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.

2011 Halloween Bentos

Sydney is 7.5 -year-old second grader this year. She doesn't like me to decorate her lunch too much because it is too BABYISH!!!! So, I was not too crazy doing the Halloween themed bentos like last year. 

I packed two garlic breads with "creepy" picks on it, some apple slices with black cat pick and a pumpkin egg tart in the Lock & Lock container.  

This was the tonkatsu (Japanese deep fried pork chop) sandwich lunch with apple slices and carrots. I also used the Halloween cookie cutters to cut out the cheese. 

This was the Frankenstein Nutella sandwich, ham slices, veggie sticks, strawberry in the spider cupcake cup I bought in Target. I also threw in a spooky chocolate cupcake for Sydney.  

There were pepperoni quesadilla, carrots in ghost picks, apple slices in Jack-O'-Lantern picks, and Halloween cookies in this bento box.  

I made a ghost rice ball (with ketchup bleeding eyes) for Sydney on Halloween. I also packed the apple slices  in witch and Jack-O'-Lantern picks, and the cookie. 

Farm Animals Bento

I made this bento on the day that Sydney visited Rutgers Farm with her classmates. I made a round rice ball and made pig's ears and nose with ham. I also used the candy eyeballs (you can find them in the baking section in Target!!). I also put the cow and sheep cupcake picks I bought from shopbakersnook.com. 

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 2/14/2011-2/17/2011

Monday was Valentine's Day, I made a hearty bento for Sydney. Sydney had fried rice, Korean BBQ Beef, broccoli and strawberries.

Sydney had rice with Furikake rice seasoning, Korean BBQ Beef and vegetable for lunch on Tuesday.

Wednesday, Sydney had grilled cheese sandwich with bunny and sheep picks, cucumber and cantaloupe on mushroom picks.

I made a Spa girl bento on Thursday. Sydney had fried rice with cucumber for eyes, seaweed for nose and mouth and strawberries.

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 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 10/18/2010-10/22/2010

Monday: Baked penne with meat sauce and cheese, vegetable with cheese, mini cremy cake and strawberries

Tuesday: Rice with Hello Kitty Furikake rice sesoning, Japanese Fried Chicken, sauteed Gobo and cherry tomatoes

A close look of Hello Kitty

Wednesday: Mummy hotdog with bat cheese, witch's finger, pickle on picks and Jack-O'-Lantern clementine

Thursday: Kitten rice ball with raisin eyes and mouth, Teddy Bear boiled egg and strawberries

Friday: Crab hot dog, pickle fish, corn with egg and clementine

Another Spooky Halloween Snack Bento

I made a Halloween themed snack bento for Sydney and Vienna yesterday, and the girls really liked my spooky bento a lot.

A spooky Halloween snack bento in the Lock & Lock container

Viena's favoriate witch's finger mozzarella stick. I used the food-safe marker to make the nail and knuckle lines.

Some grapes on ghost/pumpkin picks

Pumpkin and bat shape pretzel

I also turned the home made muffin into a Jack-O'-Lantern with food-safe marker