15 Healthy Bento Box Ideas for Pool Days with Kids

Pool Snacks!

When I started writing this post, I was reminded of this clip from Moana, which I spent way too long looking for, so humor me and watch below before we get any further.

Thanks.

Today, I'm rounding up 15 little foodie snack ideas for hanging out by the pool with hungry kiddos, since it is that time again and I know a lot of us will be spending many days in a plastic Adirondack chair at the YMCA splash pad, city pool, or backyard "water park".

By now, y'all probably know I'm not usually the type of person to tell you to go buy stuff. I'm a late adopter to most things -- this whole Bento Box idea being one of them. I'm not the one typically preaching about a gadget or special lunch box or fancy schmancy organizational product, nor do I believe those things are going to be the x-factor in improving the way you eat, holistically. That comes with time and meal planning and commitment. But in thinking about all the benefits of using a bento box, especially when it comes to busy summer days, I am excited about starting to use them in this house because they will...

Save us from using and throwing away a million plastic baggies (which are non-recyclable)

Keep our lunches from getting squished in a beach bag / gym bag / diaper bag

Make it so much easier to feed the kids foods that aren't individually wrapped (read: processed and unhealthy). I do this anyway, but it ain't pretty. See the two previous points.

So, I made this list to take care of a few very specific needs for our kids, all in one fell swoop. The meals I'm sharing here are:

well-balanced

healthy

finger foods

not messy

free of extra packaging (no poolside trash)

and quick to prep.

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First, here are a few essentials before you get started.

• Grab a few of these bento boxes.

The health and cost-savings benefits are what make using bento boxes so attractive to me at lunchtime. You don't have to fully rely on pre-packaged foods, like baggies of gold fish, string cheese, and fruit chews.

• And some tiny dressing containers.

These ones, from Oxo Tot are my absolute favorite. They work well at home, too, for saving little left overs of ground coffee and tomato paste.

• Pack them in an insulated lunch bag.

TIP: If you're using bento boxes, make sure they'll actually FIT inside the lunch bag/box!

• Keep it all cold and light-weight with slim profile ice blocks.

I haven't tried these yet but they're supposed to be great! My friend and yoga instructor, Carrie, says she loves them because they freeze fast. Meaning, if you're the type of mom who forgets to unpack the lunch bag until the morning of your outing (hello, raising my hand right now), you can totally throw them in the freezer at 7 and they'll be frozen by 9. You can stack them in between bento boxes or sandwiches.

And here are my favorite pool snacks! Choose a meat, a fruit, and a veggie, and put them together in your bento box for the perfect little summertime meal.

1. Halved baby ciliegini and halved cherry tomatoes

2. Frozen organic meatballs

We LOVE the Earth's Best Organic mini meatballs. You can get them in the frozen kids' section at Target.

3. Thinly sliced, bite-sized pieces of celery

When cut like this, they can almost be eaten like chips and you don't have to worry about those little strings choking your kid. If you want, you can even drizzle them with a tiny bit of Italian dressing and they still won't be too crazy messy to eat with fingers.

4. Natural peanut butter and raw honey on a thin whole grain bun

5. Watermelon cubes and shelled steam-in-the-bag edamame

6. Simple baked egg cups

Add whatever veg your kids will happily eat. Here's a recipe for spinach and cheese.

7. Sliced apples and creamy almond butter

This apple corer and slicer makes it easy, and is my preference over most the ones you find in the store because it has more blades (meaning smaller apple slices).

8. Deli turkey (or chicken) and provolone roll-ups

Lay a piece of cheese on top of a piece of turkey. Roll.

9. Pasta Butterfly pasta or cavatapi are fun options. I cook a bunch in advance and mix in a little butter while it's hot.

10. Colby jack cubes and halved grapes

11. Hard boiled eggs

12. Blueberry, raspberry and blackberry mix

Cut very large black berries in half)

13. Carrot sticks and mini cucumber spears with greek yogurt ranch for dipping

I don't buy baby carrots because they present a choking hazzard. Here's my favorite greek yogurt ranch recipe!

14. Turkey and avocado wrap on a whole wheat tortilla

Spread on a very thin layer of pesto if you think your kids will like it!

15. Healthy "trail mix"

Cashews, raisins and toasted coconut chips mixed together like trail mix. We buy the toasted coconut chips from Aldi. They're slightly sweetened and DELICIOUS. You could also add chocolate covered hemp seeds. I saw these in the store the other day and they look so interesting! This would be a great little sweet ending to a pool day meal.