Miss C is going back to school in 10 more sleeps. How can it be possible that my baby is 5 and going to Kindergarten... to the "big kid" school... on a "big kid" yellow bus. (Did you notice though that school buses are orange?) Anyway, I thought I’d write a couple posts this week on how to get
started, my favorite bento/lunch boxes and tools, and other tips. Today, I’ll
focus on food. In a couple days, I will show
you my supplies and my favorite lunch making tools.
I invited my other bento friends who have written and posted ideas on how to get started bento-ing (is that a word?) to add their links below! Check them out and get inspired!
This was our morning routine last year (which will probably
be similar to kindergarten this year):
There are times when I pack our lunches the night before. Usually, if we have great leftovers and I don’t necessarily have to “pretty it up”, I grab the EasyLunchboxes and store the leftovers on those, leaving the other compartments empty to for me to put fruit/vegs/etc the next day.
A: “Mommy, that is AWESOME!!! Thank you so much! I love you, too!” That pretty much sums it up… We all have different ways to show love to our children. This is my way, I guess. My gift to my child that I can actually do. I have friends that sing to their children or teach them music. I can’t sing (well, I can, but not well) to my child. I have friends that are very animated and are great story tellers. I can’t make fun voices when I read to her. I have friends that sew cute dresses or costumes and make bows. I can’t sew a button. I work full time, so I can’t be home to make certain memories with her that my other stay-at-home mom friends do. I’m not comparing myself with my friends and their gifts. “Playing with food” is what I love to do. And every single lunch box is packed with love. :)
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| Hello Kitty lunch box |
Q: What kinds of food do you pack?
A: Anything! From sandwiches to leftovers, I pack
pretty much whatever is on hand. I use
the USDA’s Choose MyPlate as a guideline on what to pack. I try to pack the 4
major nutrition blocks: protein, vegetables/fruits, carb/grains. Sometimes, I add a treat like fruit snacks or
candy. My child pretty much eats a variety of food, so I try to pack food that
she has already tried and I know she likes. I don’t put something she hasn’t tried
yet with her lunch, we try to introduce new foods during dinner, when I can
encourage her to try.
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| Lock & Lock divided container |
I have not gotten the allergy/lunch guidelines at her new
school for kindergarten, but with her preschool last year, they had a nut-free
policy. Check on your school policy regarding allergies, and I encourage you to
please follow those guidelines. I know it’s a challenge when your child loves
peanut butter and refuses to eat substitutes, but I think of the other child’s life
and health. Allergy reactions can be mild or life-threatening, so please keep
an open mind and follow your school’s allergy guidelines, whether for your own
child’s lunch or special classroom treats. My friend, Keeley of keeleymcguire.com,
has a daughter who is allergic to gluten and nuts, so check out her site for allergy-friendly
ideas.
 |
| Sunbuttersandwich on a 2-tier lunch box |
Q: How do you think of cute ideas to shape or arrange the
food?
A: I don’t typically make character foods. Once in a while,
I will get inspired by something Miss C watch, an upcoming holiday or a Bento
Blogger (a network of my bento-blogging friends) themed blog-hop. A simpler way to explain “bento” is arranged
lunches in a box. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you make it. You can use
divided boxes, silicone cups or small containers to divide. Sandwiches are
pretty easy to cut with cutters. Cut up vegetables in similar shapes. Arrange crackers
or cheese in rows or stacks. Use mini skewers or food picks to make kabobs of
fruit, or meat/cheese, or even meatballs and tortellini! If you choose, you can
draw or paint on the sandwiches with edible markers, shape and mold rice or
mashed potatoes. You can even mold eggs!
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| Star Wars Bento Bloghop in an EasyLunchBox container (May the 4th be with you) |
I invited my other bento friends who have written and posted ideas on how to get started bento-ing (is that a word?) to add their links below! Check them out and get inspired!
Q: When do you find the time to make lunches?
A: I tend to do procrastinate (this post was supposed to happen 4-6 weeks ago). It is a bad habit, I know. I try to make lists and menus. And while I try to make lists and menus, I tend to deviate from them a lot, depending on my mood, Miss C’s mood, or what food we have in the fridge.
A: I tend to do procrastinate (this post was supposed to happen 4-6 weeks ago). It is a bad habit, I know. I try to make lists and menus. And while I try to make lists and menus, I tend to deviate from them a lot, depending on my mood, Miss C’s mood, or what food we have in the fridge.
 |
| 2-tiered bento box with "Gogurt" in silicone ice pop mold |
- Wake up, shower/dress, (get myself ready for work,) 15-60 min
[depending on how
many times I push the snooze button]
- Wake up Miss C, get her dressed and ready, 10 min if she’s in a good mood.
(she can do this
herself now, so I’d free up more time to get our breakfast ready,)
- Miss C eats breakfast while I prepare lunch, 15-20 minutes.
- Take pictures of lunch, pack up and leave. 5-10 minutes.
(To be honest, I leave the kitchen a mess until my husband comes home
and washes the dishes in the afternoon. I love that man!)
There are times when I pack our lunches the night before. Usually, if we have great leftovers and I don’t necessarily have to “pretty it up”, I grab the EasyLunchboxes and store the leftovers on those, leaving the other compartments empty to for me to put fruit/vegs/etc the next day.
 |
| Mommy's leftovers in an EasyLunchbox |
Q: Why do you do this?
A: “Mommy, that is AWESOME!!! Thank you so much! I love you, too!” That pretty much sums it up… We all have different ways to show love to our children. This is my way, I guess. My gift to my child that I can actually do. I have friends that sing to their children or teach them music. I can’t sing (well, I can, but not well) to my child. I have friends that are very animated and are great story tellers. I can’t make fun voices when I read to her. I have friends that sew cute dresses or costumes and make bows. I can’t sew a button. I work full time, so I can’t be home to make certain memories with her that my other stay-at-home mom friends do. I’m not comparing myself with my friends and their gifts. “Playing with food” is what I love to do. And every single lunch box is packed with love. :)
P.S. Did you notice the new blog redesign by my friend Shalon of Pretty LovelyDesign! Check her out! She’s kinda awesome! Thank you so much, Shalon, for the
logo, for the blog, for your patience w/my pickiness, for everything!
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The blog looks awesome! And thanks for the tips. I especially love the part at the very end, "I'm not comparing myself to my friends and their gifts" Just doing what you love! A lesson in bento and character development all-in-one! :)
ReplyDeleteYour new blog design looks awesome!! Love all your ideas!
ReplyDeleteLove your new blog design!!! It looks awesome :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE the blog redesign!! 100 million times over love it :)
ReplyDeleteLOOOOOOVVVEE the new design! WOW! Very very cool!
ReplyDeleteYour new blog design rocks! I absolutely love it.
ReplyDelete