These Bento Box Lunch Ideas are suitable for kids or adults and are packed with protein and calcium. The easy peanut butter dip recipe is only 3 ingredients and uses Greek yogurt as a healthy base. The pizza kebabs are a fun addition that kids can help make! Many thanks to American Dairy Association North East for partnering with me on this post to show the benefits of adding dairy to our daily diet!
Be sure to stay tuned till the end of the post for a fun giveaway!
Back to school time is filled with stacks of forms to fill out, the reintroduction of homework, sports starting up again and so much more. It’s a time that can make me want to bury my head in the sand while simultaneously trying to make it easier on these kids of mine.
An easy way to make sure they have an extra step up on their academics is to make sure they’re eating a balanced lunch. It’s amazing how much our child’s academic performance is connected to how we fuel their bodies with the food choices we make. Find out more HERE on how your child’s nutrition can impact their school year!
How to Include Dairy in a Healthy, Balanced Lunch
One of the easiest ways to ensure your child is eating a balanced lunch is to start with dairy as your building blocks. Dairy provides the protein, calcium and other nutrients your child needs to stay focused during the school day. It’s a great mid-day pick-me-up for any of us regardless of our age!
The easiest way to add some dairy to your child’s lunch is to send along 35 cents for milk! You’re eliminating a sugary drink and providing them with a cold milk (stored at the proper 35 degree temperature). In fact, my son looks forward to a cold milk in the middle of his school day so much, that I send along 70 cents for him so he can get two. Every single day!
I also try to make sure dairy is present in some of the items we send from home as well. Gotta make sure we’re fueling these growing, teenage bodies correctly!
Easy Pizza Kebabs
Pizza Kebabs are an easy and fun way to incorporate cheese into your Bento Box Lunch… whether it’s for your kids or yourself! My son likes his fully loaded- cheese, pepperoni, a cherry tomato, pizza crust bites and some greens for good measure. My daughter goes a little more basic and wants all the cheese, pepperoni and a tomato. Either way works for me because they’re both getting the calcium and protein that the cheese provides!
We use these colorful plastic skewers because the kids will often bring them home, give them a quick wash and put them right back in their lunchbox for the next day. We’re going on the same pack that we’ve had for probably 2 years now!
My kids have been making kebabs for lunches since they were in elementary school. It’s a great way to get them involved in packing their own lunches and also helps ensure that they’re packing healthy food for their school lunches.
Easy Peanut Butter Dip with Greek Yogurt
This Peanut Butter Dip is so easy to make with only 3 ingredients! With a Greek Yogurt base, it’s healthy and the perfect mid-day pick-me-up for your kids.
Just combine Greek yogurt, peanut butter and honey in a bowl and you have a dip that’s perfect for both fruits and veggies. My kids love dipping apple slices, bananas, carrots, celery sticks and even pretzels or animal crackers in it!
The best part is you can switch out the peanut butter for almond butter or any other peanut butter substitute. You can also use maple syrup in place of the honey if you want.
You can find more Bento box ideas and tips here: Healthy Lunch Ideas
There are so many ways to include dairy in your kids’ lunches that will keep them full and focused!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Would you like some Cabot Cheese to help you pack healthy, nutrient-rich lunches for your kids?
You will receive:
- Cabot’s Cracker Cut Gift Box
- Cabot tin lunchbox
- Cabot water bottle
- 2 VIP coupons
Contest is open to continental US residents only and winner has 24 hours to respond to email.
Healthy Peanut Butter Dip Recipe
This 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Dip recipe uses Greek yogurt as a base for a healthy and easy snack!
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (smooth)
- 3 Tbsp. Honey
- Blend all ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
- Serve cold and store in refrigerator.
Some of our favorite dippers:
Apple slices
Bananas
Strawberries
Oranges
Grapes
Carrots
Celery Sticks
Animal Crackers
Pretzels
HimalayanSalt
Thursday 18th of October 2018
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. That dip looks really yummy.
Candi
Tuesday 25th of September 2018
You are speaking my love language. I love peanut butter.
Christina
Thursday 20th of September 2018
What a fantastic dip! My son loves all things peanut butter!