Our daughter started Pre-K at a local christian school this year. Yes, yes we were going to homeschool, but to make a very long story short, we’ve decided that this year is not the time for us. So… back to the topic at hand. Lunches.
Sending our daughter to school meant I have to send her to school with lunch. At first this sounded like a nightmare come true. Seriously I was not excited about making a lunch at-all!
But once again my friend Pinterest came to my rescue and I was reminded of Bento Box lunches (and FYI: I was told that “Bento” stands for lunch, so saying a Bento Lunch is kind of silly, “Lunch, Lunch”). Bentos have been everywhere lately. I’ve seen them in multiple magazines, on morning news shows and all over the blogosphere (do people still use that word, I never liked it!). Recently my dear friend Becky recently wrote about Bento box lunches too! It’s becoming quite popular.
Here’s a look at a few of my favorite Bento finds:
Mothering Corner – Glory Blogs: Colbalt Moon – Susan Yuen – Bento Mama Cute Food For Kids – Cute Food For Kids – Parenting – Cute Food For Kids
These pins can also be found on my Back 2 School Pinterest Board
Now those ideas are pretty awesome, and cute and I’m sure my daughter would just love finding one of those cute creations in her lunch, but I needed to find a few easy Bentos ideas that were quick and easy to make. I was happy that once again, Pinterest did not let me down.
Here are a few simple and cute Bento ideas:
Bento Image Credits:
The Lawrence Girls – Another Lunch – Wendolonia – The Lawrence Girls This Lunch Box – Design Mom – Easy Lunch Boxes – The Lawrence GirlsThese pins can also be found on my Back 2 School Pinterest Board
Later this week I’ll share a look at how I’ve been creating Bento boxes for our daughter.
Have you made a bento box lunch before? What do you pack in your children’s lunch for school?
9 Comments
Sherrill
September 20, 2011 at 8:40 amOK Donna, Are Bento Boxes big enough for big kids? In otherwords, would it be big enough for my 14 yr old son, who eats like a horse because he is running cross country and well he’s 14 and grew about 5 inches in the last year.
I love the idea of keeping it all seperated and not having so many individual things to clean. Speaking of cleaning, are they easy to clean?
Donna
September 20, 2011 at 6:51 pmFor Claire we use a really small square container with a clip on lid – washing it is simple. For an older more active child I would use a much bigger one. You could always pack him a sub on the side and use the Bento to store his healthy (energy filled) snacks, that might work for him!
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah
September 20, 2011 at 8:40 amSo what makes a lunch bento? The food cut into shapes or the container the food is in?
Donna
September 20, 2011 at 6:59 pmBento is the meal it’s self. The Japanese usually pack meals with rice, meat and something pickled. Arranging the food in an elaborate way is called kyaraben or “character bento”. They make the meal look like a character (anime or magna) they also do a style that looks like people or animal called “oekakiben” or “picture bento” . (Thank you to Wikipedia for this wonderful information) They “pack” it all in one box – that’s where the idea of Bento boxes came in. So I’d say the word means the style of lunch, packed in a box. I’m not sure if I gave you enough information 😉
Becky @ Our Peaceful Home
September 21, 2011 at 10:18 amI got all my info from the Wiki too…lol
Donna
September 25, 2011 at 7:20 pmI was never a huge Wiki user but it sure comes in handy sometimes!
Becky @ Our Peaceful Home
September 21, 2011 at 10:17 amHey! Thanks for the link! I’m so glad you are Bento(ing) ? it up too!!!! And, I love your new site by the way! It has a warm fun feeling to it!!!
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September 23, 2011 at 12:18 pmI have been obsessed by Bento Boxes this year, too. You are right. Pinterest has the best inspiration. I have make some Bento-inspired lunches for my first grade son. They aren’t as elaborate as some, but they keep lunches from being boring. A little spice in life is good even for a first grader!
Dawn
September 26, 2011 at 12:04 pmOkay those make ME want to pack a lunch! 🙂