Halloween Bento Box Lunch with a Black Cat Sandwich

When Halloween is approaching, even an ordinary school lunch can become a little more festive. You do not need complicated recipes or specialty ingredients to make a themed lunch. A simple cookie cutter can transform a familiar sandwich into something fun and memorable.

This easy Halloween bento box features a cat-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fresh cherries, cherry yogurt, graham crackers, and a small sweet treat. It is colorful, easy to prepare, and filled with familiar foods kids already enjoy.

Black Cat Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

The centerpiece of this lunch is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut into the shape of a scared Halloween cat.

Seasonal cookie cutters are one of the easiest ways to make school lunches more exciting. They work especially well for children who prefer familiar foods but still enjoy seeing something playful when they open their lunchbox.

Depending on the size of your cookie cutter, you may need to pack two small sandwiches to create a full serving.

For schools with nut restrictions, replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or another approved alternative.

Rainier Cherries

Fresh Rainier cherries add beautiful color and a sweet-tart flavor to this lunch. Remove the pits before packing them for younger children, or use a cherry pitter to make them easier to eat at school.

Cherries can spoil quickly, so this is also a great way to use up the last handful before they become too soft.

Other fruit options that fit the Halloween theme include:

Red grapes
Blackberries
Strawberries
Mandarin oranges
Apple slices
Blueberries

Cherry Yogurt

Cherry yogurt pairs naturally with fresh cherries and gives children the option to dip their fruit.

Fruit and yogurt combinations are an easy way to add more variety to a bento box. Pack the yogurt in a tightly sealed compartment and include a small spoon.

You could also use:

Vanilla yogurt
Strawberry yogurt
Greek yogurt
Chocolate hummus
Vanilla pudding

Graham Crackers

A few character-shaped graham crackers add a crunchy side without requiring any extra preparation.

Any small graham crackers or animal crackers will work. Around Halloween, you could also substitute bat-shaped crackers, chocolate grahams, pretzels, or mini cookies.

A Small Sweet Treat

I finished the lunch with a few colorful Skittles.

A small treat can make a themed lunch feel special without taking over the entire meal. Candy corn, chocolate chips, yogurt-covered raisins, or a mini Halloween cookie would also work.

Why We Love This Halloween Bento Box

This lunch is:

Easy to prepare
Filled with familiar foods
Fun for Halloween
Simple to customize
Great for selective eaters
Ready in about 15 minutes

Themed lunches do not need to be elaborate. Sometimes a seasonal sandwich shape is all it takes to turn an everyday lunch into something exciting.

Easy Halloween Lunch Swaps

Sandwich

Cat-shaped PB&J
Bat-shaped turkey sandwich
Pumpkin-shaped cheese sandwich
Ghost-shaped sunflower butter sandwich

Fruit

Rainier cherries
Blackberries
Mandarin oranges
Purple grapes
Apple slices

Creamy Side

Cherry yogurt
Vanilla yogurt
Applesauce
Pudding

Crunchy Side

Graham crackers
Pretzels
Popcorn
Cheese crackers
Animal crackers

Treat

Skittles
Candy corn
Mini chocolate pumpkins
Yogurt-covered raisins
Halloween sprinkles mixed into yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make a cat-shaped sandwich?

Prepare a regular sandwich and press a cat-shaped cookie cutter firmly through both slices of bread. Remove the excess bread and gently lift the sandwich from the cutter.

Can this lunch be made the night before?

Yes. Assemble the sandwich, fruit, and yogurt the night before and refrigerate the closed bento box. Add dry crackers in the morning if your container does not keep wet and dry foods completely separated.

How do you keep yogurt from leaking?

Use a leak-resistant bento box or place the yogurt in a small container with a secure lid. Keep the lunch cold with an ice pack.

What can replace peanut butter?

Sunflower seed butter, soy butter, cream cheese, or another school-approved spread can be used instead.

Is this lunch only for Halloween?

No. A cat-shaped sandwich is also perfect for animal-themed lunches, pet lovers, black cat parties, or everyday school lunches.

Here is a few of the items I used to make Peyton’s lunch today –