Vegetarian Bento Box
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If you’re looking for meatless packed lunch ideas, this vegetarian bento box is the perfect healthy and satisfying cold lunch to power you throughout the day. This lunch box is filled with a nutritious veggie and quinoa salad, a hard-boiled egg, and fresh fruit. Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Table of contents
The possibilities are endless when it comes to filling a healthy bento box. Today, I’m sharing a combination perfect for a nutritious vegetarian meal.
Whether you’re preparing these boxes for school lunches or for work, these adorable vegetarian bento boxes are aimed to please.
Enjoy a refreshing Mediterranean quinoa salad alongside a boiled egg and sweet and juicy oranges and grapes. YUM!
They’re easy to make and perfect for lunch meal prep. Before jumping into the instructions, let’s discuss what’s so great about bento boxes.
What is a Bento Box?
New to bento boxes? They are the latest and improved lunch box. The concept originated in Japan and is quite simple.
Bento boxes are handheld lunch boxes with built-in dividers to keep your meal components separated. They are a great way to cut back on single-use plastic bags while packing a balanced, filling meal.
It’s so easy to change them up so you can have more variety in your lunch meals and satisfy a variety of dietary needs.
You can try a vegan bento box for a 100% plant-based meal or change up the flavor and ingredients with a curry bento box, Mexican style, chicken teriyaki, or a Japanese-inspired bento box.
Let’s prepare this vegetarian bento box!
Also, check 35 High-Protein Vegetarian Recipes To Fuel Your Day
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mediterranean quinoa: This refreshing quinoa salad is made with fresh seasonal vegetables and filling quinoa. It’s naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free! For the complete list of ingredients, go here.
- Boiled egg: Boiled eggs are a fantastic source of lean protein, providing about 6 grams of protein per egg. Boil the eggs so that the yolks are done to your liking. You can sub the build egg for these delicious egg muffins.
- Orange: Oranges are a great source of fiber and vitamin C. I like using navel oranges, mandarins, clementines, or tangerines as they’re easy to peel.
- Grapes: Grapes are a tasty finger food packed with potassium. You can use any grapes (green, red, concord, cotton candy, or any other varieties).
How To Assemble
- Prepare: Make a Mediterranean quinoa salad from scratch following these step-by-step instructions.
- Assemble the bento box: Place the ingredients inside your bento box in separate compartments. If you don’t have a container with dividers, you can use crispy lettuce leaves to separate the food.
- Seal the bento box: If any of the ingredients are warm, let them cool to room temperature and close the lid.
- Serve: Enjoy your vegetarian bento box at room temperature.
How to Store
Fridge: Food safety and properly storing a bento box go hand in hand. The food should be cooled to room temperature before being closed inside the box to prevent bacterial growth.
If you won’t be able to refrigerate your bento box before lunchtime, insert a small icepack inside to keep the food cool.
Enjoy at room temperature.
This bento box will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Other Filling Ideas
Feel free to fill your box with a variety of delicious vegetarian fillings. Choose a balance of whole grains, fresh vegetables, lean protein, and fiber-rich fruit.
Grains: Fill a compartment with whole-grain crackers, chips, pretzels, tortillas, popcorn, or cooked and cooled rice.
Vegetables: Fresh sliced vegetables are simple and delicious. They’re even better with a side of hummus for dipping. You can also use roasted vegetables or potatoes.
Plant-based Protein: Use your favorite tofu, tempeh, or edamame recipes. Feel free to add a handful of roasted cashews, walnuts, almonds, or crispy chickpeas.
Fruit: Use any in-season fruit or berries you like including blueberries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, star fruit, apple (leave the skin on), and cubed pineapple.
My Favorite Bento Boxes Containers
- Stainless Steel Bento Box: I love stainless steel bento boxes. They are sturdy and reusable. This one has a removable silicone seal and leak-proof lock clips, so your food will stay cool and fresh. Not to mention, these are super easy to clean. But remember: you cannot put stainless steel bento boxes in the microwave!
- Leak-proof Bento Box: If you prefer something lighter and less industrial, and non-toxic, check out these food-grade lunch boxes or a BPA-free plastic option with a cute bamboo lid.
- Classic Glass Containers: Another safe and classic great option that won’t release any chemicals in your food!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Provides a balanced, nutritious, and delicious meatless meal.
- Gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Easy to mix and match with different vegetarian fillings.
- Kids and adults agree: this vegetarian bento box is the best!
Other Lunch Recipes You’ll Love
- Mediterranean Lunch Box
- Chickpea Buddha Bowl
- Vegan Poke Bowl
- Curry Bento Box
- Vegan Bento Box
- Japanese-Inspired Bento Box
- Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box
- Mexican Bento Box
- Easy Hummus Bowl
- Tofu Poke Bowl
- Vegan Meal Prep Bowls
And for more easy lunch ideas, you can check these summer meal prep recipes!
If you try this vegetarian bento box recipe, please leave a comment and a rating and let me know how much you liked it!
Vegetarian Bento Box
Ingredients
- 1 serving Mediterranean quinoa
- 1 boiled egg
- ½ orange - peeled
- ½ cup grapes
Instructions
- Prepare the Mediterranean quinoa salad according to these instructions.
- Assemble all ingredients into your bento box. If you don’t have a container with dividers, feel free to use lettuce leaves or any other green leaves to separate food.
- Let everything cool down at room temperature before sealing.
- Enjoy your bento box at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe? Tag @gatheringdreams on Instagram. I want to see it!
Please correct title. Vegetarian diet has no eggs in it .
Lol, vegetarians do eat eggs and cheese. Are you thinking of vegans?