Anybody create bento lunches?

[KellyAnnW]

I was recently bitten by the bento bug. Its a lot of fun but its hard to find bentos with more 'american' food. My dh is not going to eat rice balls and nori no matter how cute it is! I'm trying to keep our bentos very healthy as well. I'd love some ideas or links to websites with more typical but still healthy american fare. Can anyone help? The best one I've found is Lunch In a Box.

I recently found a really awesome blog, her son had to go gluten free recently. Hubby and I eat gluten but it may be interesting to others.

My other question is has anyone come across bpa free bento boxes? I know laptop lunches are but i'd like something cuter. Right now we're using a mental tiffin tin, and rubber maid containers.

Thanks!

[Bekka]

I use the principles of bento (food in a box) but I don't worry about presentation.

I plan a carbohydrate
protein
2 veg/fruit
drink
something extra

Often it will be a sandwich with meat and cheese, 1 fruit, 1 veg, and a juice box.

One my kids like is leftover salmon patties (from dinner) or cold shrimp (don't know if you're veg, we're not).

I found plastic boxes #5 at Target with easy to snap flaps (dd2 has a hard time with plastic containers) like this: http://www.usphome.com/catalog/produ...oduct_id=31848

and I put in smaller containers for things like applesauce or whatever.

My kids won't eat bento food either.

Other popular options:

2 hb eggs, tortilla chips and cheese, grapes, carrots.
Cold mac n cheese, fruit leathers, cucumber.
something like lunchables: 2 kinds of crackers, cheese and ham slices, raw veggies
leftover pancakes with jam, cold chicken, sides
corn bread and honey, HB eggs, sides
bagels and cream cheese, sides
chicken nuggets

I think you get the picture. I usually make lunch 3-4x/wk, let them choose 1-2/wk to eat at school. I'm interested in experimenting with thermoses this year for hot food. They have no way to heat food at school. My kids also aren't crazy for cooked veggies. Sides are easy--
grapes
strawberries
cubed watermelon
sliced cucumber
carrot matchsticks (cut finely for dd with braces)
pepper strips in different colors
blueberries
pitted cherries
applesauce
fruit leathers (100 per cent fruit)

With hot food I could do soup, beans, lasagna, pasta, etc.

[Bekka]

Originally Posted by KellyAnnW

My other question is has anyone come across bpa free bento boxes? I know laptop lunches are but i'd like something cuter. Right now we're using a mental tiffin tin, and rubber maid containers.

There is a really good thread on the learning at school forum about lunchbox containers with links to new cool products--

goodbyn and planetbox look really awesome.

[tessamami]

I love flickr.com for bento ideas

just go to flickr.com and search for bento. I usually sort by date. Have fun! The food is both traditional, and more American-style. Also there are laptop lunch users, etc. all found searching for "bento".

[mama2b&l]

This blog is one I found a long time ago. She does some more asian inspired ones and some more american style ones. http://pleasegivepeasachance.blogspo...ch/label/bento
~Jenny

[friendtoall]

I'm trying to get inspired to make bento boxes for my children's lunches. There are so many cute accessories - I think it will fill the void left by my toilet trained children - no more diaper hoarding for me.

[Pinoikoi]

I have started doing bento ( although in our home it is called Baon!).

I have the laptop lunchboxes and the 2.0. Also Aladdin and Thermos have some nice containers that are bpa free that I saw on their websites, nothing cutesy, but handy sizes.

I was at the Asian market today, and saw some locknlocks with a cute little drink and two boxes in a bag. I will definitely go buy some if they are still there on payday. Anyone know if they are bpa free? (edit: apparently some lock n locks use bpa and some do not.. I will have to double check on the one I liked!)

Right now I have three glass boxes with plastic tops that lock on (just like lock n locks do, but the bases are glass). I use them for things like potato salad or making jello in. THey were on sale at the Korean market for $1.99 each so I bought the three. I use them OFTEN. The brand name for these is Parka, but I saw some similar ones at Habitat Housewares- not sure of the brand..

Also I have found some of the silicone? containers for sauces and such..

I have a Mr. Bento I found on craigslist new and I also have a mini bento by the same company. I don't like the plastic that are in the thermos but they are the solid colored kind I am "pretty" sure they aren't made with bpa (found a few comments sections on amazon that also say they are bpa free). the minibento came with a bag so I can fit in a drink or a sandwich. What I don't like about them is that the "soup"compartment is relatively small and then the sides go on top of it, which if I pack soup, I want the thermos to keep them hot, but the carrots on top I want to stay cold? So I think that is kind of weird..

My 6yo is going to immersion school and I have to pack his lunch this year ($3.15 for full price kids lunch!)... my other kids get free lunch at a different school though so right now I will be packing two lunches a day (mine and the one kiddo).

http://www.aibento.net/

[abiyhayil]

this last issue of mothering just had an article on bentos lunches and some crafty ideas!

[Pinoikoi]

Really? I let my subscription lapse.

[happydog]

I found a cool site for bento food prep stuff: www.jlist.com/BENTO/

Lots of fun Hello Kitty stuff, sandwich shapers, boiled egg shapers, etc. and the prices aren't bad.

[lotus.blossom]

I love this site: http://www.weelicious.com On facebook she posts a daily photo of her sons bento lunch. Its positively inspiring!! I love the presentation.

[spring978]

http://www.goodbyn.com/goodbyn/features.aspx

[columbusmomma]

subbing

[KellyAnnW]

Goodness this was a long time ago. I now have a million bento boxes, accessories, and my own bento blog! I'd forgoten about the thread too. I'm just as into bento as i was a year ago (thought my interest would lapse) and we enjoy several bento staples now. I love onigiri!