Packing a bento for kids can be both fun and rewarding! A visually appealing lunch encourages children to eat healthy, and with a bit of creativity, you can turn a regular bento into an exciting meal. Here are five cute and easy bento ideas your little ones will love!
1. Animal-Themed Bento
🐰 Bunny Onigiri – Use rice molds to shape onigiri into adorable bunnies. Add seaweed eyes and carrot ears.
🐻 Bear Sandwiches – Cut whole wheat bread into bear shapes using a cookie cutter, and fill with peanut butter and banana slices.
2. Cartoon Character Bento
🎭 Pikachu Rice Ball – Mix cooked rice with turmeric for a yellow Pikachu look. Use seaweed and cheese to create the eyes and cheeks.
🐱 Hello Kitty Sandwich – A white bread sandwich shaped like Hello Kitty, with a red bell pepper bow.
3. Rainbow Bento Box
Pack a colorful bento with vibrant ingredients:
🌈 Red – Cherry tomatoes, strawberries
🌈 Orange – Carrot sticks, mandarin slices
🌈 Yellow – Corn, cheese cubes
🌈 Green – Edamame, cucumber slices
🌈 Purple – Grapes, purple cabbage
4. Mini Sushi Bento
🍣 Ingredients: Cooked sushi rice, seaweed sheets, avocado, crab sticks, and cucumber.
🍣 Instructions:
- Roll sushi using a bamboo mat.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces and pack neatly in the bento box.
5. Fun Face Bento
Use simple ingredients to create funny faces on rice or sandwiches:
😁 Eyes – Cheese slices with black sesame seeds
👃 Nose – A small piece of sausage
😋 Mouth – A strip of seaweed
Conclusion
Making bento fun for kids doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few creative touches, you can turn any lunch into an exciting meal they’ll love!
