The Japanese craze of bento boxes have taken over, making for smarter lunches on the go everywhere, from work to school. Yet, many of us still shove the same, tired old sandwiches and boring foods into the handy sections making the excitement of having a bento box fizzle out fast.

Not to worry though. These ideas will have you so excited to eat your lunch that you might not even be able to wait until lunchtime!

1. Mediterranean Bento

Dreaming of that pita place up the street? Save money and get the flavors your crave by filling your bento box with whole wheat pita triangles, hummus, tabbouleh, sliced grilled chicken, and fresh grapes for a healthy meal you can’t resist.

2. Taco Salad Bento

Here’s one that makes use of leftovers from taco night and can make your kids happy all at once. Fill your bento box with the taco meat topped with shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, guacamole, crisp tortilla chips, and a cup of fruit for the finale.

3. Deconstructed Sushi Box

Love sushi but don’t have the time to roll it? Just add all the sushi fillings to your bento box! Get some nori and wrap it around combinations of shrimp, cucumber, avocado slices, or crab sticks.

4. Picnic Favorites Bento

A great way to prep a bento box for the week is to make up a batch of egg salad. Pile it into lettuce in your bento box to make it look appealing and tote along melba toast for a crunch to go with it. Add a nice fruit salad like blueberries and bananas in Greek yogurt which will give you that sinfully creamy taste without all the fat, plus it will keep your bananas from browning.

5. Deconstructed Cobb Salad Box

Love salad but hate when it gets soggy? Using your bento box to deconstruct the famed Cobb salad is the perfect way to have your salad and eat it too! You can also do this with any other type of salad, allowing you to have a crispy, fresh and crunchy salad even in the middle of the day.

6. Cucumber Sandwich Roll-Up Box

Take thin slices of cucumber and use them to roll up your favorite deli meats and cheeses with a bit of fresh spinach tucked in for good measure. Slice it up to look like sushi and you might just find your kids will even eat this too. Add slices of fresh fruit and medley of crunchy nuts in the other spaces for more flavor and crunch.

When it comes to bento boxes, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Get creative with them and you’ll find new and fun ways to make bringing lunch to work or sending your kids off with lunch better than frittering away money by buying lunch!