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Protein Ideas For Lunch Boxes: Kids Bento Box Lunch Ideas

The start of a new school year means back-to-school lunches, and parents' concerns about whether kids eat well at school — cue the “I don’t have time to eat” excuses! Before you square up for a good debate and, "When I was your age..." arguments, take note: Evidence suggests your child is probably right.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about half of all schools in the U.S. fail to allow children at least 20 minutes to eat lunch. That is just shy of the average 25 minutes recommended for elementary students and 30 minutes for middle and high schools, as reported in the School Nutrition Association (SNA) State of School Nutrition 2018 survey.

With such little time, it’s easy to see why children can’t power through their lunches. The good news is, even with time restrictions, changing up their lunchbox options and adding foods like premium beef jerky can ensure your child gets the nutrition they need during a busy school day.

What to Include in a School Lunch

Before packing your child’s lunch bag with everything you know they should have, consider this: Your kid will ultimately decide what they’ll eat, handoff, or throw away. Because what you select and what your child thinks would make a good lunch are likely quite different — a compromise can go a long way when choosing between nutrition and making your kids happy.

Ask them what they would like, and occasionally indulging their requests, is a great lesson in the art of negotiation and compromise.

So, in addition to random indulgences, what should you include in a school lunch? Include something from each of the USDA's five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein to fulfill daily nutritional requirements. However, it’s important to remember each child is unique, as are their dietary needs. 

What Are the Best Sources of Protein?

Quick science lesson coming up. Protein is essential to every cell in the human body. It’s responsible for helping our bodies do many things like repair damaged cells, strengthen skin, and form muscles. In children and teens, protein aids in growth and development. Ideally, people obtain enough protein daily through their diet — eating protein foods including lean beef, poultry, pork, fish, nuts, and eggs.

How much protein does a child need? 

For children, the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies recommends ages 4 to 9 years consume 19 grams of protein daily, and those 9 to 13 years need 34 grams. The recommended daily protein intake for ages 14 to 18 years varies: boys 52 grams and girls 46 grams. If your child is very active or plays sports, their protein requirements will be greater.*

Adding a premium beef jerky, like Savage Jerky, a ready-to-eat, protein-rich food to your child’s lunch as either part of the meal or as a snack (up to you, mom and dad). Jerky is a mess-free, on-the-go way to help meet your child’s protein needs and please the pickiest of eaters with its broad lineup of flavors

Bento Box Lunch Ideas

Think of bento boxes as the school lunch tray minimized, with better-tasting food. Are bento boxes healthy? They can be, when you control what goes into them!

The purpose of a bento box is to make single-serving meals convenient, easy to transport, and fun. Bento box lunches can be especially helpful for picky eaters; sometimes, by making healthy foods fun, the picky eater gives up that stubborn streak! Some parents take great pride in creating food art influenced by cartoons, video games, landscapes, and more for their child’s lunches; a quick search of the internet will reveal a world of bento ideas.

We've gathered several quick and easy recipes for inspiration, regardless of how you package your back-to-school bento/lunchbox. We recommend sticking with milder, low-heat Savage Jerky flavors like Original, Teriyaki, and Ginger Lemongrass. Of course, if your child is closer to 18 than 8, they may enjoy bolder flavors such as our Bold BBQ, Bold Teriyaki, Tangy Habanero, Jalapeno Mojo, or Habanero Mojo.

You'll find kids' favorites in the Back to School Variety Pack of Savage Jerky.

Mini Savage Pizzas

Ingredients:

  • 1 English muffin or bagel
  • 2-4 Tbsp pizza sauce
  • 1-2 pieces of Savage Jerky cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions: Cut/open English muffin or bagel. Spread a tablespoon or two of pizza sauce on each half. Sprinkle the small pieces of Savage jerky followed by 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese (you can opt to put the cheese on first and the jerky on top). Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Cool completely before putting into your bento box. Make several ahead of time and store in an airtight container, and refrigerate. We suggest pairing this with cucumber slices, strawberries, and blueberries.

Savage Jerky Wraps

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tortilla or sandwich wrap
  • Several pieces of Savage Jerky (whole or cut up/torn)
  • Diced cucumber or shredded lettuce
  • 1/4 c. shredded cheese (optional)
  • 1-2 tbsp. ranch dressing (optional)

Directions: Lay the tortilla or sandwich wrap flat. Squirt some dressing onto the wrap and spread it around using the back of a spoon. Add diced cucumbers or shredded lettuce, followed by either whole or torn pieces of Savage Jerky. Sprinkle with cheese if using. Fold over two of the sides and roll up the wrap. Cut in half to ensure it fits in your bento box compartment. Pair this recipe with apple slices, grapes, and veggie puffs.

Savage Quesadillas

Ingredients:

  • 1 Soft tortilla shell
  • Several pieces of Savage Jerky (whole or cut up/torn)
  • 1/4 c. shredded cheese

Directions: Lay the tortilla shell flat in the bottom of a small skillet and place or sprinkle jerky pieces on half of the shell, followed by shredded cheese. Fold over the other half and toast each side on medium heat for about 3 minutes each (pressing down the edges with a spatula) or until cheese begins melting. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Cut with a pizza cutter or knife. Pair this recipe with carrots, cherry tomatoes, and kiwi slices.

You can substitute or pair any of these recipes with our Savage Granola Bars or Savage Jerky Spicy (or, Not So Spicy) Trail Mix recipes.

Get Creative With Childrens Bento Boxes

Whatever you include in your child’s bento box, be sure it contains a mix of carbs, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Savage Jerky is tender and easy to chew; however, because chewy foods can pose a choking hazard to young children, we don’t recommend serving our jerky to children in kindergarten or pre-school out of precaution.

*This is informational only and not to be mistaken for medical advice. Your pediatrician and/or a licensed and registered dietitian or nutritionist are the best resources for your children's nutrition.

Protein Ideas For Lunch Boxes: Kids Bento Box Lunch Ideas

    According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about half of all schools in the U.S. fail to allow children at least 20 minutes to eat lunch. That is just shy of the average 25 minutes recommended for elementary students and 30 minutes for middle and high schools, as reported in the School Nutrition Association (SNA) State of School Nutrition 2018 survey.

    With such little time, it’s easy to see why children can’t power through their lunches. The good news is, even with time restrictions, changing up their lunchbox options and adding foods like premium beef jerky can ensure your child gets the nutrition they need during a busy school day.

    What to Include in a School Lunch

    Before packing your child’s lunch bag with everything you know they should have, consider this: Your kid will ultimately decide what they’ll eat, handoff, or throw away. Because what you select and what your child thinks would make a good lunch are likely quite different — a compromise can go a long way when choosing between nutrition and making your kids happy.

    Ask them what they would like, and occasionally indulging their requests, is a great lesson in the art of negotiation and compromise.

    So, in addition to random indulgences, what should you include in a school lunch? Include something from each of the USDA's five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein to fulfill daily nutritional requirements. However, it’s important to remember each child is unique, as are their dietary needs. 

    What Are the Best Sources of Protein?

    Quick science lesson coming up. Protein is essential to every cell in the human body. It’s responsible for helping our bodies do many things like repair damaged cells, strengthen skin, and form muscles. In children and teens, protein aids in growth and development. Ideally, people obtain enough protein daily through their diet — eating protein foods including lean beef, poultry, pork, fish, nuts, and eggs.

    How much protein does a child need? 

    For children, the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies recommends ages 4 to 9 years consume 19 grams of protein daily, and those 9 to 13 years need 34 grams. The recommended daily protein intake for ages 14 to 18 years varies: boys 52 grams and girls 46 grams. If your child is very active or plays sports, their protein requirements will be greater.*

    Adding a premium beef jerky, like Savage Jerky, a ready-to-eat, protein-rich food to your child’s lunch as either part of the meal or as a snack (up to you, mom and dad). Jerky is a mess-free, on-the-go way to help meet your child’s protein needs and please the pickiest of eaters with its broad lineup of flavors

    Bento Box Lunch Ideas

    Think of bento boxes as the school lunch tray minimized, with better-tasting food. Are bento boxes healthy? They can be, when you control what goes into them!

    The purpose of a bento box is to make single-serving meals convenient, easy to transport, and fun. Bento box lunches can be especially helpful for picky eaters; sometimes, by making healthy foods fun, the picky eater gives up that stubborn streak! Some parents take great pride in creating food art influenced by cartoons, video games, landscapes, and more for their child’s lunches; a quick search of the internet will reveal a world of bento ideas.

    We've gathered several quick and easy recipes for inspiration, regardless of how you package your back-to-school bento/lunchbox. We recommend sticking with milder, low-heat Savage Jerky flavors like Original, Teriyaki, and Ginger Lemongrass. Of course, if your child is closer to 18 than 8, they may enjoy bolder flavors such as our Bold BBQ, Bold Teriyaki, Tangy Habanero, Jalapeno Mojo, or Habanero Mojo.

    You'll find kids' favorites in the Back to School Variety Pack of Savage Jerky.

    Mini Savage Pizzas

    Ingredients:

    • 1 English muffin or bagel
    • 2-4 Tbsp pizza sauce
    • 1-2 pieces of Savage Jerky cut into small pieces
    • 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

    Directions: Cut/open English muffin or bagel. Spread a tablespoon or two of pizza sauce on each half. Sprinkle the small pieces of Savage jerky followed by 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese (you can opt to put the cheese on first and the jerky on top). Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Cool completely before putting into your bento box. Make several ahead of time and store in an airtight container, and refrigerate. We suggest pairing this with cucumber slices, strawberries, and blueberries.

    Savage Jerky Wraps

    Ingredients:

    • 1 Tortilla or sandwich wrap
    • Several pieces of Savage Jerky (whole or cut up/torn)
    • Diced cucumber or shredded lettuce
    • 1/4 c. shredded cheese (optional)
    • 1-2 tbsp. ranch dressing (optional)

    Directions: Lay the tortilla or sandwich wrap flat. Squirt some dressing onto the wrap and spread it around using the back of a spoon. Add diced cucumbers or shredded lettuce, followed by either whole or torn pieces of Savage Jerky. Sprinkle with cheese if using. Fold over two of the sides and roll up the wrap. Cut in half to ensure it fits in your bento box compartment. Pair this recipe with apple slices, grapes, and veggie puffs.

    Savage Quesadillas

    Ingredients:

    • 1 Soft tortilla shell
    • Several pieces of Savage Jerky (whole or cut up/torn)
    • 1/4 c. shredded cheese

    Directions: Lay the tortilla shell flat in the bottom of a small skillet and place or sprinkle jerky pieces on half of the shell, followed by shredded cheese. Fold over the other half and toast each side on medium heat for about 3 minutes each (pressing down the edges with a spatula) or until cheese begins melting. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Cut with a pizza cutter or knife. Pair this recipe with carrots, cherry tomatoes, and kiwi slices.

    You can substitute or pair any of these recipes with our Savage Granola Bars or Savage Jerky Spicy (or, Not So Spicy) Trail Mix recipes.

    Get Creative With Childrens Bento Boxes

    Whatever you include in your child’s bento box, be sure it contains a mix of carbs, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Savage Jerky is tender and easy to chew; however, because chewy foods can pose a choking hazard to young children, we don’t recommend serving our jerky to children in kindergarten or pre-school out of precaution.

    *This is informational only and not to be mistaken for medical advice. Your pediatrician and/or a licensed and registered dietitian or nutritionist are the best resources for your children's nutrition.