Make lunch time super simple and totally delicious with this Protein Box, aka DIY Bistro Box. Packed with good stuff, it won’t break the bank.
In my early days of blogging when my kids were little and I needed to leave the house to be able to string three words together in peace, I would often escape to Starbucks for a few hours to work. The wifi was free, the music decent, and there were Bistro Boxes. Since I was using their work space for free, it was easy to fork over six bucks for what was basically a snack box.
Nowadays I can more easily work from home — and eat at home! Hallelujah! It’s much cheaper to make your own fancy pants Bistro Box at home!
I love this Protein Box for the ease of assembly, and the sheer goodness of all the things in it. I’m trying to eat more plant-based foods, so with the exception of the egg and the cheese, this box is a winner.
This is the perfect recipe for making a week’s worth of lunches or to handle lunch for the whole family in one fell swoop.
Plus, it feels fancy in the cool glass meal prep container.
What Is A Bistro Box?
A bistro box, or protein box, are perfect on the go lunch like these bagel boxes. They usually include fruit, vegetables, healthy proteins such as hard boiled eggs and nut butters.
And I’m all about turning a hard boiled egg into lunch like this Ploughman’s lunch.
These DIY protein boxes are a great way to save money and have a balanced lunch!
How to make this good and cheap:
Here are some of the strategies you can use to make this recipe more economical:
- Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. Instead of paying full price, buy more than you need when you see it on sale. Then you always have it when you want it.
- Shop the stores that have the best prices. When I did my big grocery store showdown, I learned that Costco has the best price for a lot of the things I buy, but not all. I buy their organic eggs, Tillamook cheese, and crackers for this box, but get my veggies usually from Sprouts, and my sunbutter from Trader Joe’s. While this means shopping at more than one store each month, it also means best prices. It’s just one of my quick tips for saving money on groceries. I just try to work my shopping trips in with errands I’m already running.
How I make this recipe easy:
This recipe really couldn’t be easier than it is, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs.
Here are the tools that I use for this recipe:
- plastic cutting boards – I have blue boards for veggies and white boards for meat.
- Ergo Chef chef’s knife – I’ve had my set for several years and they work well.
- divided glass bento boxes — I love these!
Protein Box (aka DIY Bistro Box)
Ingredients
- 4 eggs (hard-cooked)
- 4 oz cheddar cheese slices
- 4 apple sliced
- 4 to 6 ribs celery cut into sticks
- 4 oz nut butter to divide into your own containers or 4 packets
- 8 oz rice crackers
- 4 portions seasonal fruit
Instructions
- Peel and cut the eggs in half if you prefer. Cut the cheese into slices.
- Divide the ingredients among four containers with lids. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Marci
Yes- Starbucks was my escape for writing and Ive had many a protein boxes, its the only thing I really like eating from Starbucks- but I?d have to pass on the peanut butter, since I cant have it. This version is perfect- I can add the combinations I want with almond butter.
Jessica Fisher
Have you tried Trader Joe’s crunchy almond butter? SOOOO good.
TSandy
Jessica I love the divided glass container in the photo. I always use glass containers in hubby’s lunches but I don’t have any of the divided containers. Thanks for a great idea!
Jessica Fisher
I love them, too. You can find them here: https://lifeasmom.com/kitchen-tools-love/
Janet
Another fun, easy to do ahead protein is roasted chicken tenders. I simply use a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper and roast a big batch. Instead of the nut butter, I give my daughters salsa or ranch dressing for dipping. I think the bistro box is such a fun way to do lunch.
Jessica Fisher
Sounds delicious! We’ve found a great method for grilling chicken breast and great prices on ALDI family packs. Will add this idea to our snacky lunches.