Bento Box Lunches: 14 Balanced Work Lunches That Beat a Sad Desk Sandwich

Bento box lunches are the grown-up answer to the sad desk sandwich. A divided box makes lunch look like something you would pay $14 for at a coffee shop, but it costs a fraction of that and takes about 10 minutes to pack. Videos of people filling their lunch boxes pull millions of views, and once you try it, you will see why: every little corner feels like a treat. The trick is a simple formula that keeps you going through the afternoon, with protein, vegetables or fruit, a whole grain and a dip or healthy fat. Below is the formula first, then 12 themed boxes, none of which need a microwave. Grab your containers..

The Four Corner Formula for Bento Box Lunches

The trick is not a fancy box. It is filling the four corners the same way every time. Corner one is protein: chicken, eggs, beans, fish or cheese. Corner two is vegetables or fruit, and it should be the biggest. Corner three is a whole grain or starch, like crackers, rice or pita. Corner four is a little dip or healthy fat, such as hummus, nuts or dressing. That lines up with the USDA MyPlate guide, which suggests making half your plate fruits and vegetables. Use this starter box as your template..

You will need: 1 cup cooked protein (chicken, eggs or beans), 1 1/2 cups cut vegetables and fruit, 1/2 cup whole grain (crackers, rice or pita), 2 to 3 tbsp dip or a small handful of nuts, a divided lunch box, a small ice pack.

How to make it: 1. Put the protein in the largest corner. 2. Fill another corner with crunchy vegetables. 3. Add fruit for something sweet. 4. Add the grain. 5. Spoon dip into a small cup with a lid. 6. Close the box and pack it with an ice pack.

Bento Box Lunches Start With a Mediterranean Mezze Box

This is the most popular of all bento box lunches for a reason. Hummus, crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, olives and warm spices taste fresh even after a morning in the fridge. Add grilled chicken or falafel for protein. Which would you pick: hummus or tzatziki?

You will need: 1/3 cup hummus, 4 oz grilled chicken sliced, 1/2 cucumber sliced, 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, a few olives, 1 whole wheat pita cut in triangles, a sprinkle of paprika.

How to make it: 1. Spoon hummus into a small cup and sprinkle with paprika. 2. Slice the chicken. 3. Cut cucumber and tomatoes. 4. Add olives to a small corner. 5. Fill the last space with pita triangles. 6. Pack with an ice pack.

The Grown-Up Snack Box, the Most Fun of All Bento Box Lunches

Remember those cracker and cheese packs from school? This is the grown-up version, and it is just as fun. Roll up turkey and sharp cheddar, add whole grain crackers, a hard boiled egg, crunchy vegetables and fruit. It is the box people say they look forward to all morning.

You will need: 3 slices turkey, 2 oz sharp cheddar sliced, 10 whole grain crackers, 1 hard boiled egg, 1/2 cup grapes, carrot and celery sticks, a few almonds.

How to make it: 1. Roll each turkey slice around a piece of cheese. 2. Halve the egg. 3. Stack crackers in one corner. 4. Add grapes and almonds. 5. Fill the last space with vegetables. 6. Keep cold until lunch.

Sushi Style Rice and Salmon, Bento Box Lunches the Japanese Way

Bento boxes started in Japan, and this one honors that. Seasoned rice, cooked salmon or a simple California roll, edamame and cucumber make a balanced box that tastes like a restaurant lunch. Use cooked fish or imitation crab so it stays safe at room temperature for a short time.

You will need: 1 cup cooked sushi rice with 1 tsp rice vinegar, 3 oz cooked salmon flaked, 1/2 cup shelled edamame, 1/2 cucumber sliced, 1 tbsp soy sauce in a small cup, sesame seeds, pickled ginger.

How to make it: 1. Season the warm rice with vinegar and let it cool. 2. Press rice into the largest corner. 3. Top with salmon and sesame seeds. 4. Add edamame and cucumber. 5. Put soy sauce in a lidded cup. 6. Chill until lunch.

Chicken Caesar Box

Salad gets soggy when it sits in dressing, so pack it smart. Keep chopped romaine in one corner, chicken in another and the dressing in its own little cup. Parmesan crisps or croutons go in last so they stay crunchy. This trick works for all bento box lunches with salad. Toss it all together right before you eat.

You will need: 2 cups chopped romaine, 4 oz grilled chicken sliced, 2 tbsp shaved Parmesan, 1/2 cup croutons or Parmesan crisps, 2 tbsp Caesar dressing, lemon wedge.

How to make it: 1. Pack romaine in the biggest space. 2. Add sliced chicken. 3. Put croutons in a separate corner. 4. Add Parmesan. 5. Pour dressing into a small lidded cup. 6. Toss together at lunch.

Taco Box Without the Mess

All the flavors of taco night, built to eat cold. Seasoned black beans or chicken, rice, salsa, cheese and a handful of tortilla chips for scooping. It is one of the most filling bento box lunches. Add guacamole in a small cup with lime juice on top so it stays green.

You will need: 1/2 cup seasoned black beans or shredded chicken, 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/4 cup shredded cheese, 2 tbsp guacamole, a handful of tortilla chips, lime wedge.

How to make it: 1. Season beans with cumin and chili powder. 2. Pack rice and beans side by side. 3. Add cheese. 4. Put salsa and guacamole in small cups. 5. Pack chips in a separate bag so they stay crisp. 6. Add a lime wedge.

Peanut Noodle Box for Make-Ahead Bento Box Lunches

Cold peanut noodles might be the best no-reheat lunch there is. Toss noodles with a quick peanut sauce, then add crunchy vegetables and edamame. A sprinkle of chopped peanuts on top adds crunch. Make a big batch on Sunday for three days of bento box lunches.

You will need: 4 oz soba or spaghetti cooked and cooled, 2 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, 1/2 cup edamame, chopped peanuts.

How to make it: 1. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, vinegar and sesame oil with a splash of water. 2. Toss with the cool noodles. 3. Pack noodles in the largest corner. 4. Add carrots, cucumber and edamame. 5. Top with peanuts. 6. Keep chilled.

Caprese and Salami Box

Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with a few slices of salami and a piece of crusty baguette. It tastes like an Italian picnic. Drizzle the balsamic right before eating so the bread stays crisp. Poll time: A) salami, B) prosciutto or C) no meat at all?

You will need: 4 oz fresh mozzarella, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, a few basil leaves, 2 oz salami, a 4 inch piece of baguette, 1 tbsp balsamic glaze, 1 tsp olive oil.

How to make it: 1. Slice mozzarella and halve tomatoes. 2. Layer them with basil in one corner. 3. Fold salami into another. 4. Add the baguette. 5. Put balsamic and oil in a small cup. 6. Pack with an ice pack.

Smoked Salmon and Bagel Box

Brunch at your desk. A toasted bagel with cream cheese, smoked salmon, cucumber, capers and red onion makes a lunch that feels like a treat. Bento box lunches like this one feel special. Pack the bagel separately so it does not get soggy, then build it at lunch.

You will need: 1 whole wheat bagel, 2 tbsp cream cheese, 2 oz smoked salmon, 1/2 cucumber sliced, 1 tsp capers, a few slices red onion, fresh dill, lemon wedge.

How to make it: 1. Toast and cool the bagel, then cut it in half. 2. Put cream cheese in a small cup. 3. Fold salmon into a corner. 4. Add cucumber, onion and capers. 5. Tuck in dill and lemon. 6. Keep cold and build at lunch.

Smashed Chickpea Salad Box

A plant based box that is just as filling as a sandwich. Smash chickpeas with a little mayo or yogurt, lemon, celery and dill, and scoop it up with crackers or lettuce cups. Add fresh tomatoes and cucumbers on the side.

You will need: 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas drained, 2 tbsp mayo or Greek yogurt, 1 tsp Dijon, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 rib celery diced, 1 tbsp fresh dill, salt, pepper, crackers, tomatoes, cucumber.

How to make it: 1. Mash chickpeas with a fork. 2. Stir in mayo, Dijon, lemon, celery and dill. 3. Season. 4. Pack the salad in the largest corner. 5. Add crackers. 6. Fill the rest with tomatoes and cucumber.

Cottage Cheese and Berry Box

A lighter box for busy days. Cottage cheese is high in protein, and berries and granola make it taste like dessert. It is one of the quickest bento box lunches to pack. Add a few nuts and some cucumber or snap peas for crunch. Pack the granola separately so it stays crisp.

You will need: 3/4 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mixed berries, 1/4 cup granola, 2 tbsp walnuts, 1 tsp honey, snap peas or cucumber sticks.

How to make it: 1. Spoon cottage cheese into a lidded corner. 2. Add berries. 3. Pack granola and walnuts in a separate cup. 4. Drizzle honey on the berries. 5. Fill the last space with snap peas. 6. Keep cold.

Falafel and Rice for a Week of Bento Box Lunches

Baked or store bought falafel is great cold. Pair it with herbed rice, roasted vegetables and a cup of tahini or yogurt sauce. Make four of these bento box lunches on Sunday and lunch is done until Thursday. For warm options, see our high protein meal prep lunches.

You will need: 8 falafel (baked or store bought), 1 cup cooked rice with parsley, 1 cup roasted peppers and zucchini, 1/2 cup chickpeas, 2 tbsp tahini or yogurt sauce, lemon wedges.

How to make it: 1. Bake falafel and roast vegetables at 400 F for 20 minutes. 2. Cool completely. 3. Divide rice among 4 containers. 4. Add falafel, vegetables and chickpeas. 5. Put sauce in small cups. 6. Refrigerate up to 4 days.

Lemon Herb Fish and Vegetable Box

Leftover grilled fish makes a light, protein packed lunch. Flake it over rice or keep the fillet whole, and add broccoli and a lemon herb sauce. It is tasty cold or at room temperature. Keep it on an ice pack until lunch.

You will need: 1 cooked white fish or salmon fillet, 1/2 cup cooked rice or quinoa, 1 cup steamed broccoli, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt mixed with lemon and dill, lemon wedge.

How to make it: 1. Cook fish the night before and chill. 2. Pack rice in one corner. 3. Add the fish. 4. Add broccoli. 5. Put the yogurt sauce in a small cup. 6. Pack with an ice pack.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Box

The best lunch of the year is the one on Black Friday. Pack sliced turkey, a spoon of cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, a little stuffing and a dinner roll. A few tips for any box: keep cold food below 40 F with an ice pack, put wet foods in small cups, and pack three or four on Sunday. If you follow a medical diet, check with your doctor or a dietitian. Which box will you pack first?

You will need: 4 oz sliced turkey, 2 tbsp cranberry sauce, 1/2 cup roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup stuffing, 1 dinner roll.

How to make it: 1. Slice the cold turkey. 2. Pack it in the largest corner. 3. Spoon cranberry sauce into a small cup. 4. Add vegetables and stuffing. 5. Tuck in the roll. 6. Keep cold until lunch.