Bento Boxes, what do you think?

[BernardandMissBianca]

So there was a movement on 2peas about bento boxes. I'm thinking of trying them but I won't be fancy schmancy about it. I just want better lunches for the kids.

So do you do them? Would you do them? Here's a link.


http://lunchinabox.net/2008/07/28/sausage-bento-lunches-east-vs-west/

 

[disneynut14]

Please forgive my ignorance But what is a bento box?

 

[Lisa]

We have done octopus hot dogs but that is about it.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Please forgive my ignorance But what is a bento box?

sorry, I need to stop drive by posting. LOL We were headed out.
Basically it's a divided box that you can put food stuffs in to make lunch. Some people cut the fruits and veggies up and place them to look like animals and things (not me, lol) I think part of the goal is to not use pre packaged foods so you reduce waste and have more healthy foods.

[BEHN-toh] A thin metal or lacquered wooden box divided into compartments. The bento box is used in Japan for storing separate small dishes that comprise an individual meal (most often lunch). In Japan, the bento lunch, which is commonly available at train stations, represents fast food elevated to high culinary art and design. Each of the country's 5,000 stations sells a unique box lunch that reflects the cooking of the region. The beautifully designed bento boxes can take on myriad shapes including masks, tennis rackets, or other objects both traditional and whimsical. More than twelve million bento-box meals are sold to hungry travelers and commuters in Japan each day.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

We have done octopus hot dogs but that is about it.

oh lisa - you are such a gourmet.
BTW I love octopus hotdogs.
jennifer

 

[logan&tylersmama]

sorry, I need to stop drive by posting. LOL We were headed out.
Basically it's a divided box that you can put food stuffs in to make lunch. Some people cut the fruits and veggies up and place them to look like animals and things (not me, lol) I think part of the goal is to not use pre packaged foods so you reduce waste and have more healthy foods.

[BEHN-toh] A thin metal or lacquered wooden box divided into compartments. The bento box is used in Japan for storing separate small dishes that comprise an individual meal (most often lunch). In Japan, the bento lunch, which is commonly available at train stations, represents fast food elevated to high culinary art and design. Each of the country's 5,000 stations sells a unique box lunch that reflects the cooking of the region. The beautifully designed bento boxes can take on myriad shapes including masks, tennis rackets, or other objects both traditional and whimsical. More than twelve million bento-box meals are sold to hungry travelers and commuters in Japan each day.

Buffy - why dont you make them for the crop this week end and we can let you know what we think a good trial run!
It looks interesting - but alot of work -
I confess to using the frozen PB&J for DS's camp lunch this summer - I KNOW>>>> I never did state that i could cook!!!
Jennifer

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

my culinary talents do not surpass the Oreo Pudding Pie I made last month. And the Oreo pudding was premade, just add milk! LOL

But we do need to figure out what we are eating, the pizza place is closed for vacation! How dare they!! I need my eggplant pizza!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

The two they showed in the web photos would never work for my kiddos. They do not like sausage nor will they eat "messy" food from home. They would think the cornbread muffins messy. We did a lot of school lunch because there was more variety than turkey & cheese sandwiches. They won't eat anything else. As soon as Eldest hits middle school there will be microwaves, so that will help.

 

[disneynut14]

Thanks for the clarification buffy. I suppose I do that now but with ziplock baggies

I would love some suggestions on lunch. My DD takes the same things to school (aka Daycare) every week.

cold cut roll ups (i.e. no bread)
cold chicken nuggets ( I prepackage them every week 4 to a bag)
mini bagels with different cream cheeses
yogurt
cold pizza
(These are the main dishes, with various fruits and such as sides)

Her daycare has peanut and egg restrictions

Anyone have any other ideas for a 2 year old?

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Buffy - why dont you make them for the crop this week end and we can let you know what we think a good trial run!
It looks interesting - but alot of work -
I confess to using the frozen PB&J for DS's camp lunch this summer - I KNOW>>>> I never did state that i could cook!!!
Jennifer

My thoughts exactly!! I might need to come up and test one out!!!

I need to think more on this..because my boys are so picky (like AWM's boys) and I need more lunch ideas...

 

[Lisa]

Buffy - why dont you make them for the crop this week end and we can let you know what we think a good trial run!

 

[disneynut14]

Oh yeah, no microwave. It has to be a cold lunch. Talk about tough!!!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

They tell the kids they can bring stuff in to microwave and than they get all snippy w/ the kids... Don't offer it if you are that inconvienced..

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

oh you know me soooo well!!! LOL

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks for the clarification buffy. I suppose I do that now but with ziplock baggies

I would love some suggestions on lunch. My DD takes the same things to school (aka Daycare) every week.

cold cut roll ups (i.e. no bread)
cold chicken nuggets ( I prepackage them every week 4 to a bag)
mini bagels with different cream cheeses
yogurt
cold pizza
(These are the main dishes, with various fruits and such as sides)

Her daycare has peanut and egg restrictions

Anyone have any other ideas for a 2 year old?

my kids like cheese crackers and grapes.

jelly sandwiches in soft tortilla shells. I make those for me. I spread the jelly over the whole wheat tortillas and roll them up, then slice them like sushi rolls.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

Thanks for the clarification buffy. I suppose I do that now but with ziplock baggies

I would love some suggestions on lunch. My DD takes the same things to school (aka Daycare) every week.

cold cut roll ups (i.e. no bread)
cold chicken nuggets ( I prepackage them every week 4 to a bag)
mini bagels with different cream cheeses
yogurt
cold pizza
(These are the main dishes, with various fruits and such as sides)

Her daycare has peanut and egg restrictions

Anyone have any other ideas for a 2 year old?

My son's Day care has a nut restriction too, and no microwave.
Ok - no Flaming me - I will confess to the poor lunches i make for him.

He LOVES buttered noodles - so i make them in the am and put them in a thermous

OH MAN THE ICE CREAM MAN IS DRIVING BY WORK>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SORRY I GET DESRATCTED WHEN I HEAR THE ICE CREAM MAN!!!

ok ,,, back to what i was saying...
*buttered noodles
*hard boiled eggs
*chichen roll ups As my children call them) in a thermos (These are like south western chicken...i dont know.... roll ups - i am surprised they like them becuase they like EVERYTHING plain!)
*THANK GOD THAT THURSDAY IS PIZZA DAY I pay $10.00 a month extra for this - but it is so worth it!
* Hickory Farms beef stick cut up with cheese and crackers
* Chicken nuggets in the thermos
* mac and cheese in the thermos
* some times i do fish sticks or popcorn shrimp in the thermos too but that isnt such a big hit
some extras we rotate out would include fruit, yogart, goldfish or some type of crackers, rasins, yogart covered rasins, cheese sticks, mini muffins,

OK --- SO i dont win mother of the year award -
open to suggestions for picky eaters.
jennifer

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Jennifer everything you listed is good! Nice variety, fruits, dairy. Perfect!

Now can you send the ice cream man this way please?

 

[logan&tylersmama]

Now can you send the ice cream man this way please?

he is Torturing me sitting outside my office window - Taunting me with his little ice cream man music ---- oh the horror!!!! i think i have to cave in and go out there.

Jennifer

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

get something good!!!

 

[Lisa]

get something good!!!

Save it for a Mickey Premium Bar, Jennifer, in October.