Continuing on with the series of no-cook lunch boxes, I bring you The Peanut Butter Lunch Box! This one is so simple, yet I may have enjoyed this one the most out of all the lunch boxes I’ve prepared so far. I don’t know if it was the sweet-salty combo, or maybe it was just nostalgia (for about two years straight in elementary school I ate peanut butter apple sandwiches for lunch), but every day I looked forward to this lunch box! So, if you’re a fan of peanut butter sandwiches, but want to change things up, give this peanut butter lunch box a try!
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What’s in the Peanut Butter Lunch Box
Peanut butter is the focus of this lunch box, with both sweet and savory side items that are all delicious dipped into the creamy peanut butter. For my peanut butter lunch box I added pretzels, apple slices, celery, and dates. If you can’t eat peanut butter, this lunch box would be just as good with any other nut butter you prefer (almond, cashew, sunflower, etc.).
About Those Dates…
If you’ve never eaten dates with peanut butter before, prepare for your mind to be blown! Medjool dates are rich, sweet, sticky, and taste a little bit like caramel, so it tastes like you’re eating caramel with peanut butter! It’s the perfectly rich and sweet natural dessert.
You’ll find Medjool dates in the produce department of most major grocery stores (scroll down to the photos below the recipe card to see what type of container they come in). They usually have a small pit inside, but they are easily pulled open with your fingers, and then you can simply remove the pit before smearing that creamy peanut butter all over the date.
How to Keep the Apple Slices Fresh
As most people know, apples begin to brown after they are sliced in response to exposure to oxygen. This brown color is a simple chemical reaction and does not indicate that the apple has gone “bad.” To help slow the browning, keep the apple slices bunched closely together to reduce the exposure to oxygen on the cut surfaces (see photos). You can also sprinkle a little lemon juice over your apple slices to further slow the browning, if you prefer. Even without lemon juice, my apple slices only browned a very small amount over four days in the refrigerator.
What Containers Do You Use?
For this lunch box I used a set of divided glass containers that I purchased on Amazon (linked below in the bottom of the recipe card). The dividers don’t go all the way up to the lid, so they don’t keep liquid items separate, but for solids or super thick stuff like peanut butter, it works just fine.
The Peanut Butter Lunch Box
Servings 4Ingredients
- ¾ cup peanut butter* ($1.49)
- 60 mini pretzels ($0.26)
- 2 apples ($0.78)
- 8 Medjool dates ($1.33)
- 4 ribs celery ($0.70)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional) ($0.01)
Instructions
- Wash and slice the celery into sticks. Slice each apple in half, remove the core, then cut into slices. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the apple slices to slow browning, if desired.
- Add 3 tablespoons of peanut butter to each container. Add about 15 pretzels to each container, along with ½ an apple, some celery sticks, and two dates. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate up to five days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
- Divided Glass Meal Prep Containers
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Try These Other No-Cook Lunch Boxes:
The Peanut Butter Lunch Box – Extra Notes
I used Granny Smith Apples for this lunch box, but you can use any variety of apples you like. I included ½ an apple with each box. Slice the apples in half, then remove the core (I used a sharp measuring spoon, but you could use something like a melon baller as well). Slice each apple half into slices. Keeping the slices close together prevents oxygen exposure, which will slow the browning. You can also sprinkle a little lemon juice over the slices to further help slow the browning.
Medjool dates are usually sold in a container like this, but sometimes I see them sold loose by the pound, which is really nice when you only need a few! I see them at just about every grocery store now, so they are widely available. You’ll find them in the produce department, usually not refrigerated.
To eat the dates, simply pull them open with your hands. They are soft and sticky, so they pull open very easily. You’ll find a small pit in the center (you can see the pit on the left side). Remove the pit.
Smear a little peanut butter on each half of the date and enjoy! This combo is super rich and sweet, so you’ll only need one or two! Enjoy!
Maybe not the most relevant question but what are the dishes you’re doing these in? I’d love to get them.
https://buy.geni.us/Proxy.ashx?TSID=362783&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3uhcANA&dtb=1 Here’s the link!
Love this combo, especially helpful to have that when busy tending to a baby! Thank you so much for sharing this delightful no heat meal preps!
Oops! I should have read further before I asked about hummus combinations!
This looks delicious, but on WW that much peanut butter would be 39 points and I’m only allowed 20 points a day. What would you combine with hummus to make a similar lunch?
Really perfect and well thought out combination here. I’m a real date lover but I would need all the other goodies to feel full and like I actually ate enough substance. Great idea!
Looking very tasty and delicious. Thanks for sharing these recipes.
What is your favorite brand of peanut butter? I’d love to find something as tasty as Skippy, but organic!
I prefer unsweetened peanut butters, so the kind I buy definitely won’t taste like Skippy. 😅 I usually just buy the store brand natural-style PB or Smuckers natural style.
If you like skippy, you could just add honey to natural peanut butter. Except for the chemicals, the biggest difference in skippy is all of the sugars they put in.
So simple and yet, I wouldn’t have thought of this one on my own. Keep them coming!!!
Dates & PB was a new combo for me–loved it! My only hesitation with this box was the hefty dose of peanut butter: while I would LOVE to enjoy that much peanut butter, I needed something a lighter on the fat & calories. My solution? Silken tofu mixed with the PB. It kept it nice and scoopable without imparting any noticeable flavor.
Thanks for the ideas!
Oh cool! I’m going to have to try that PB tofu combo!
I’m going to try PB and unflavored hummus since I can’t digest soy. Should be good, I think.
Hi,
I really like this idea of mixing peanut butter and tofu. What ratio did you use? I appreciate the tip!
Amy
Also just a side note, sharp cheddar cheese tastes amazing with this combo!
Keep them coming! These are great!
With my kid’s school on remote learning, I’m suddenly in need of frequent snacks for his breaktimes – this is PERFECT! I picked up a slightly smaller container, deglet instead of medjool dates available, but this is an absolute winning combo for my first-grader. Healthier and definitely cheaper than pre-packaged snack packs. Thank you for saving my sanity this week! ;)
Wow! I’m going to try this
Peanut butter in lunch sounds like yum-yum.
This is a great lunch box idea. I love dates and nut butters. I will have to try the tahini with the dates also. Here’s a tip I learned recently: after slicing, soak the apple slices in salt water for a bit. Then drain and use. Its amazing how long they stay fresh and white doing it this way. And no lemony taste.
Love it! I’ve never heard that tip before, thanks!
You might want to trying eating dates with tahini instead of peanut butter apart from this lunch box. That’s what people do in the Middle East. Plus I find the flavor is better.
I am really loving the no-cook lunchbox series! I am a new mom and I just went back to work, so meal prep has to be fast. I used the tuna salad box idea last week but made chickpea salad instead (I’m a vegetarian). I have everything to make this box already in my house, so I know what’s for lunch this week! I’d love to see more no-cook lunch ideas!
Yes! I already eat dates with peanut butter every morning. They are an incredible source of energy! Layering them with ripe slices of bananas (if you are eating them right away) is also super good. Thanks for the tips on how to keep apples fresh! I love texture and flavor suggestion of apples, pretzels, and peanut butter together.
Great idea. This will bean upgrade to my break-the-fast after yoga class which is often apple/orange/banana and peanut butter. Still not too heavy. Sounds yummy those dates. So trying.
I love all of the lunch box meal preps, they’re so creative and convenient! I’m really excited about this one…I randomly bought dates last weekend and I can’t wait to try them with the peanut butter.