4 Healthy lunchbox ideas for kids

Snack attack bento box

For the little ones, cut their sandwiches into fun shapes. Add fresh fruit, veggies sticks and pack in extra snacks like Smartbite Kids Rice Cakes.

Sunflower bento box

Cut flower shapes from cheese slices and layer onto Smartbite Rice Cakes and add to shaved cucumber and celery sticks.

Generously smear ButtaNutt Cocoa Macadamia Nut Butter onto a wrap and top with a banana. Roll up and cut into 3.

Add some fresh fruit, Smartbite Rice Pops and a packet of Clicks Fruit & Nuts for balance.

Veggie bento box

A yummy veggie alternative filled with sushi balls, veggie wraps, tomatoes and hummus.  Add fresh or dried fruit snacks and a Smartbite Coffee Crunch Vegan Bar for a mid-morning boost.

For the sushi balls

These little rice balls are perfect snacks for the lunchbox, or even for a quick lunch tossed with crunchy lettuce, carrots, avo, pickled ginger and a light Asian-style dressing.

Makes 25 – 30 balls

Ingredients
1 cup of sushi rice
¼ cup toasted Smartbite Sesame Seeds
¼ cup toasted Smartbite Raw Mixed Seeds


Method
1. Cook the sushi according to the packaging’s instructions.
2. Once cool, using damp hands, roll into balls and then coat in the mixed seeds.

For the veggie wraps

Makes 2

Ingredients
½ small head of butter lettuce
½ medium carrots, julienned
¼ cucumber, julienned
½ avocado, sliced
150g of hummus

Method
1. Spread the wraps with half the hummus.
2. Layer all the ingredients onto the bottom half of the wrap and roll up, tucking in the sides as you roll.
3. Cut into 3 or keep whole and pack up with remaining hummus on the side.

The BLT box

A healthy quinoa BLT salad, balanced with date balls, Clicks Fruit Roll and a few Smartbite Shortbread Biscuits.

For the quinoa BLT salad

Serves 2

Ingredients
½ cup of Smartbite Quinoa
8 rashers cooked bacon, chopped
½ cup of shredded spinach
10 sliced baby tomatoes

Dressing
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp Smarbite Honey

Method
1. Cook the quinoa according to the packaging’s instructions.
2. Add the bacon, tomato and spinach.
3. Toss through with dressing.

For the date balls

Makes 16

Ingredients
100g (8) Smartbite pitted soft dates
100g of Smarbite Nuts (almonds, macadamia or cashew)
50g Smartbite Pumpkin Seeds
50g Smartbite Rolled Oats
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp ButtaNutt Cocoa Macadamia Nut Butter
¼ cup orange juice

Method
Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until the mixture starts to clump together.  Add a little extra orange juice if the mixture is too dry.
Roll into balls and refrigerate overnight.

CREDITS
Food Styling: Brita Du Plessis
Photography: Sadiqah Assur-Ismail