Home Contact Sitemap login Checkout



Store Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm daily

Café hours: 7:30am - 9:00pm daily 







Italian Centre Shop
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Curbside Pick-Up
  • Departments
    • Departments
    • Gift Baskets
    • Party Platters
    • Deli
    • Bakery
    • Produce
    • Massimo's Cucina Italiana
    • Winemaking
    • Naturally Raised Meats
  • Spinelli Bar Italia
  • Tavola Calda
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • About
    • About
    • Heritage
    • Charitable Giving
    • Media Gallery
  • Events
    • Events
    • Calgary Events
    • Edmonton Events
  • Shops
  • Careers
Print This Page


Kids & Adult Bento-Box Lunches

A bento-box style lunch is one of the easiest and dare we say FUN ways to meal-prep lunches for the week. These lunch boxes require minimal ingredients, just a few homemade touches and are easy to make!




Kids Sandwich-Skewer Bento-Box Lunch Ingredients:

1x ciabatta bun, cut into cubes

4 slices roast turkey, cut in half

8 slices mild genoa salami

80-100g cheddar or gouda cheese

8 baby tomatoes

2 apples

1/2 cup honey greek yogurt

1x bag carrot chips

 


Servings: makes 4 lunches

Preparation: 20 minutes

Total Time:  20 minutes

Kitchen Equipment: 4 wooden skewers, rectangular glass or plastic lunch container, small container for yogurt

 

Adult Pasta Salad Bento-Box Lunch Ingredients:

 

500g bag frozen cheese tortellini

3x small red cocktail tomatoes, seeded and chopped

2x orange tomatoes, seeded and chopped

2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

1 1/3 cups arugula

1 ⅓ cup dates

1/2 cup almond butter

Cherries (or apple slices)

 

Dressing

1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 ½ tbsp red wine vinegar

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp kosher salt

Pinch pepper

 

Servings: makes 4 lunches

Preparation: 30 minutes

Total Time:  30 minutes

Kitchen Equipment: rectangular glass or plastic lunch container, small container for almond butter


Kids Sandwich-Skewer Bento-Box Lunch Instructions:

  1. To prep the sandwich skewers, cut the ciabatta bun into 12 cubes and fold the meat into squares.
  2. Cut the cheese into cubes or thicker slices. Or, use a small cookie cutter to cut the cheese into fun shapes.
  3. To assemble the skewers, place a piece of bread on the skewer as a base followed by turkey, salami, cheese tomato, another bread cube then turkey, salami, cheese and end with one more bread cube. Repeat to create 4 skewers.
  4. Use a rectangular container to assemble one bento box lunch with 1x sandwich skewer, slices from half an apple, 2 tbsp honey greek yogurt and a handful of carrot chips. Repeat to create 4 bento box lunches.
  5. Pack for lunch and enjoy!

 

Pro Tip:

  • Squeeze a bit of lemon over the apple slices before putting them into the container to keep from browning.
  • Mix and match whichever type of meat and cheese you’d like!



 

 

 

Adult Pasta Salad Bento-Box Lunch Instructions:

  1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions, drain and let cool.
  2. In the meantime, prep the tomatoes by slicing in half and using a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then chop the tomatoes.
  3. Make the dressing by adding all the ingredients to a mason jar or jar with a lid, shaking to combine.
  4. Once the tortellini is cooled, add the dressing and toss to combine. Then add the tomatoes and basil, tossing gently to combine. **Add in the arugula 1/3 cup at a time just before you take lunch to ensure it stays fresh and crisp**
  5. To assemble one bento box, use a small container with the almond butter to separate the tortellini salad portion from the dates and cherries (or apple slices). Each tortellini salad portion will be a quarter of the entire salad that is made.
  6. If you don’t have a container that works, use a small container for the tortellini pasta salad and put the almond butter, dates and cherries (or apple slices) together in a second container.
  7. Repeat to create 4 bento box lunches.

Pro Tip:

  • You can absolutely use different types of tortellini OR even your favourite gluten free pasta for the pasta salad.



Sign Up for Our Newsletter

* indicates required


Sign Up for our Calgary Newsletter

* indicates required








CONTACT US

  • LITTLE ITALY

    • 10878 95 Street
      Edmonton, AB
      780 424 4869

SOUTHSIDE

5028 104a Street NW

Edmonton, AB

780 989 4869

  • WEST END

    • 17010 90 Avenue
      Edmonton, AB
      780 454 4869
  • SHERWOOD PARK

    • 700 8005 Emerald Dr
      Sherwood, AB
      780 416 4869

  • WILLOW PARK

    • 9919 Fairmount Dr SE
    • Calgary, AB
      403 238 4869

Corporate Customer Service
780-424-4869 x.351 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm) or [email protected]


© Italian Centre Shop. All Rights Reserved Policies






START SHOPPING