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Toddler Bento Lunch

Create fun, colorful, and nutritious cold lunches for toddlers that are easy to prepare and perfect for daycare.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 lunches
Course: Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: American, Kid-friendly
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Proteins
  • 1 cup rotisserie chicken
  • 3 slices turkey slices
  • 1 can canned tuna
  • 2 medium hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 cup chickpeas mashed if desired
  • 1 cup hummus
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 sticks cheese sticks or cubes
  • 1 cup edamame shelled
Carbs
  • 1 whole whole-grain tortillas
  • 2 mini pitas
  • 2 slices soft bread
  • 1 cup cooked pasta (cooled)
  • 2 cakes rice cakes
  • 6 pieces crackers
  • 2 mini waffles
Fruits
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup halved grapes
  • 1 cup strawberries sliced
  • 1 medium apple sliced
  • 1 medium banana cut into coins
  • 1 can mandarin segments drained
Veggies
  • 1/2 cup cucumber cut into coins
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1/2 cup carrot cut into matchsticks
  • 1/2 cup bell pepper cut into strips
  • 1/2 cup steamed broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup snap peas
Spreads/Dips
  • 1 cup hummus
  • 1 cup yogurt-ranch
  • 1/2 cup guacamole
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seed butter
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese
Extras
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon lightly sprinkled
  • 1 tsp everything bagel seasoning lightly sprinkled
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 set mini cookie cutters
  • 1 set silicone cups

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Use a leakproof lunchbox with sections for building your bento.
  2. Place a protein, a carb, two colors of produce, and a dip in each section.
Lunch Ideas
  1. Build a Bento: Think turkey pinwheels + crackers + blueberries + cucumbers + hummus.
  2. Make Roll-Ups: Spread cream cheese on a tortilla, add turkey and thin cucumber sticks, roll tight, slice into coins.
  3. Pasta Snack Box: Toss cooled pasta with olive oil and peas, then add cheese cubes and cherry tomatoes.
  4. Fill mini pitas with mashed chickpeas and tiny cucumber pieces. Add a sprinkle of cheese.
  5. Pair sliced hard-boiled egg with mini whole-grain waffles and add banana coins.
  6. Mix tuna with Greek yogurt and serve with apple slices and crackers.
  7. Top cottage cheese with berries and chia seeds, serving with pretzel sticks.
  8. Create rainbow snack skewers with grape tomato, cheese cube, cucumber, and blueberry.
  9. Shelled edamame with olive oil and salt makes a crunchy snack.
  10. Shred rotisserie chicken with yogurt, mustard, and apple bits, serving with mini pitas.
  11. Spread sunflower seed butter on a tortilla with banana, rolling and slicing.
  12. Make a simple cheese quesadilla, cut into triangles, and pair with salsa.
  13. Fill hollowed cucumber boats with hummus and top with crushed pita chips.
  14. Spread cream cheese and turkey between two mini rice cakes, serving with grapes and broccoli.
  15. Combine cheese cubes, crackers, strawberries, and a hard-boiled egg for a balanced lunch.

Notes

Use an ice pack to keep food safe for 4-6 hours. Make sure to store wet items away from dry to avoid sogginess. Prep proteins and chop veggies in advance and assemble lunches the night before.