Bento box lunches

[Anonymous]

Has anyone succeeded at tricking their picky eaters to try healthier options by making creative bento box lunches? Heard a cool story on NPR tonight, and I'm wondering if it's worth a shot. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Check out this blog http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2013/01/this-week-in-bento-boxes_27.html?m=1

[Anonymous]

Also this one, although it doesn't look like she's updated in a few months: http://littleladieswholunch.com/

[Anonymous]

We use bento boxes because they fun, convenient and environmentally friendly. I hadn't thought about tricking my kid with it or anything, but he does like the variety and the way it looks in the box.

[Anonymous]

I definitely think presentation helps. I find my son more willing to eat stuff I pack for lunch than if I give it to him to try at home. Hunger helps, I guess. I am nowhere near the level of creativity in those blogs, but sandwich cutters and egg molds go a long way.

[Anonymous]

if you are ocd--as i am--you will find yourself tearfully applying seaweed eyeballs to your cookie cutter sandwiches at 5:00 AM.

[Anonymous]

I'm not that creative but used a lunch cube and square cupcake holders to make his lunch easy to eat. He just has to open one cube, and his whole lunch is on display. He gets a little bit of a whole bunch of things and things don't touch (if I pack it right).. Its an easier version of the bento box. I did look into official bento boxs, but I read the lids were hard to get off, and the ones without lids often mixed togethor. I found the lunch cube, cupcake liners, and some use of paper towels (cover fruit so the liquid doesn't spread) works easily.

http://www.amazon.com/Sistema-Klip-Lunch-Container-48-Ounce/dp/B002B4S75I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359513193&sr=8-1&keywords=lunch+cube

http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Square-Silicone-Baking-Count/dp/B000NBNHHE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1359513236&sr=1-1&keywords=cupcake+liners+square

[Anonymous]

Easy Lunch Boxes really helped both with my picky eater, and with ideas for me. They have a website, and are also sold on Amazon. I find them much easier than classic Bento boxes. I actually just bought a couple of Bento boxes from Groupon, and I think they are not as practical as the Easy Lunch Boxes. We also have a bento style box from Pottery Barn (like) and a Lunch Cube (love!).

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

When you cut a sandwich out with a cookie cutter don't you waste the scrapes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you are ocd--as i am--you will find yourself tearfully applying seaweed eyeballs to your cookie cutter sandwiches at 5:00 AM.

Well done! very funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not that creative but used a lunch cube and square cupcake holders to make his lunch easy to eat. He just has to open one cube, and his whole lunch is on display. He gets a little bit of a whole bunch of things and things don't touch (if I pack it right).. Its an easier version of the bento box. I did look into official bento boxs, but I read the lids were hard to get off, and the ones without lids often mixed togethor. I found the lunch cube, cupcake liners, and some use of paper towels (cover fruit so the liquid doesn't spread) works easily.

http://www.amazon.com/Sistema-Klip-Lunch-Container-48-Ounce/dp/B002B4S75I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359513193&sr=8-1&keywords=lunch+cube

If anyone else is interested, they sell those cubes at Marshall's for $4. I just saw some yesterday.

[Anonymous]

Try 100 Days of Real Food. She packs bento style lunches for her kids and blogs extensively about it. She even gives details on the boxes and other supplies she uses and has recipes.

[Anonymous]

If you travel for business and find yourself in Japan...they have GREAT bento boxes at hyaku yen shops (100 yen shops). There are some really big and cool hyaku yen shops in Chiba and Tokyo (I used to go to one in Funabashi)...

Obviously not too helpful unless you travel for business (though it seems like many of us do!) or pleasure to Japan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you cut a sandwich out with a cookie cutter don't you waste the scrapes?

I eat them.