Family-friendly Bento boxes for sports enthusiasts

The word Bento refers to a quick and easy lunch that gets eaten outside the home and is packed in a partitioned box. Bento also brings to life a unique and creatively fun way to serve a meal on the go. This meal option, which is extremely popular in Japanese food culture, is sure to be a hit with kids (and with adults too), in particular because it is super practical on those bustling sports-filled days when you need to pack a lunch.

The following recipes can be made without needing to go out and buy an expensive Bento box. All you need is a regular lunch box and leaves of lettuce which can be used as separators so that the different foods in your Bento box do not mix together. Start by dividing the box into four sections: 2 for vegetables, 1 for healthy protein and the last one for whole grain foods. This is how you can enjoy a quick and balanced lunch each time you make a fun-filled day of your favourite winter activities!

What you need

-  A Bento-style lunch box (with or without separators), or a regular lunch box

- 4 leaves of Boston lettuce, required for each Bento box you are preparing

Greek-style Bento box (for adults)

Makes one Bento box (You will need to double, triple or quadruple the ingredients depending on how many Bento boxes you need to make)

Ingredients

- 3-4 mini pitas, each cut in 2

- 1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced

- 5 mL (1 teaspoon) Greek spices

- 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought bruschetta

- 15 g Feta cheese

- 60 mL (1/4 cup) homemade or store-bought tzatziki sauce

- 60 mL (1/4 cup) labneh or Skyr-type plain yogurt.

Directions

1. In the first quarter section of the Bento box, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom and then add the mini pitas.
2. In another quarter section, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom and then add the sliced cucumber. Sprinkle with Greek spices.
3. In another quarter section, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom and then add the bruschetta and Feta. Set aside.
4. Put the tzatziki and the labneh in a bowl and mix together. Set aside.
5. In the last quarter section of the Bento box, put in 1 more leaf of lettuce at the bottom. Then add the yogurt and tzatziki mixture.
   
   

Classic Bento box (for children)  

Makes one Bento box (You will need to double, triple or quadruple the ingredients depending on how many Bento boxes you need to make)

Ingredients

- 125 mL (1/2 cup) broccoli florets, blanched

- 30 g marbled cheddar cheese, cut into cubes

- 15 to 20 grapes

- 2 Grissol-type bread sticks, each cut into 2 pieces

- 4 slices of turkey, organic

Directions

6. In the first quarter section of the Bento box, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom and then add the broccoli florets.

7. In another quarter section, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom. Then add the cubes of cheese.

8. In another quarter section, put in 1 leaf of lettuce at the bottom and then add the grapes. Set aside.

9. Roll the slices of turkey around the bread sticks and place them in the last quarter section of Bento box.