BENTO BOX LUNCH IDEAS | for work or back to school + healthy meal prep recipes

grilled chicken

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Tofu is lower in calories and suitable for vegetarians; chicken thighs are more budget-friendly.

steamed vegetables

🥗Healthier: fresh vegetables

💰Cheaper: frozen vegetables

Fresh vegetables are often more nutritious; frozen vegetables are typically cheaper.

Slice and dice one large cucumber and add to a large mixing bowl.

Slice a pint of cherry or grape tomatoes and add to the bowl.

Remove seeds and stem from a green bell pepper, slice and dice it into chunks, and add to the bowl.

Thinly slice half of a red onion and add to the bowl along with 4 ounces of Feta cheese and 1/2 cup of pitted Kalamata olives.

In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, juice of one lemon, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil until emulsified.

Stir the salad mixture and add a portion to your bento box.

Add one hard boiled egg with a sprinkle of salt and pepper to the bento box.

Make hummus by blending 2 cans of drained chickpeas with 1/3 cup aquafaba, 1/2 cup tahini, juice of 2 lemons, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until creamy.

Add several celery sticks to scoop up the hummus and finish the bento box.

Spiralize 3 to 4 zucchini and add to a mixing bowl with 8 ounces of mozzarella and 8 ounces of cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half.

Make basil pesto by blending 2 tablespoons pine nuts, 1/4 cup raw cashews, 1 cup basil leaves, 2 garlic cloves, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper until smooth.

Combine the zucchini noodle mixture with the pesto and add to a container.

In another container, add a handful of baby arugula and top with baked herb chicken.

To bake chicken, lightly oil both sides of chicken breasts, season with salt, pepper, and herbs, and bake at 425°F for 18 to 22 minutes. Let rest and slice thinly before adding to the bento.

Drizzle Greek salad dressing over the chicken or use a sauce cup.

Add a handful of raspberries and blueberries to a small food cup for the bento box.

For the tuna salad, combine a can of drained tuna, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 diced stalk of celery, 2 tablespoons dried onion, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir together and serve on gluten-free sandwich bread.

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