Giving your child a bento box as their daily or occasional lunch box is a fantastic way to brighten up their day and inject some creativity (plus healthy options) into a dull day or a busy day at school or daycare.
If you’re new to the concept of a bento box or looking for an explanation of exactly what a bento box is (as I was just a few years ago, before my daughter started showing me Youtube videos of exciting lunch box ideas), here’s a quick summary…
So…what is a bento box, exactly?
A bento box is a traditional Japanese style meal tray, divided into different compartments, with a lid covering the whole tray for ease of transport. Each compartment allows for packing of different food types all alongside each other – making it perfect for kids who might like to snack on different types of food or who value variety and the visual appeal of small portions of food to pick and choose from in their lunch box.
In recent years, and with the rise of social media image sharing platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, and popular Youtube creative lunch box preparation videos, bento boxes have become extremely popular well beyond their original audience of Japanese luchbox owners. Parents and children worldwide are embracing these creative trasportable containers as a way to make healthy eating much more fun and appealing on a daily basis.
What are the benefits of a bento box for kids?
Visually appealing and great for restricted diets: Bento boxes offer flexibility in food choices, allowing parents to cater to their child’s preferences and dietary needs. They can include favorite foods, accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions, and adapt to different cultural or regional cuisines.
Healthy balanced meals: Kids of all ages can benefit from the built-in portion control by offering separate compartments for different food items. This helps ensure that kids receive a balanced meal with appropriate portions of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and snacks. (This benefit also extends to parents – many of whom will want to purchase a bento box as well if the concept of packing up the box appeals to them and the food options being packed up for the children are also favourites with the adults of the house).
All-in-one lidded container: Bento boxes are designed to be portable, making them ideal for packed lunches and on-the-go meals. They are easy to pack, stack, and carry, ensuring that kids have a nutritious meal wherever they go, whether it’s at school, during outings, or extracurricular activities.
Environmentally friendly: Most children today are very aware of the need to protect the environment and to reuse and recycle. Bento boxes are a perfect choice as they are reusable and help reduce waste compared to disposable packaging, such as plastic bags or containers. This promotes sustainability and reminds kids about the importance of environmental responsibility.
WHERE CAN I BUY KIDS BENTO BOXes?
Whilst you can obviously pick and choose a bento box from a local store, this article will be sharing the best places to order one online so you can choose from a variety of styles, read reviews and order the best one for your children and family.
Bentgo Bento Style Kids Lunch Box
Available in 30 different designs – click the button to see all the design and colour choices.
Ideal Portion Sizes for Ages 3 to 7
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Omiebox bento boxes for kids
A beautiful choice of colour options is available from the Omibox range of bento boxes over on Amazon. Below are a few of our favourites:
The pink and purple bento boxes allow for hot and cold snacks to be packed up alongside each other!
The blue and green versions come with utensils as part of the package.
(Earnings disclosure: paid links are used on this site).