Kids Grab-N-Go Bento Boxes by Mainstream Source

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Manual Downloads

REMEMBER: 

Put sensible portions of a balanced meal in your Grab-and-Go Bento™ box including whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and veggies should be front and center, consisting of half of your meal if you can work it out.  *Always check salt content to avoid high-salt processed foods. 

Great PROTEIN sources to choose from:

It’s easy and fun to just mix and match from our list below!  Choose a protein source; add grains; fruit always wins; veggies are essential; add a dip; choose a pasta, salad or casserole; and don’t forget to add our other fun alternatives for endless combinations of great food!

TIPS AND TRICKS:

• Switch it up!  Don’t get tired of the same thing.  It’s easier to eat healthy if you include a good variety of new and different protein, fruit and veggies.
• Sandwiches are great, but it’s also fun to substitute flatbread, pita bread, tortillas, bagels or English muffins instead of bread.  Or go ‘breadless’ by wrapping in lettuce!
• If you don’t like everything on a suggested recipe, mix it up to suit your own taste.
• Watch your portions!  Our Mainstream Source® Grab-and-Go Bento™ boxes are designed for the perfect sized meal for kids ages 3-9 years old, but older kids and adults might want some extras thrown in to a larger bag with the bento… like chips, energy bars and drinks.
• Food Safety is a must!  Most foods keep at room temperature for a short period of time, but some require an ice pack to keep cool.  Also remember possible food allergies when choosing from any alternative!

PREPARING SCHOOL LUNCHES:

• Where do I start?  Eating the right amount and a good variety of healthy foods supports growing, learning and playing at a higher level.  It also helps to reduce their chances of developing health conditions like diabetes, heart disease or even cancer later in life.  It’s always a good idea to use the food pyramid to plan your child’s meals after they turn five years old.  Choose a fresh fruit, 2 veggies, 1 protein, 1 whole grain and dairy (if desired).  Add a snack and drink on the side!
• The most balanced lunches contain:
  
  – Bread, Rice, Potatoes or Pasta
  – Fruit and Veggies
  – Protein
  – Beans, Egg, Meat, Fish or Nut Butter
  – Dairy, or something similar that is rich in calcium
  – A healthy drink

• Want to improve your health (or your child’s health)?
  
  – Always offer fruits and veggies daily
  – Avoid white flour, stick with whole grains
  – Go for fat-free or low-fat milk
  – Cut back on trans fats, saturated fats and sodium
  – Serve portions that meet your child’s calorie needs

• Check to see if the school has any restrictions on certain foods, like peanuts or any allergy-prone food.
• Give your child choices in advance!  Let them have a ‘say’ in what they want, even to help you pack their Grab-and-Go Bento™ box themselves if they can… they’ll be much more likely to eat it all!
• Try frozen squeeze yogurt or kefir… it kind-of works as an ice pack that you can enjoy!!!
• Remember, our Grab-and-Go Bento™ boxes have a built-in handle, so your child can carry it on its own or pack it in most standard lunch bags with an extra snack, chips and drink.  And, using reusable eco-friendly containers like our bento boxes helps the environment!

 

A great meal that lasts in you starts with protein!  Protein keeps children fuller longer, helping them focus and stay fueled.

• Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad
• Deli Meats (Honey Turkey is our favorite!  Ham, Lean Roast Beef)
• Turkey Roll-ups
• Hard-boiled Eggs
• Peanut Butter, Almond Butter (watch for peanut allergies!)
• Rotisserie Chicken, White-Meat Poultry
• Pasta (Choose Whole Grains for a healthier alternative)
• Beans, including edamame
• Milk, Cheese and Yogurt (Cheese Quesadillas cut into triangles are a big hit!)
• Protein Drinks, Protein Bars or Energy Bars are great to include with a bento lunch!
• Quinoa
• Hummus / Chickpeas
• Seafood
• Chicken Nuggets (with dipping sauce!)

ADD GRAINS:

Carbohydrates provide essential energy for your child’s body and they are an important source of fuel.  Without carbs, your kids run on empty!

• Bread, flatbread, bagels, English muffins
• Oats, Oatmeal
• Pita
• Tortillas
• Potato Chips or Tortilla Chips (with cheese or guacamole is fun!)
• Pretzels
• Goldfish
• Crackers
• Granola
• Mini Pizzas are a treat!
• Whole-Wheat Pasta
• Brown Rice
• Cereal

“My little girl couldn’t wait to take the Dinosaur lunchbox to school today! We just want to let you know the design is registering with kids. It was also one of the first things she mentioned to me when I picked her up from school. She loves her Bento Box!”
D. Tompkins

FRUIT ALWAYS WINS:

Some of the healthiest foods on the planet are fruits!  Whenever you can, make fruit your dessert.

• Apples (Sliced or Rings) *Tip: You can sprinkle sliced apples with a little lemon juice to prevent browning
• Bananas (Banana chips are fun too!)
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Cherries (but watch the pits!)
• Grapes (Red, Green or White)
• Oranges, Tangerines or Mandarin Oranges, Citrus Fruits
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Pineapple
• Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew
• Peaches, Pears, Plums
• Kiwi
• Applesauce or Mixed Fruit cups are fun!  Pear sauce is good too!
• Fruit snacks, Fruit Rollups or Raisins
• Pomegranates
• Elderberry
• Cranberries
• Apricots

VEGGIES ARE ESSENTIAL:

Don’t forget:  Raw veggies are hard for little kids to chew, but most kids love them… as long as you cut them as small as you can based upon your child’s age.

• Sliced Carrots
• Celery Sticks (Add cream cheese or nut butter)
• Broccoli (Goes great with Ranch Dressing!)
• Bell Peppers, Red Peppers
• Spinach or Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Avocado
• Cauliflower
• Zuccini Sticks
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Peas or Snap Peas
• Beets, precooked (in a vacuum pack from Trader Joe’s or Melissa’s)
• Corn, off-the-cob
• Butternut Squash, mashed or roasted
• Green Beans, sautéed
• Black Olives
• Sweet Potato, pureed or roasted
• Veggie medley

ADD A DIP:

• Ranch Dip
• Bleu Cheese Dip
• Cheese Dip, Mozzarella or Cheeze Whiz Dip
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Hummus (with Pita!)
• Whipped Cream Cheese
• Whipped Feta Dip
• Tahini Dip
• Anchovy-Garlic Dip
• Black Olive Tapenade with Garlic and Capers
• Thai Roasted Chili Dip
• Vegetarian Pate
• Creamy Bean Dip

 

PASTAS, SALADS AND CASSEROLE IDEAS:

The internet is bursting with ideas for great pasta salads to add to your Grab-and-Go Bento™ box lunch idea for each day.  Here are just a few:

• Mac and Cheese (every kid’s favorite!)
• Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad, always a winner
• Ravioli, Tortellini or Spaghetti with sauce of your choice
• Cauliflower Mac & Cheese or Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
• Chicken Bowls with rice and veggies
• Spinach Pesto Pasta
• Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pearl Couscous
• Avocado Cucumber Pasta Salad
• Tomato Basil Pasta Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad with Salami and Red Pepper
• Taco Pasta Salad
• Spinach Basil Pasta Salad
• Burrito Bowls
• Chinese Mandarin Pasta Salad with Edamame

OTHER FUN ALTERNATIVES:

• CHICKEN SATAYS
• SAUSAGE KEBOBS
• BEEF SKEWERS (Be careful with small children not to use sticks or skewers)
• DELI MEAT ROLLUPS
• SUSHI, ONIGIRI
• QUESADILLAS, TOSTADAS, TACOS
• TURN LEFTOVER SHREDDED CHICKEN INTO TAQUITOS AND ADD GUACAMOLE!
• PANCAKES, WAFFLES
• PIZZA, PIZZA ROLLS OR BITES
• SOUPS
• SALADS
• WONTONS, SPRING ROLLS
• SEAWEED SNACKS

HEALTHY PACKAGED SNACKS TO INCLUDE WITH LUNCHES AND AFTER SCHOOL:

• BAKED SOFT OATMEAL BARS
• CAULIFLOWER CRISPS OR VEGGIE STRAWS
• YOGURT
• PROTEIN BAR OR ENERGY BAR, GRANOLA BAR
• TRAIL MIX
• BAKED MINI COOKIES