Back to School DIY Bento Lunch Boxes

Back to School DIY Bento Lunch Boxes

With back to school just around the corner, it can be hard to put together nutritious lunches that make the whole family happy. Kids want something fun, but we want to make sure they're eating healthy.

DIY bento boxes for back to school

Michael F. Jacobson, Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest, outlined in a Huffington Post article why store-bought Lunchables are not the best choice despite how appealing they are to kids. That's why DIY lunchables (or bento boxes for grown ups) are the perfect solution!

Read more about ways to make your kids' lunch healthier and still be a cool parent

A Strong Foundation

Start with the right container. Anything with separate compartments is great, or even a larger container with silicone muffin cups and smaller containers works. You can pick them up at the grocery store or even find some at the dollar store.

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Read more about the healthiest lunch boxes and containers for your kids

Build Your Box

The standard bento box or lunchable typically has carbs, protein, veggies, fruit, and an optional sweet. A few ideas to get you started:

  • Whole wheat pita, tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella, sliced veggies, and a peeled orange
  • Brown rice, chicken or tofu, sautéed veggies, and strawberries
  • Leftover pancakes or french toast, fruit leather, sliced sausages, and raspberries
  • Sandwiches cut into shapes, diced melon, sliced veggies, and hummus

Read more about easy, healthy lunches to pack for school

Have Fun

With DIY bento boxes and homemade lunchables, you can add some extra flair with fun shapes (use cookie cutters on sandwiches, cheese, and deli meats), make faces with fruit using toothpicks, or even add cute accessories. Play with your food and encourage your kids to as well!

When you are running tight on time in the morning add a packaged granola bar or granola minis from Made Good. We love them because they taste delicious and have a hidden serving of veggies.

Bottom line

Providing healthy lunches for kids as they go back to school can be a challenge. Skip the commercial lunchables and try DIY bento boxes and homemade lunchables and your kids will benefit from your efforts.

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.