunch: 2 tablespoons hummus, 1/4-1/2 cup crackers, 1 oz cheese, 1/4-1/2 watermelon, yogurt tube

Bean Dip and Crackers Lunch: 2 tablespoons bean dip, 1/4-1/2 cup crackers, 1 oz cheese, 1/4-1/2 watermelon, yogurt tube

Turkey and Cheese Sandwich:

Blueberry Muffin Lunch: 1-2 Blueberry Zucchini Muffins, 1/4-1/2 cup baby carrots, container applesauce

Spinach Muffin Lunch: 1-2 Spinach Banana Muffins, 1/4-1/2 cup yogurt

Lunch: melon

Cheese and Cracker Box: peas

Snack Box Lunch: 1/4-1/2 cup pretzels, yogurt tube, 1/4-1/2 cup strawberries, 1/4-1/2 cup snap peas

Egg Muffin Lunch: warm the egg muffins and pack in a bento with a thermos or pack to eat at room temp or cold. 

Hard-Cooked Egg Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box.

Falafel Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box.

Rotisserie Chicken Salad Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box.

Hummus and Crackers Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box. Freeze the yogurt tube as an extra ice pack and it will thaw by lunch time.

Bean Dip and Crackers Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box. Freeze the yogurt tube as an extra ice pack and it will thaw by lunch time.

Jam Sandwich: pack in a bento with an ice box. Cut the sandwich into cubes or strips as needed so easy to chew.

Turkey and Cheese Sandwich: pack in a bento with an ice box.Cut the sandwich into cubes or strips as needed so easy to chew.

Hummus Sandwich Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box. Cut the sandwich into cubes or strips as needed so easy to chew.

Blueberry Muffin Lunch

pack in a bento with an ice box. Pack a spoon with the applesauce or use an applesauce pouch.

Spinach Muffin Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box. Pack a spoon with the cottage cheese.

Veggie Muffin Lunch: Warm the Veggie Muffin and pack in a bento with a thermos or pack to eat at room temperature.

Cheese and Cracker Box: pack in a bento with an ice box.

Snack Box Lunch: pack in a bento with an ice box.

Taco Salad Box: pack in a bento with an ice box.

I paid for my lunch book for todlers and it never came.

Teriyaki Salmon Bento consists of cooked rice, teriyaki salmon and a few small side dishes. Traditionally bento is meant to be eaten at room temperature without re-heating. It is surprising that cold Salmon Teriyaki is quite flavoursome without reheating. It is not fishy at all. Today’s bento box is a traditional wooden bento box called ‘Magewappa’. Please read the blog for more details.Because bento is usually made mostly from the left-over dishes or make-ahead dishes, the time indicated in this recipe only shows the time to pack the bento box.

BENTO BOX – Teriyaki Salmon

grams/1.1

radish (, cut in half (note 4))

Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese Rolled Omelette)

Hijiki Seaweed Salad

mini foil cupcake liners ((note 6))

While the rice is still hot or warm, place it in the largest compartment of the bento box and let it cool.

Put green bean goma-ae in a foil cupcake liner and place in the corner of the rice compartment.

In one of the empty compartments, place Teriyaki Salmon pieces, then radish pieces to fill the space in the corner.

In the other empty compartment, place Dashimaki Tamago slices, almost vertically to allow space to place Hijiki Seaweed Salad.

Put Hijiki Seaweed Salad in a foil cupcake liner and place it next to the egg.

This no cook taco salad bento box recipe is ready for your lunch in under 20 minutes! A great meal prep lunch option when you're too busy to prep.

Taco Salad Bento Lunch Box

black beans

corn kernels

romaine lettuce

shredded cheese

lime

tortilla chips

roma tomatoes, chopped

jalapeno pepper (seeds removed and finely chopped)

red onion (finely chopped)

salt

lime juice

Divide ingredients into four storage containers. Use a condiment container to keep dressing separate until just prior to serving.

Stir together the pico de gallo ingredients and add to the containers (make sure the pico is not touching the romaine).

Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. You may wish to bring an extra bowl to serve the salad in.

7 no cook lunch box recipes that you can prep in under 30 minutes! These adult lunch box ideas are perfect for meal prep.

7 No Cook Lunch Box Recipes

chicken

tzatziki

GREEK SALAD

cherry tomatoes

cucumber diced (seeds scooped out)

bell pepper

onion

feta cheese (crumbled)

olives (to taste)

english muffins

cottage cheese

fresh berries washed & dried (see *)

honey

eggs

carrots peeled & chopped

celery

grapes

blueberries

oz cheese

TUNA SALAD

tuna

mayonnaise

salt & pepper

carrots

flatbreads (naan, crackers

CHICKPEA SALAD

19 oz can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)

mayonnaise mayonnaise

dill

pepper

celery (finely chopped)

strawberries sliced

arugula

balsamic reduction

goat cheese (or cream cheese)

flatbread crackers broken

MAPLE CINNAMON PECANS

pecans

maple syrup

cinnamon

romaine lettuce washed and chopped into bite-sized pieces

PICO DE GALLO

roma tomatoes (chopped)

jalapeno pepper seeds removed and finely chopped

red onion

mini bell peppers

hummus

blackberries washed and air dried (see *)

strawberries washed and air dried (see *)

black bean tortilla chips

TRAIL MIX

almonds

vegan chocolate chunks

sunflower seeds

pumpkin seeds

Stir together all greek salad ingredients. Divide between four bento lunch boxes.

Divide all remaining ingredients between bento lunch boxes.

Greek Pita Lunch Box

Assemble ingredients in 3-compartment storage containers (I recommend these ones)

To serve, top the english muffin with cottage cheese and berries. Drizzle with honey.

English Muffin Bento Box

Cook and cool hard boiled eggs (I used my Instant Pot). You can leave them with the shells on or peel them after they've cooled completely.

Stir together tuna salad ingredients and divide between containers.

Divide all other ingredients between containers.

Tuna Protein Box

In a medium bowl, mash the chickpeas with a spatula or potato masher.

Stir in the mayonnaise/vegan mayonnaise, dill, salt, pepper, celery and red onion until completely combined.

Divide between 4 bento-style lunch containers.

Divide up the grapes, vegetables, and flatbread between the containers.

Chickpea Salad Lunch Box

Arrange strawberries, arugula and flatbread crackers in compartments in your lunch containers. Use small condiment containers for the goat cheese and balsamic reduction.

For maple cinnamon pecans: toast pecans in a frying pan for 5-7 minutes, until lightly toasted. Add the cinnamon and toss; then add the maple syrup and stir everything up to coat. Allow to cool before adding to the lunch boxes.

Spring Strawberry Bento Box

Taco Salad Lunch Box

Divide all ingredients between four 3-compartment storage containers.

Vegan Bento Lunch Box

Get your meal prep done quickly with these (almost) No Cook Bento Lunch Box recipes! Easy to prep, keeps well for up to 4 days, and makes you feel like a kid again  ✌️ 

Find printable recipes here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/lunch-box-recipes/
_____________________________
LINKS: 
00:30- Reasons why Bento boxes are great
00:49- What you need 
01:15- No Cook Greek Pita Bento Box:  https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/greek-bento-box/
01:50- English Muffin Breakfast Box: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/english-muffin-breakfast-bento-box/
02:23- Tuna Protein Box: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/tuna-protein-box/
03:33- Chickpea Salad Bento Box (Vegan): https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/chickpea-salad-bento-box/
04:31- Spring Strawberry Bento Lunch Boxes: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/spring-strawberry-bento-lunch-boxes/
05:46- No Cook Taco Salad Bento Box Recipe: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/no-cook-taco-salad-bento-box-recipe/
06:50- No Cook Vegan Bento Snack Box recipe: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/no-cook-vegan-bento-snack-box-recipe/
07:52- How long the bento boxes last

01:15- No Cook Greek Pita Bento Box:  12 slices deli chicken, 1 cup tzatziki, 12 mini pitas or 1 full sized cut into wedges
GREEK SALAD- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 2 cups cucumber diced seeds scooped out, 
1/2 bell pepper chopped, 1/4 cup red onion diced, 2 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled, olives 

01:50- English Muffin Breakfast Box: 4 english muffins, 2 cups cottage cheese, 2 cups fresh berries,
4 tablespoons honey

02:23- Tuna Protein Box: 4 whole eggs, 4 carrots peeled & chopped,2-3 ribs celery chopped,
1 cup grapes, 1 cup blueberries, 8 oz cheese cubed
TUNA SALAD- 5 oz can of tuna drained, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 
2 tablespoons celery finely chopped, salt & pepper to taste

03:33- Chickpea Salad Bento Box (Vegan): 2 cups grapes, 4 carrots, 4 celery sticks,
4 flatbreads naan, crackers or rice cakes all work
CHICKPEA SALAD- 19 oz can of chickpeas, 1/4 cup mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise, 
1 teaspoon dried dill, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 2 ribs celery finely chopped,
1/4 cup red onion finely chopped

04:31- Spring Strawberry Bento Lunch Boxes: 3 cups strawberries sliced, 4 cups arugula, 
4 tablespoons balsamic reduction, 4 tablespoons goat cheese or cream cheese, 
12 flatbread crackers broken in half
MAPLE CINNAMON PECANS- 3/4 cup pecans, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

05:46- No Cook Taco Salad Bento Box Recipe: 1 cup black beans, 1 cup corn kernels,
3 cups romaine lettuce , 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 cup dressing of choice cilantro lime dressing,
tortilla chips
PICO DE GALLO- 4 roma tomatoes chopped, 1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed and finely chopped,
2 tablespoons red onion finely chopped, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon lime juice

06:50- No Cook Vegan Bento Snack Box recipe: 12 mini bell peppers , 1/2 cup hummus,
1/2 pint blackberries, 2 cups strawberries , 2 cups black bean tortilla chips
TRAIL MIX- 1/4 cup almonds, 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chunks, 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

______________________________
EQUIPMENT:
PrepNaturals 2 and 3 Compartment Bento Glass Storage Containers- get them on Amazon! 

2 compartment (https://amzn.to/2GiueuB)
3 compartment (https://amzn.to/2D9Vhq1)
______________________________

Find my favorite kitchen and meal prep accessories in my shop: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/shop/
______________________________

Grab the ULTIMATE MEAL PREP BUNDLE (over 100 meal prep recipes) at: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/ultimate-meal-prep-bundle/
_________________________________

FREE MEAL PREP QUICK START GUIDE

https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/meal-prep-quick-start-guide/

______________________________

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