Insider’s Viewpoint: Back-to-School Bento Boxes
For fun and perfectly-portioned, kid-friendly meals, pack lunches bento-style! Bento (boxed lunches) originated in Japan and have become a popular sensation with children as well as adults. With a variety of colors, shapes, textures and finger foods, bento boxes are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. They are also a perfect way to get in a serving of fun fruits and veggies. If you don’t have a divided reusable container, simply use muffin cups to create different sections and separate the ingredients.
Just Remember …
Whole Grain + Protein + Fruit + Veggie + Treat = A Healthy Balanced Bento Box
7 Ideas for Bento Boxes
- D.I.Y. Mini Pizzas
- Mini whole grain bagels
- Pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, mini pepperoni, diced bell pepper (put each ingredient in its own silicone muffin cup)
- Grapes
- Bite-Sized Waffle Sandwiches
- Mini whole grain waffles stuffed with pepper jack cheese and sliced turkey
- Blueberries
- Bell pepper strips
- Crazy Kabobs
- Turkey, cheese and apple cubes with honey mustard dipping sauce
- Orange sections
- Sliced cucumber
- Hummus Dipper
- Whole grain pita bread triangles
- Cubed cheese
- Hummus
- Sugar snap peas
- Strawberries
- Peanut Butter Delight
- Apple and banana slices
- Peanut butter or SunButter
- Raisins
- Mini chocolate chips
- Sliced Celery
- Rainbow Pasta Salad
- Whole grain pasta salad with shredded carrots, diced bell pepper and fresh green beans
- Hard-boiled egg
- Fresh or dried mango slices
- Pinwheels
- Try one of the three pinwheel recipes below!
- Sliced apple
- Chocolate covered raisins
Recipes
Turkey, Hummus & Veggie Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 (8-inch) 100% whole wheat tortilla
- 2 Tbsp. hummus (any flavor)
- 2 (1-ounce) sliced reduce-sodium deli turkey
- 2 roasted red pepper slices
- ½ cup baby spinach
- ¼ cup shredded carrots
Spread tortilla with hummus, leaving ½-inch border around the edge. Add remaining ingredients to one side of the tortilla. Tightly roll up and slice into 6 pieces.
Tex-Mex Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 (8-inch) 100% whole wheat tortilla
- ¼ cup mashed avocado
- ½ cup shredded romaine lettuce
- 1 slice sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 Tbsp. salsa
- ¼ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
Spread tortilla with mashed avocado, leaving ½-inch border around the edge. Add remaining ingredients to one side of the tortilla. Tightly roll up and slice into 6 pieces.
Ham, Pear & Havarti
Ingredients
- 1 (8-inch) 100% whole wheat tortilla
- 2 tsp. honey mustard
- 2 (1-ounce) slices honey ham
- 1 slice Havarti cheese
- ½ cup baby spinach
- ½ fresh pear, cut into matchsticks
Spread tortilla with honey mustard, leaving ½-inch border around the edge. Add remaining ingredients to one side of the tortilla. Tightly roll up and slice into 6 pieces.
Kathryn Long, RDN, LDN
Healthy Living Coordinator
Weis Markets, Inc
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