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Fun and Healthy School Day Lunch: PBJ Bento

January 10, 2017 by Anne Campbell 25 Comments

The Best Fun & Healthy School Day Lunch

Once school starts back, our busy days become even more packed with activity. As a homeschooling family, we often get immersed in our studies, and then when hunger calls, we have no idea what to have for lunch. We often find ourselves out of the house for field trips and other activities and need something to bring along (to avoid the dreaded drive-through). It can be a challenge to find time to put together a healthy lunch, so I love ideas for meals that we can make ahead for our busiest days.

Ever since I was a kid, my go-to lunch has involved peanut butter and jelly, and my enthusiasm for these essentials has passed on to my son. With the help of Smucker’s and Jif, my junior chef and I created an easy and fun school day lunch that makes all the difference on days when it’s hard to take a break and we need to grab and go.

PJB Bento Fun and Healthy School Day Lunch mylearningtable.com

One of the keys to making healthy choices at lunch is planning ahead. Before school gets underway for the semester, my son and I sit down and plan a list of lunch ideas so we’ll be prepared. And guess what? Once we started meal planning, I discovered that I save more money by not shopping as often. By knowing what we’re having in advance, we also avoid that last minute scramble for fast food.

PBJ Bento Lunch

I love Target as my go to store, and with the Cartwheel App on my phone, I save even more on groceries each week. For our PBJ Bento lunch, I bought a jar of Smucker’s Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread, but other flavors of fruit spread would work just as well–grab your favorite flavor! I also bought Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, which I especially love for its easy to spread texture, but crunchy would work too. My junior chef had fun arranging this lunch in a Bento container, and since it refrigerates well, we make a few to have throughout the week.

{With the Target Cartwheel App, you can save 5% when purchasing their Smucker’s and Jif products through January 21st.}

PBJ Bento Fun and Healthy School Day Lunch mylearningtable.com

PBJ Bento Lunch

An easy lunch for busy school days!

  • Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
  • Smucker's Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread
  • 1 Tortilla
  • 1 Celery Stalk
  • 2 Strawberries
  • 8 Crackers
  • 1 Tblsp Goat Cheese
  1. ‘Sushi’ Rolls–Spread 1 tortilla with a thin layer of Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, then add a thin layer of Smucker’s Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread over it. Roll tortilla into log shape, and then cut into thick slices.

  2. Place tortilla ‘sushi’ rolls in main section of Bento container. Add a paper muffin cup filled with strawberries or other fruit as desired. 

  3. Celery Sticks–Cut celery into 3-inch pieces and spread crevice with Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter. Add celery to a muffin cup and place in empty section of Bento container.

  4. Cracker Stackers–Spread one cracker with Smucker’s Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread, and add a small dollop of goat cheese. Place another cracker on top and squish together to create a ‘sandwich,’ then repeat with remaining crackers. Place Cracker Stackers in remaining section of Bento container.

Grab a discount here (ad) https://ooh.li/77c910d and make this Fun & Healthy School Day Lunch PBJ Bento from mylearningtable.com

This post is sponsored by Smucker’s, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Filed Under: Cooking With Kids, Home Keeping

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele Morin says

    January 11, 2017 at 10:12 AM

    So much fun and deliciousness!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 11, 2017 at 10:35 AM

      Thanks so much, Michele! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Charlotte Burkholder says

    January 14, 2017 at 2:26 PM

    PBJ is my kids fav. I like how you changed it up some.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 14, 2017 at 3:20 PM

      Thanks so much, Charlotte!

      Reply
  3. candy says

    January 14, 2017 at 9:35 PM

    Some wonderful school day lunches to pack or for the ones left at home.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 14, 2017 at 9:40 PM

      Thank you, Candy. We had fun making them, and they are yummy!

      Reply
  4. Courtney Andrews says

    January 15, 2017 at 10:28 AM

    This looks delicious! I still haven’t tried peanut butter on celery yet but I need to!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 15, 2017 at 1:07 PM

      It’s so good, Courtney. One of my favorite snacks! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  5. shelah says

    January 15, 2017 at 10:42 AM

    Wow, you really elevated the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My daughter would be so happy to have this lunch!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 15, 2017 at 1:06 PM

      Thank you, Shelah! My son begs for the ‘sushi’ rolls all the time now.

      Reply
  6. Rachel @ Kitchen Cents says

    January 15, 2017 at 1:23 PM

    What a fun way to use peanut butter and jelly for a school lunch. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 15, 2017 at 1:49 PM

      Thank you, Rachel!

      Reply
  7. Michelle - Lillian Abbey says

    January 15, 2017 at 1:33 PM

    Bento boxes are so fun! Way better than a plain old sandwich!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 15, 2017 at 1:48 PM

      Yes, totally, Michelle! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  8. Rachel Ritlop says

    January 15, 2017 at 7:56 PM

    This is a great idea! now i am craving peanut butter celery sticks!

    Rachel | The Confused Millennial

    Reply
  9. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

    January 16, 2017 at 9:55 AM

    This is a really neat lunch idea! I definitely would’ve eaten more of my lunches if I would’ve had this.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 16, 2017 at 9:08 PM

      Thanks, Kimberly. I like to make lunch fun so my boys won’t ask for fast food 🙂

      Reply
  10. Salma says

    January 16, 2017 at 1:28 PM

    That looks delicious! Even I’d like that for lunch 🙂

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 16, 2017 at 9:09 PM

      Thank you, Salma!

      Reply
  11. L. E. Mastilock says

    January 16, 2017 at 1:51 PM

    I am glad they now have natural options! This makes me happy! I love Bento boxes. Sandwiches can get so boring

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 16, 2017 at 9:10 PM

      Me, too, L. E. I love the natural fruit spreads so much!

      Reply
  12. Manavi Siddhanti says

    January 21, 2017 at 4:19 AM

    I wonder why I didn’t come across this post before. The recipes are looks so much of fun to try out. Maybe could take these at work. 😀

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 22, 2017 at 6:21 PM

      These would be fun to pack for work, Manavi. You’re never too old for a fun (and pretty) lunch! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Ari says

    January 22, 2017 at 5:00 PM

    Such a fun lunch to pack! My parents and I had so much fun making lunches when I was in grade school.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      January 22, 2017 at 6:20 PM

      Thanks, Ari. It is a lot of fun to make, and my son loves making them whenever he’s hungry–super easy!

      Reply

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Hello! I am an English/Language Arts teacher, writer, homeschooling consultant, and speaker and believe in embracing the “light bulb” moments of discovery that happen both in and out of the classroom.
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