Back to School Bento Boxes With Protein Kids Will Love

School starts back up in a couple weeks around here, and every year I go through the same routine of trying to make lunch something my kids actually look forward to instead of something that comes home untouched. Bento boxes solved that for us. There's something about food cut into fun shapes and tucked into little compartments that gets a picky eater to try things they'd otherwise push around the plate. These four ideas have become our regular rotation, and every one of them is built around real protein instead of just crackers and fruit snacks.

Also Read: Why Your Kids Need High Quality Meat To Grow & Develop

Why Protein Deserves The Main Spot In The Box

It's easy to fill a bento box with the fun stuff, the fruit shapes and the little crackers, and forget that what actually keeps a kid full and focused through a long school day is protein. A lunch built mostly around carbohydrates tends to leave kids crashing by early afternoon. Building the box around a real protein first, then filling in around it with fruit, vegetables and something crunchy, makes a much bigger difference than people expect.

Four Bento Ideas Kids Will Actually Ask For

Sun Dogs

• 4 Bison Hotdogs
• A small cup of ketchup, for dipping

Cut each hot dog about three quarters of the way through in 6 to 8 slits around the circumference, like spokes on a wheel. Boil or pan-fry for 4 to 6 minutes. As they cook, the cuts curl outward into a little sun shape. Let them cool completely before packing so they hold their shape in the box.

Mini Bison Meatball Skewers

• 1 pound Bison Ground
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Sea salt, to taste
• Short bento picks or skewers

Combine the bison, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder and salt. Roll into small, 1 inch meatballs, about 20 total. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, until cooked through. Let them cool fully, then thread 2 or 3 onto each pick alongside a cherry tomato or grape for a little color.

Salami And Cheese Flowers

• Sliced Toscano Pork Salami
• Sliced cheddar or mozzarella cheese
• A small flower or star shaped cookie cutter

Use the cookie cutter to punch cheese slices into flower or star shapes. Roll each slice of salami into a little cone and secure it with a toothpick to look like a rose. Tuck them in next to the cheese shapes for an easy, no-cook addition to the box.

Crispy Baked Chicken Stars

• 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• Sea salt, to taste
• A metal star or dinosaur shaped cookie cutter

Partially freeze the chicken breast for about 15 minutes to firm it up. Slice it into flat pieces about half an inch thick, then use the cookie cutter to press out shapes while the chicken is still cold and firm. Dip each shape in the beaten egg, then coat in panko mixed with paprika and salt. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also Read: 4 Reasons Kids Need To Eat Quality Meat Growing Up

A Few Shaping And Packing Tips

Metal cookie cutters work far better than plastic ones for cutting proteins, since they hold a sharper edge. Anything you're cutting cold or partially frozen will hold its shape much better than something cut warm. Pack anything wet, like the ketchup for the sun dogs, in a separate small container so the rest of the box doesn't turn soggy by lunchtime. And always let cooked proteins cool completely before packing them, both for food safety and so the condensation doesn't make everything else in the box damp.

How This Meat Is Raised

Our bison, chicken and heritage pork all come from farms committed to a natural diet, ample space and humane conditions, with no hormones or antibiotics anywhere in the process. The hotdogs and salami in particular are made without nitrates, nitrites or artificial preservatives, which matters to me as much as the shapes do when I'm the one deciding what goes in my kids' lunchboxes five days a week.

Reach Out To Our Helpful Team

At Beck & Bulow, we pride ourselves on our excellent customer service. We're always here to help if you have questions about your meat, want help making selections, or are just looking for a few more cooking tips. Every time you call our office at 800-674-8426, you'll be connected directly with a team member right here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where we're based.

Every cut is pressure sealed and flash frozen immediately after butchering at the peak of freshness. We work exclusively with master butchers who make every cut with care and precision. All orders are hand packed at our Santa Fe warehouse, shipped in a reusable cooler with dry ice, and delivered straight to your doorstep. Our Everyday Meat Box is an easy way to keep the freezer stocked with everything you need for a full week of school lunches.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far ahead can I prep bento box lunches?
The meatballs, sun dogs and chicken stars can all be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Assemble the boxes the night before or the morning of for the freshest result.

Are these lunches safe to pack without reheating at school?
Yes, as long as everything is fully cooked and cooled before packing, and the lunchbox includes an ice pack to keep proteins at a safe temperature until lunchtime.

What if my child doesn't have a bento style lunchbox?
Small silicone cupcake liners work well as dividers in a regular lunchbox if you don't have a compartment style box on hand.

Can I freeze the mini bison meatballs for later?
Yes, they freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before packing.

My cookie cutter shapes keep falling apart when I try to cut the chicken. What am I doing wrong?
The chicken likely wasn't cold enough. Partially freezing it for the full 15 minutes makes a real difference in how cleanly the cutter goes through.

Check out our full selection of bison, elk, wild boar, lamb, grass fed beef and chicken. All of our high quality meat is handled the same way, from pasture to your door.