07/08/2026
A couple of weeks ago at our staff retreat, we all received bento boxes before heading out on a group hike. Instead of making identical lunches, we set out a variety of foods and used this simple formula to build our own.
It ended up being my favorite meal of the week!
Everyone's lunch looked a little different based on their preferences, hunger level, and dietary needs, but every box included the same foundation: protein, produce, a whole grain or starch, a healthy fat, and something flavorful to tie it all together.
It was such a great reminder that healthy eating doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all. Give people options, and they naturally create meals that work for them.
Whether you're packing lunch for work, heading out on a hike, or meal prepping for the week, this formula makes it easy to build a balanced meal without overthinking it.