Semi Crunchy, Always Extra

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Something like 270 Packed Lunch Boxes…

170 instructional days in the school year and I packed lunchboxes for each of my 2 kids roughly 130-140 of those days. That’s something like 270 chilled bento boxes and the occasional, but dearly beloved, hot lunch (aka leftover mom’s spaghetti and Costco meatballs).

The Bentgo Chill Leak-Proof bento lunchbox comes with a reusable removable ice pack that fits between the tray and outer lunchbox shell.

At first it felt silly to post a pic of my kids lunch boxes, but I did it anyway. Then so many in-real-life and online mom friends encouraged me keep it up because it helped give them fresh meal ideas! So, I started snapping a quick pic of their lunchboxes (while shouting “does everyone have shoes on??”) continued posting, and saved the lunch box combinations to an instagram story highlight throughout the school year.

Now that we are fully immersed in the 2024-2025 back to school season, I thought I’d make life easier with a list of our family’s favorite bento box components.

You’ll find our go-to hot and chilled lunchboxes, spare lunch trays to prep ahead, and time/money saving meal prep tools in my LTK Shop under the Products Tab – Little Foodies!
  • Grains
    • Crackers
    • Pretzel sticks
    • Shrimp chips
    • Cheerios
    • Ozery snacking rounds
    • Cinnamon raisin bread
    • Nature’s Own sandwich bread – shoutout b/c their customer service is incredible, I’m forever a fan!
    • 1/2 Croissant (Costco favorite!)
    • Naan or pita bread
  • Proteins
    • Nori seaweed sheets
    • Salami
    • Sliced lunch meats for sandwiches
    • Hummus
    • Hard boiled eggs (halved for choking hazard!)
    • Cooked tofu chunks
  • Dairy
    • Packaged cheeses – String cheese, belgioso mozza balls, baby bels, laughing cow
    • Sliced cheese (like for sandwiches but use it like a charcuterie component)
    • Fresh mozzarella
    • Yogurt 🥄
  • Vegetables
    • Cherry/grape tomatoes
    • Petite baby carrots or thin carrots sticks
    • Sliced cucumber with lemon juice/tajin 🍴
    • Seaweed salad 🍴
    • Edamame (get the deshelled steamable bag)- this is also a good protein option!
  • Fruits
    • Grapes
    • Berries – blueberries, raspberries, hulled strawberries, pitted cherries
    • Sliced fruits – oranges, apples, bananas (slice thick sections same height as the bento box, so the bottom and lid form a seal over the exposed cut parts, keep the ring of peel on for less browning)
    • Cut fruit chunks – watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple
    • Canned fruits – lychees, pineapple chunks, peach slices, strain away any juice/syrup 🍴
A very legit produce saver will save you money in the long run – these help keep fresh produce like our bulk packages of grapes and strawberries fresh all week. No more throwing away moldy berries!
This Cherry Pitter kitchen prep tool makes fast work of prepping cherries, pitting 6 at a time.
How to make easy-peel hard boiled eggs in the instant pot – set eggs on a wire rack, add 1 Cup water. Cook 3 minutes on high pressure, 3 minute natural pressure release. [Alternatively, bring eggs and water to boiling in a pot, as soon as it comes to boil, put a lid on and remove from heat, let stand 5 mins.] Prepare an ice bath, release pressure, then place eggs in the ice bath.

As a former nutritionist, I try to fill each lunchbox with ingredients all or most of our family members love, including all or most food groups. I try to strike a balance between lunchable and charcuterie. All bento box ingredients and meal components are listed in the categories for you to pick and choose from your family’s favorites!

Sorry if you were hoping for a meal plan, because no, I don’t do that. Our lunchbox choices fluctuate with the ever-changing grocery store prices. I shop their favorite items based on sales and our budget, shopping in bulk whenever possible. This is exactly what I do – each week, I choose some things from each food category and put it in the box. The less it costs and less prep required, the better!

As your mama friend, I did list each section’s ingredients in order of least to most prep required. There’s also a fork or spoon emoji next to items that your child may need a utensil to eat. You’re welcome 😉

Be sure to follow our stories on IG for the latest lunch real-life box ideas @semicrunchyalwaysextra

Coming soon… our Hot List – recipes and family favorite meals that easily roll-over into a hot lunch for the next day!

These are the hot lunch/leftovers my kids enjoy most and I’ve found reheat well— steamed rice with cooked meats and veggies, stir fry, chow mein, fried rice, pastas- spaghetti and meatballs, carbonara, fettuccine alfredo 🍴

How to keep hot foods hot until lunchtime

  • Pack lunch in a stainless steel vacuum sealed lunchbox, the one pictured is actually adult sized.
    • For younger kids- 1st/2nd grade and under, who can’t quite open and close the stainless container, the round thermos types are okay if you can find a round container with an extra wide opening (bigger than soup size) to put the food in.
  • Warm the food container with hot water until you are ready to put the food in. Heat water to boiling, use an electric kettle to save time.
  • Heat the food to piping hot, immediately transfer to the container.

💡Think of dinner meals your family already enjoys and make extra of ones that reheat well!

Jenn @SemiCrunchyAlwaysExtra
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