Packing healthy bento box school lunches for toddlers can be daunting. Not only do you have to consider the school’s policy on nuts, but it can be tricky to fill up all the components with healthy ingredients your toddler will eat.

I have enjoyed using the bentgo lunch boxes to pack my kids’ lunches because they have challenged me to pack creative lunches that my kids will enjoy. Some days are better than others, but I wanted to share a few of my creations. Here are 20 easy Bento box school lunch ideas for toddlers:

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What To Include In Your Kids Bento Box School Lunch

The best thing about bento lunch boxes is that they have different components that allow you to pack various food items. When packing lunch for your toddler, you want to ensure that you are packing ingredients that will fill them up and give them enough energy to get through the day.

Here are some items you can pack:

• Proteins: Chicken, hard-boiled eggs, steak, beef, canned tuna or salmon, cold cuts, and meatballs.
• Carbs: Potatoes, bread, tortilla wraps, bagels, pita, brown rice, white rice, beans, lentils, pasta.
• Vegetables: Peas, string beans, broccoli, baby carrots, cucumbers, mini peppers, mixed veggies, snap peas, beets, sweet potatoes.
• Fruits: Apples, strawberries, blueberries, mandarins, oranges, grapes, pineapple, honeydew, banana, kiwi, blackberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, pomegranate Airils, pears, raspberries
• Sauces: Ketchup, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, salad dressing…
• Snacks and Deserts: Brownies, chocolate chips, chocolate-covered raisins, popcorn, chips, cookies, gummy bears…
• Dairy: Gogo squeeze yogurt pouch, plain/flavored yogurt, string cheese, baby bel cheese, cheese portions, cottage cheese…
• Drinks: Chocolate milk, whole milk, low-fat milk, honest juices, orange juice…

Don’t let this list scare you because of the possibilities. When packing lunches here’s the formula I use:

Protein + Carb (Ham sandwich, boiled eggs + pancakes), add fruits and vegetables, a sweet treat, and don’t forget to include something to drink.

If you follow this formula, you can be sure to include an item from each food group that will allow your kid to get all the nutrients they need.

Favorite School Lunch Essentials

When it comes to packing lunches, having the right items is essential to a smooth lunch packing experience for you and enjoyable for your kids. Here are some of our favorite lunch packing items:

Related: The Best School Lunch Packing Essentials

Easy Bento Box School Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

Here are some lunch ideas to give you some inspiration when preparing your next lunch. The best part about these lunches is that they are nut-free so if your school has a nut-free policy, then you don’t have to worry about that!

Toddler Lunch Idea #1: Breakfast for Lunch

• Boiled eggs
• Sausages
• Natures Fig Bar
• Organic Gummy Bears
• Gogo squeeze

Toddler Lunch Idea #2: Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

• Ham and cheese pinwheels on bread
• Mixed berries
• M&Ms
• Pretzels
• Cantaloupe

Toddler Lunch Idea #3: Turkey Rollup

• Turkey rollup
• Cheese portions
• Peas, carrots, and mushroom stirfry
• Mini Oreos
• Bobos Oat Bites
• Grapes, raisins, and mandarins
• Chocolate milk

Toddler Lunch Idea #4: Pasta

• Organic chicken tenders + barbecue sauce
• Annies White Cheddar Shells
• Chocolate chips
• Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar
• Mandarin
• Honest Kids Appley Everafter

Toddler Lunch Idea #5: Lunchables

• Crackers, ham, and cheese
• Yogurt pouch
• Chocolate covered raisins (from costco)
• Apple slices
• Blueberries

Toddler Lunch Idea #6: Leftovers for Lunch

• Taco meat
• Guacamole
• Mixed fruits: raspberries, blueberries + pears
• Sour cream
• Corn
• Shredded cheese
• Broken-up shell pieces

Toddler Lunch Idea #7: Nuggets

• Organic chicken nuggets + barbeque sauce
• Cucumbers + grape tomatoes
• Organic gummy bears
• Bananas + blueberries
• Sprouts Vanilla Wafers

Toddler Lunch Idea #8: BLT Wrap

• BLT wrap
• Pretzels
• Dried cranberries
• Mixed fruit: strawberries + blueberries
• Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar

Toddler Lunch Idea #9: Asian Inspired

• Popstickers + soy sauce
• Trader joes fried rice
• Organic gummy bears
• Mixed berries
• Kiwi

Toddler Lunch Idea #10: Turkey wrap

• Turkey, mayo, tomatoes, and lettuce wrap
• Tortilla chips
• Organic gummy bears
• Vanilla wafers
• Grapes

Toddler Lunch Idea #11: Ham Sandwich

• Ham sandwich
• Bananas + blueberries
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Bobo’s Oat bites
• Sliced cucumber

Toddler Lunch Idea #12: Quesadilla

• Bean and cheese quesadilla
• Mandarines
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Tortilla chips
• Salsa

Toddler Lunch Idea #13: Grilled Cheese

• Grilled cheese sandwich
• Boiled eggs
• Mixed veggies
• Blueberries, kiwi, and bananas
• Fruit rollups

Toddler Lunch Idea #14: Chicken Kebabs

• Organic chicken sausages + red, yellow and orange peppers on a pick
• Fried rice with way too much teriyaki sauce
• Organic gummy bears
• Grapes + strawberries
• Danish cookies

Toddler Lunch Idea #15: Chicken Nuggets

• Organic chicken nuggets + organic ketchup
• Sweet potato fries
• Organic gummy bears
• Strawberries + blueberries
• Macaroons

Toddler Lunch Idea #16: Mummy Hotdogs

• Mummy hotdogs + Ketchup
• Mixed fruit
• M&Ms
• Apples

Toddler Lunch Idea #17: Breakfast for Lunch

• Trader joes hash browns
• Boiled eggs
• Apples + blueberries
• Watermelon
• Organic gummy bears
• Cheese portions

Toddler Lunch Idea #18: Ham Sandwich

• Ham sandwiches
• Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries
• Organic gummy worms
• Natures fig bar
• Pineapple
• Organic Whole Milk

Final Thoughts…

Whether you’re a veteran or a novice, like me, starting your journey, I hope these bento box school lunch ideas have given you some inspiration. I am still learning how to pack great lunches that provide my kids with all the nutrients they need but it is definitely a journey that I am enjoying.

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