Bento Boxes and Accessories

Some of my friends ask me why do I always make lunch bento for Sydney? I say "Once you know what the schools serve for lunch,  you would be surprised how unhealthy the food is. I might need to wake up 20 minutes earlier for preparing Sydney's lunch, but at least I know she eats healthy lunch everyday."

I started my journey of making lunch bento 1.5 years ago, now I have 3 kitchen drawers and 1 kitchen cabinet full of bento boxes, tools and accessories. I know it is a little bit crazy, but I just can't say NO to some super cute bento stuffs.

I like to pack Sydney's lunch bento in the bento boxes because they are eco friendly and money saving. There are couple of Bento boxes from my collection that I like the most.

1. Goodbyn 

Goodbyn lunch boxes come with two sizes: Goodbyn Original and smaller Goodbyn Bynto. They are easy to open and carry for both kids and parents. Both of Goodbyn Original and Goodbyn Bynto come with 8 ounce bottle and two sheets of dishwasher-safe stickers. I suggest Goodbyn Original for older kids or adults, and Goodbyn Bynto for younger children. Goodbyn lunch boxes are BPA free and dishwasher safe. 

2. Easy Lunch Boxes

I also like to use Easy Lunch Boxes for sandwiches. The large compartment can fit sandwich perfectly, and I can put vegetables or fruits in the two small compartments. Easy Lunch Boxes are designed with kid-friendly and easy-open lids. Unfortunately, they are not leak proof. They are also BPA free and dishwasher safe. 

3. Lock and Lock

There are so many different sizes and shapes of Lock and Lock containers, but I like this square container with 4 dividers the most. I can pack 4 different foods in 4 dividers, or I can just use 2 dividers for fruits and vegetables and pack sandwich or spaghetti in the remaining space. They are made from BPA free material and microwave, freezer and top rack dishwasher safe. 

4. Two-Tiered Bento Boxes

I like to use two-tiered bento boxes if I pack rice for Sydney. I like to pack rice and vegetables/fruits in different tiers to separate the flavors. The top tier usually has a press on lid to prevent spills. Most of the two-tiered bento boxes are not microwave or dishwasher safe. 

5. Useful Tools 

Cutters can be used to cut out sandwiches, sandwich meats, vegetables and fruits. I use both metal and plastic cutters. Metal cutters are great for slicing though thick pieces of raw vegetables and plastic cutters can be used for soft foods such as meats and cheeses.

Decorative picks are cute accessories to make lunch more colorful and attractive.

Silicone or Paper Cupcake Cups are great for containing moist side dishes and keeping foods separated.

Egg Molds can shape a broiled egg into something fun and exciting for the kids.

Sauce Container are good for the condiments.

Bento 2/28/2011-3/4/2011 & My Bento Space

We moved to a new house last week and I got more space to store my bento stuffs. Because I am cleaning up my kitchen, so I was only able to make three bentos for Sydney last week. 

Monday, Sydney had pan fried dumplings, broccoli and cantaloupe.

Tuesday, Sydney had fried pork chop noodle soup, and strawberries.

Sydney had half ham and cheese sandwich, carrots with blue cheese dipping sauce and cantaloupe on Wednesday.

I got a full top cabniet to store my rice modes, cookie cutters, picks and some other bento stuffs.

I put the cutleys on the top drawer.

Large bento boxes in the middle drawer.

Snack bento boxes, thermos and  bento bags in the lower drawer.



Bento 2/7/2011-2/11/2011

Next Monday will be the Valentine's Day, and I made some Valentine's Day bentos this week.

I packed grilled salmon with rice, seaweed and clementine for Sydney on Monday.

Tuesday, I made a heart shape rice seasoning on top of the rice, scallion omelet, Korean BBQ beef and strawberries.

Sydney had a jam sandwich with heart shape fruit leather, cantaloupe, strawberries and blue berries on Wednesday. 

I cook the nabeyaki udon and packed in the Princess Thermos .

Friday, Sydney had Chicken Noodle Soup in the princess Thermos.

Bento 1/31/2011-2/4/2011

Happy Chinese New Year!! This is the year of rabbit.

                                     

Monday, Sydney had scallion omelet, broccoli beef and strawberries with bunny picks.

I made a rice seasoning bunny with a bow tie, but the bunny looked more like Yorkshire Terrier :( Sydney also had fish cake, vegetable and grapes. And of course, bunny picks.

We had an ice storm on Wednesday morning, so Sydney had a day off. It was also the Chinese New Year Eve. Our family got together to have traditional Chinese dinner with hot pot, eggs, fish and dumplings. I packed two bunny rice balls, egg, floral print fish cake and blue berries.

Friday, Sydney had grilled cheese sandwich with bunny cheese on top, salmon salad and blue berries for lunch.  

Bento 1/24/2011-1/26/2011

We had another snow storm last week, and Sydney had one early dismissal and two snow days. We have  exceed the scheduled snow days this year. There will be another winter storm tomorrow and Wednesday. Let's keep our fingers crossed. 

On Monday, I packed Korean seafood pancake with Japanese radish, salmon and cantaloupe.

I made a lady bug rice ball with salmon along with broccoli, Taiwanese sausage, cantaloupe and blue berries on Tuesday.

We had 3 inches of snow on Wednesday morning, so I made a ham and cheese sandwich, carrots with blue cheese dipping sauce, blue berries and strawberries on snow man pick. 



Bento 1/19/2011-1/21/2011

This must be the WORST WINTER EVER!! We got snow at least once every week. I am so tired of the "white stuff" now, and wishing there will not be another snowstorm tomorrow.

I finally received my picks on Tuesday, and I was able to use them this week.

Sydney was off on Monday (MLK day) and Tuesday (snow day). I packed half croissant, ham, cantaloupe and custard wafer rolls in the Goodbyn lunch box for Sydney on Wednesday.

I made some smiley face girls rice balls on Thursday. I also packed vegetable, pork and strawberries on facial expression picks.

Friday morning, we got 4 inches of snow and Sydney's school had a delay opening. I made a snowman rice ball, BBQ beef, vegetable and clementine on leaf pick.

The picks were purchased from FIT Japan Store and Fancy Flours.

Bento 1/3/2011-1/7/2011

Sydney was finally back to school after 10 days winter break. It was a new start for my year 2011bentos, but I didn't have any new ideas after 10 days break. I was so disappointed.

This was the first bento of 2011. I cut the numbers of 2011 with yellow bell paper. Sydney had chicken teriyaki, broccoli and blue berries. I felt it was too simple for the first bento of 2011, but I really ran out of the ideas.  

This was another simple bento with fishcake, vegetable and some rice seasoning. 

I had a very important appoitment on Wednesday morning at 8:30. So I need to make bento on Tuesday night. It was my first time to use the Goodbyn lunchbox. I packed half croissant, some orange slices, carrots with blue cheese dipping, gold fish and a cheese stick.  

The forecast said it would snow on Friday. So I made a snow theme bento for Sydney on Thursday. I packed quesadilla with snow flake cheese, cucumber and carrots with blue cheese dipping and some  cantaloupe.

We had only 2 inches of snow on Friday, and Sydney was not able to make a big snowman in our front yard. So I made a snowman bento for her. I used the snowman cookie cutter as a mold to fill in the rice, then I took out the cutter and filled in the space with BBQ beef. Sydney also had vegetable, fishcake and strawberries.

 

Bento 12/20/2010-12/23/2010

It was the last week of year 2010, and the bento theme was Christmas.

I tried to make a Christmas tree with seaweed, but it didn't come out nice. Sydney also had miso chicken with string beans and mix berries with Christmas picks.

This was the Christmas version Tic Tac Toe sandwich. I used the mini cookie cuttesr to make the yellow cheese candy cane and white cheese Christmas tree. I also packed the carrots with blue cheese dipping sauce and mix berries.  

I tried to make a Chritmas hat with furikake, but it didn't come out right. Then I put a candy cane decoration next to it. Sydney also had Korean BBQ beef rib with vegetable, and kiwi for the fruit.

This was the final bento for year 2010. I packed rice with furikake, teriyaki chicken with broccoli, seaweed and blueberries.  

Bento 12/13/2010-12/17/2010

Since Sydney was sick and stayed home for last two weeks, I did not have time to shop for Xmas gifts. Finally,  I got time this week and I was able to shop almost everything on my list. The bento theme for the week was Christmas.


I made a Rudolf the reindeer bento for Sydney on Monday. I used the Teddy Bear rice ball mold and seaweed to make eyes, eyes and mouth. I also stick a red M&M for the nose. The antlers are food picks purchased from http://www.allthingsforsale.com/.

Sydney wanted the red bean bun I bought in Korean supermarket for lunch on Tuesday. I packed the bun in the Santa Claus' cookie bag. Sydney also had carrots with blue cheese dipping sauce and mix berries with some Christmas picks.

On Wednesday, Sydney had rice with furikake, BBQ ribs with mushroom, corn on snowman pick and mix berries for lunch.

I packed rice with terriyaki  chicken drumstick, bean sprout and kiwi in Sydney's lunch box on Thursday.

Friday, Sydney had jelly sandwich with candy cane and stocking socks cheese, carrots and cucumber with salad dressing, cheese roll on picks and apples. 

Bento 12/9/2010-12/10/2010 & X'mas Afternoon Snack

Sydney finally went back to school last Thursday after 8 sick days. And it's time to make Christmas theme bentos.  

I made this Christmas tree bento for Sydney on Thursday. I used the tree cookie cutter to fill in with broccoli, and filled the space with rice, then took out the cookie cutter and used angel hair pasta and corn to decorate the Christmas tree. Along with the tree was miso chicken, strawberries and black berries.

Sydney had snowman and Santa Claus sandwich, baby carrots with salad dressing, fruit leather and cheeses stick on Friday. 

Santa was cut out with heart shape cookie cutter. Beard and the trim of hat were shredded cheese stick. I also put a small triangle ham to make Santa's hat.

 The scarf on snowman was made with leather fruit.

Gingerbread man pancake with raisin eyes, dried raspberry mouth and Fruity Cheerios buttons.  

Another snowman sandwich with icing decorations, mini marshmallow on snowman picks and apples with candy cane decoration.

Gingerbread man sandwich with leather fruit decorations, leather fruit candy cane and fresh berries.



Bento 11/29/2010-11/30/2010 and Goodbyn Lunchbox

Sydney had high fever since Tuesday afternoon, and the pediatrician wanted her to stay home for the rest of the week.  

Monday, I made a salmon rice ball for Sydney, cucumbers and carrots with Japanese Ginger salad dressing, apples and apple juice in the Ziploc 3 compartment container.

Sydney had rice with star shape rice seasoning, sukiyaki vegetable and mix fruits on Tuesday.

I bought these Goodbyn lunch box on http://www.gilt.com/ two weeks ago for $15 each. I finally got them today. They are much much BIGGER than I thought. The pink one which has the ears is for Vienna. Sydney gets the purple one which has no ears.

It comes with two sheets of stickers which can be used to decorate the lunch box. It also includes a reusable water bottle for either water or juice.

Sydney and her new Goodbyn lunchbox.

Vienna loves her pink Goodbyn lunchbox, too.