Bento Boxes and Filling Them Up!

[twomoms]

does any one here use these? I am thinking about dong these for my dd this school year but wanted to know what you all thought and your favorite recipes....

[Kristen.C]

I've never used one before but I remember Rachael Ray's show did a segment on them at the beginning of the school year last year. I wonder if she might have some recipes/ideas on her website. It might be somewhere to start.

ETA I found the link to that show actually!
Lunchbox Makeovers | Rachael Ray Show
There are 3 recipes listed.

[oregoncactus]

I use bento boxes for my 2 kids and my husband. I own Mr Bento, a mini bento set (by the same company that makes Mr. Bento), and various lock and lock boxes. Oh, I just bought some fit and fresh containers as well. I have a Blue Leaves Feel at Ease bento set on the way. I also have the Laptop lunch system, but I am not as fond of it.

I have a cookbook called Bento Boxes: Japanes Meals on the Go by Naomi Kijima. I have some onigiri molds, vegetable cutters, mini cookie cutters, sauce bottles, food picks and silicone cups to go in the bento boxes. I have ordered egg molds and some small side dish containers.

There are several blogs I read for ideas. I am not sure about posting links here, so pm me for those links. I have a link to a site with geographic shopping spots for bento. If you don't live in an area with b&m bento shopping, there are online sites to shop as well as ebay. There are some ebay sellers that really take advantage of pricing, though, so you have to be careful. The dollar store can have bento-able items as well.

My kids and husband love bento lunches. I don't stick to traditional bento food. I look for ways to "miniturize" items they like. They are eating healthier lunches this way. I also try to re-make dinner items and freeze other items to help make lunch packing quick during the morning.

As an idea of what I pack, here are some ideas (and I do use a thermal food jar to keep warm things warm): baked potato bar (baked potato and separate containers w/ all the fixings they like); taco bar (same principal as baked potato bar); various sauces w/ chicken and brown rice as "lid" to keep chicken warm (the thermal container does have a lid, but the rice serves as a thermal barrier as well); homemade "lunchable" type stuff; onigiri; whole wheat pasta w/ parmesan cheese; hummus w/ vegetables and naan for dippers; tea party - small sandwiches and scones w/ hot tea for a drink; chili and cornbread.

I always pack fruits and/or vegetables w/ the entree as well. I hope this helps. It has been fun to pack bento lunches.

christi

[amti]

If you are referring to the Japanese bento box lunches, then you just stuff them with different foods and take color and nutritional value into consideration. They are more nutritious than school lunches but because they are different, some kids may tease your kids about them. I started my daughter on bento in kindergarten and she came home saying that she hated brocolli, all because someone teased her about eating it.

[JANE4girls]

am I understanding this correctly? This is just a different way to package food instead of zip bags or tupperware?

[bexx09]

I've never used one before but I remember Rachael Ray's show did a segment on them at the beginning of the school year last year. I wonder if she might have some recipes/ideas on her website. It might be somewhere to start.

ETA I found the link to that show actually!
Lunchbox Makeovers | Rachael Ray Show
There are 3 recipes listed.

I remember that! I thought they were really cool too. Definitely a great alternative to traditional packing of school lunches.

Hmm, maybe I should get one for work.

[Q_ponQ]

am I understanding this correctly? This is just a different way to package food instead of zip bags or tupperware?

I think you got it right Jane,
In Japanese tradition, wrapping is an art form
so wrapping a lunch with special little touches, shows "care"
a little touch of elegance in what otherwise be considered brown bagging it.

I just did a google and there are tons of pics out there of ideas.

Presentation ....goes a long way to make it appetizing

also IMHO makes for a more pleasant meal

[oregoncactus]

am I understanding this correctly? This is just a different way to package food instead of zip bags or tupperware?

Hi, Jane. It is a different way of packaging and carrying food. I got started when my daughter started going to an environmental-themed middle school (it focused on science). They encouraged the students to think about their impact on the planet, so I got away from zip bags. Tupperware was so unwiedly when kids can't fit giant lunchbags in their teeny lockers. Bento is very space compact and the containers are reusable, so there is no waste.

My daughter has not been teased for being different. All the kids really enjoyed looking at her lunches. I am not as artistic, but everyone enjoyed the variety. It has really expanded what she likes to eat now as well.


Christi

[twomoms]

I am off to my local asian stores to see if I can find a box dd starts school on monday and after showing her all the great pics she really cant wait till lunch!!!!

[MrsPinecone]

I just Googled bento lunch and got a whole slew of sites.