Another Day, Another Set of Bentos
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Wednesday, June 04, 2008
These were the kid's bento lunches for school on Tuesday.
The top one is Elnora's. It's a single tier box with some divided compartments. By far my favorite box and the one you'll pretty much always see me packing for her.
The very top part has a string cheese nestled under some Keebler Honey Wheat cracker sticks and a tiny little fork. The left side has some chicken nuggets lined up. The center holds a small bottle of ketchup and two marshmallows. the right side is stuffed with baby red grapes.
The two tiers on the bottom are part of the same box. They stack up and there's a band that goes around them. While it looks huge, it actually doesn't hold much moe volume wise than Nora's box does.
The top tier holds a string cheese, grapes, cracker sticks and a container of ketchup. The bottom tier holds some chicken nuggets, some more grapes and one teeny, tiny, baby cupcake from a Hostess 100 calorie pack.
Jennifer,
I'm new to bentos, but these look great. Is there a way to keep the items cool? Is there somewhere to stick an icepack type thing?
Thanks!
Jillian
I am LOVING these bento boxes. Please keep sharing them! You've inspired me to start looking at other sites with info on bentos. In the next week I plan to start gathering supplies and then I will spend the summer experimenting with Bentos so I'll be all ready for school lunch in the fall.
Since Sugar started elementary school, lunch has been a major issue for us. I think Bentos might be the answer!!
Jillian,
I just throw them into a small insulated bag with a mini freezer pack. That seems to do the job. This time of year, you can find these bags all over the place, Target has a ton, so does Jo-Ann fabrics in their "outdoors" area.
Now theirs get heated back up at school, but also easy enough to pack "cold food" for regular school lunches.
Thanks a bunch. My little gut is only a year old, but we have friends w/kids who are school-aged. I think they would really enjoy bentos!
Fat Lady, welcome to the obsession!
There area bazillion Flickr groups on Bento and quite a few blogs too. I used to post to Bento Yum, but simply not finding time to be as active there as I'd like...so throwing them up over here.
I make bentos twice a week for the kids and a few times a week for Greg. Also love taking them when we're doing something like the Zoo.
When you learn how to pack them properly, it's a great way to fit a balanced, filling meal in a small amount of space. I'm sometimes astonished at how full I can feel eating from something the size of a small shoe. :)
What is so special about these? They're tupperware containers. I don't understand the fascination.
Actually, bentos are not tupperware containers. They're adorable specialized lunch boxes designed to hold maximum food in minimum space.
Really though, you can use tupperware for bentos. Bentos are about the idea of "small bites" and variety. Basically, you're packing a lunch that has a variety of foods in a small space while being filling and healthy.
I just use them as a way to make lunch a little more fun for my picky toddlers.
Sorry.....but I had heard to never give grapes to a child under two as they are a choking hazard. I googled and found the FDA site says not to give until after age four (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/505_choking.html).
Becky,
I'd never suggest you give grapes to your children if you aren't comfortable with the idea of doing so. I firmly believe each parent needs to make their own choices about what risks they're willing to take or not take with their kids.
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