×
BSL-map
Home Facebook Pinterest Twitter RSS


Wednesday, October 31, 2012


Bento Lunch #340: Teddy Bear Bento

It is back to normal lunches now after I had fun making several Halloween lunches. Of all the animals, bears have always been N's favorite and this is very easy to make using our CuteZCute cutter.


In this bento:
  • Teddy Bear face from pumpernickel bread using CuteZCute cutter. The ears are made from the bear stamp that came with the set. I free hand cut the snout and added a raisin for the nose, mouth is from pumpernickel bread crust and candy eyes finished the face.
  • Bear shaped cucumber slices above organic carrot sticks.
  • Bear shaped cantaloupe, seedless green grapes and bear shaped watermelon.
  • Cherry Berry granola from Naturebox. Packed in Laptop Lunches.
Here are the supplies that I used to make this lunch.

Continue Reading »

Tuesday, October 30, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Mummy Bento

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy!!
It is only one day left until Halloween. I made this Halloween mummy bento lunch using a Gingerbread Man cookie cutter :)

Halloween Mummy Bento

In this bento:
  • Mummy shaped sandwiches (stacked). I used a Gingerbread Man cookie cutter for the sandwiches, candy eyes on nori face. Stripes of Provolone cheese for Mummy's wrappings.
  • Seedless black grapes and cantaloupe.
  • Sliced organic carrots and sliced cucumber. This lunchbox is from Paperchase that I purchased from Borders bookstore couple of years ago. I found that the leaf bento box is quite similar to this one. 
Continue Reading »

Monday, October 29, 2012


NatureBox Review and Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Bento Lunch

Happy Monday! NatureBox generously provided me their October box for a review. As many of you might already know, my blog is all about preparing and packing school lunches for our son. Often times, I include healthy snacks in his lunch box and I have noticed that it is often the same snacks. Grocery shopping is sometimes hurried and when such is the case, I tend to pick up the same snacks; but with NatureBox I received different snacks  and every month brings a new surprise and what could be better than that? I love surprises, especially a tasty one!

NatureBox is a monthly subscription where they surprise you with 4 to 6 different snacks each month. Nature Box only ships products that are made with wholesome ingredients. Their snacks contain no high fructose corn syrup, no partially hydrogenated oils, no artificial sweeteners, no trans fats, and no artificial flavors or colors.

When I received the box in the mail I was pleasantly surprised by how big the packages of snacks were.



The October box I received contained five bags of snacks:  
  • Sun-Dried California Apricots- These Apricots are one of the tastiest ways to get in plenty of dietary fiber each day to lessen your risk for diabetes and heart disease.
  • Cherry Berry Granola- Lightly sweetened but super crunchy mix of dried cranberries, cherries, full size almonds and whole grain oats to rev you up and keep you going.
  • Blueberry Almond Bites- Thanks to their dark skin, blueberries are considered one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits.
  • Antioxidant Boost- The combination of dark-skinned berries, raw nuts, and dark chocolate is a real home-run when it comes to the variety of antioxidant-rich snacks that you get in a small handful.
  • Sticks 'n Stones- Whole almonds, cashews and sesame sticks mix perfectly roasted and with the perfect crunch.
An interesting commitment of Nature Box and what I love about this company is NatureBox donates one meal for every box to feed the over 14 million children in America who go hungry every year! They believe in doing good and eating well.

Each box costs just $19.95 and  ships free from NatureBox and you can sign up here.
If you are interested in purchasing a subscription to NatureBox head on over to their website. The promo code BERRY may be used for 25% off your first month of subscription (please note that the 25% discount is only applicable to the month-to-month subscription. 6 month subscriptions receive 1 month free and 12 month subscriptions receive 3 months free).

I like the idea of pre packing snacks for "Grab-N-Go" convenience for my family. Here is how I packed the snacks in Easylunchboxes Mini-dippers. I find that they are perfect for portion control. I'll be including the Antioxidant Boost snack in today's Jack-O-Lantern bento lunch.

Jack-O-Lantern Halloween bento lunch




In this bento:
  • Jack-O-Lantern sandwiches with colby and smoked gouda cheese accent, cucumber peel for stems.
  • Pumpkin shaped cantaloupe.
  • Pumpkin shaped Peeps marshmallows.
  • Crinkle cut cucumber and organic carrots. Grape tomatoes with cute cupcake pick.
  • NatureBox Antioxidant snack in Minidippers. Packed in an Easylunchboxes container.
Here are the supplies that I used to make this lunch.


Disclosure: Nature Box generously provided me with the snacks for review without cost to me. Other than receiving the snacks, I have not received any compensation to write this review.

Continue Reading »

Wednesday, October 24, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Haunted House, Bats and Ghost bento

This weekend we have several party invitations and one of them is to a haunted house. It sounds like great fun and I am so looking forward to it. Do you think I need an EMF detector to be a ghost hunter? :)

Halloween Haunted House, Bats and Ghost bento

 In this bento:
  • Pure and Natural white cheddar Angie's kettle corn.
  • Seedless green and red grapes with ghost pick.
  • Haunted house sandwich with pretzel windows and bread crust roof.
  • Organic peas, colby bats and provolone ghost with food safe marker eyes.
  • Far right are Brach's pumpkin candies. Packed in Laptop Lunches
Continue Reading »

Tuesday, October 23, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Happy Candy Corn Bento

This was the most fun and easiest to make Halloween bento so far. Candy corn is my personal favorite fall treat, I have secret stashes everywhere :-)

Halloween Happy Candy Corn Bento

 In this bento:
  • Candy corn shaped sandwiches stacked, decorated with provolone, colby cheese and food safe marker. Candy eyes and raisin mouth added to make smiley candy corn. On bottom are real candy corn from my stash.
  • Organic baby carrots with candy corn pick.
  • Apple slices and seedless red grapes. Packed in Sistema Lunchbox.
Continue Reading »

Monday, October 22, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Bear in Pumpkin Costume bento

As you might know, N loves anything teddy bear and I saw this cute teddy krispies over at Hungry Happenings. I was inspired by her creativity and here is my version for N's school lunch.

Halloween Bear in Pumpkin Costume bento lunch


In this bento:
  • Strawberry slices and green grapes.
  • Grape tomatoes above a bed of lettuce. I thought it looks like pumpkins in a patch.
  • Bear shaped whole wheat sandwich with candy eyes and raisin nose. Secured with tiny dot of honey. Bears costume is from colby cheese and nori accent. Bear is holding a pumpkin basket with nori accent and food safe marker for handle.
  • Trader Joe's mini rye toast in MiniDippers. Packed in an EasyLunchBoxes container.
Continue Reading »

Friday, October 19, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Witch bento

Happy Friday everyone! N's school is having a dance party today for all those who have achieved their AR goal for the first quarter. To add to the fun, I added some treats in today's bento. Have a wonderful weekend!

Halloween witch bento lunch

In this bento:
  • Witches face carved from cucumber skin, bread crust for cape and veggie sticks for legs above full moon sandwich.
  • Hand cupcake pick holding witches cauldron with gummy worms.
  • Apple slices topped with witches fingers made from mozzarella string cheese and nails colored with food safe marker.
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.
Continue Reading »

Thursday, October 18, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Pumpkin Patch with spooky eyes Bento

It is raining and very gloomy out here today. Woke up slightly late than usual and here is what I came up with. I thought the meatballs look like a couple pairs of eyes overlooking a pumpkin patch :)

Halloween Pumpkin Patch with spooky eyes Bento

In this bento:
  • Pumpkin shaped cantaloupe, seedless green grapes, pumpkin shaped cucumber slices.
  • Frozen orange yogurt topped with cute cupcake ring.
  • Near East 100% natural Couscous with Parmesan. Pumpkin shaped colby with free hand cut faces on top of couscous.
  • Meat ball eyes with provolone and black olive slices.Far right are silverware rolled in napkin. Packed in Laptop Lunches.
Continue Reading »

Wednesday, October 17, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Ghost Bento And Halloween Blog Hop

Since Halloween is approaching soon, my fellow bento bloggers and I are having a Halloween blog hop! It will be so much fun hopping, getting ideas and enjoying all the Halloween lunches. Here is my ghost bento that I recreated from my last year's lunch.



In this bento:
  • Grapes and strawberry slices watched over by a ghost pick.
  • Sweet bell peppers carved into jack-o-lanterns above bed of lettuce.
  • Ghost shaped sandwich topped with provolone cheese, eyes and nose are made from nori with fruit leather letters. Smaller ghosts are from mozzarella string cheese cut into half with sharp paring knife and food safe marker for eyes and nose. Packed in an Easylunchboxes container.
Click to check out the next one from Keitha at Keitha's Chaos or click on the image below. Keep celebrating by hopping through the rest of the Blog Hop.

Halloween Blog Hop

Continue Reading »

Monday, October 15, 2012


Bento Lunch: Halloween Frankenstein bento

Soon it will be Halloween and you will be seeing more Halloween theme lunches from me. While I seldom include candies in his lunches, I do make exceptions for the holidays and special occasions.

Halloween Frankenstein bento


In this bento:
  • Free hand cut Monster shaped sandwich, nori hair, eyes are from sliced olives over smoked gouda cheese and ham, unibrow is from gouda cheese, scar is also from gouda cheese and raisins for mouth. Secured to sandwich with honey.
  • Brach's pumpkin candies.
  • Cucumber slices.
  • Red and green apple slices.
Continue Reading »

Friday, October 12, 2012


Bento Snack: Bears

This is a snack bento that I made last Saturday as a last minute request. N represented his school for a competition last Saturday and lunch was provided, but as soon as he woke up that morning he came with a bear cookie cutter and said "Mom, can you make me a snack bento and I want bears".
How could I reject a cutie in his pajamas holding a cookie cutter even though everyone was in a hurry!! So, here is a super easy snack bento that I made for him and dad to share. There is no time for me to cut any fruits and our Crunchies natural snacks came in handy that morning. Linking to BentoBlogNetwork.com


 In this bento:
  • Organic baby carrots.
  • Mixed fruit crunchies natural fruit snacks.
  • Nutella and SunButter bear shaped sandwiches with candy eyes and raisin nose.
Here are the items that I used to make this snack.
Continue Reading »

Wednesday, October 10, 2012


Bento Lunch: Scarecrow Bento

We're into fall now and that brings thoughts of scarecrows among other things, so for N's lunch I thought this scarecrow bento might be fun for him.


In this bento:
  • Scarecrow sandwich using round shaped cookie cutter and hat shaped cookie cutter (slightly modified). Decorated with carrot grin and red bell pepper for cheeks, candy eyes and pretzel squares on each side. 
  • Crinkle-cut organic carrots
  • Green grapes with cute scarecrow picks.Packed in Easylunchboxes. 
Here are the items that I used for this lunch.

Continue Reading »

Tuesday, October 9, 2012


Bento Lunch: Airplane Bento

I have been loving our lunch punches, it is so easy to use.


 In this bento:
  • Organic baby carrots and cucumber pieces.
  • Airplane shaped watermelon slices using the lunch punch.
  • Airplane above clouds shaped sandwich with colby longhorn airplane and tiny asiago cheese windows. Packed in EasyLunchBoxes
Here are the items that I used to make this lunch.
Continue Reading »

Monday, October 8, 2012


Bento Lunch: Meatballs, Macaroni and Cheese Bento

Monday seems to come too quickly! I have hardly done anything at home this weekend, we mostly have been out visiting friends, shopping, eating and more. I need to catch up with some housework when I get a chance.I have had these tiny face cutters for a while and decided to try them today. Frankly, my hands are too shaky to be playing with tiny foods and I really envy those who can do it almost daily.


In this bento:



  • Macaroni and cheese on the top section.
  • Meatballs with colby face accent and cucumber slices.
  • Banana and this lunch is packed in a double tier bento box.

  • Here are the items that I used to make this lunch
    Continue Reading »

    Friday, October 5, 2012


    Bento Lunch: Ice-Cream Bento

    It's autumn but here in FL it is still quite warm and we have been indulging in ice cream occasionally. This coming Saturday, N will be representing his school by invitation of his gifted/talented class to the Edison Ford Winter Estates for technology competition. My hubby will accompany him while I will be going for my long awaited spa and facial:)
    Have a great weekend!!


    In this bento:
    • Sweet mini peppers with ranch in small container.
    • Cheddar goldfish crackers.
    • Ice cream shaped sandwiches using the Lunch Punch decorated with sunflower seeds and sprinkles.
    • Seedless black grapes, pineapple Crunchies natural snacks and colby jack string cheese. Packed in Laptop Lunches.
    Here are the items that I used for this lunch.


    Continue Reading »

    Thursday, October 4, 2012


    Bento Lunch: World Animal Day Butterfly Bento and Blog Hop

    Today, we Bento Bloggers and Friends are joining together for a blog hop to celebrate World Animal Day. Though this is an especially busy week for me at work, I am looking forward to hopping along to see everyone's creations!


     In this bento:
    • Top left contains watermelon pieces.
    • Top right contains blanched broccoli florets and butterfly shaped carrots.
    • Below is a flower shaped sandwich topped with colby cheese on provolone leaves detailed with food safe marker. A flattened bread butterfly decorated with organic baby carrot, the antennae are crinkle cut carrot sticks and organic fruit leather on wings.
    • Linked to Lunchbox Dad: Throwback Thursday
    Want to see more World Animal Day themed lunches? Click to check out the next one from Ming at  Bento Monsters or click on the image below. Keep celebrating by hopping through the rest of the Blog Hop!


    World Animal Day Blog Hop

    Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.

    Continue Reading »

    Tuesday, October 2, 2012


    Bento Lunch: Camera Bento ~ Say Cheese!

    It is Picture Day at N's school today and I decided to make a camera bento. I hope this brings in a timely smile:)


     In this bento:
    • The top section contains organic baby carrots and organic apple sauce in minidippers. 
    • The bottom section contains a free hand cut camera shaped sandwich with provolone, colby and nori accent, food decorating gel for the little lights on a leaf of cabbage with colby lettering. 
    • Seedless black grapes and a cute food pick on the left side. Packed in EasyLunchBoxes.
    Continue Reading »

    Monday, October 1, 2012


    Crunchies Natural Snacks Review

    The weekend is my least favorite time to spend in a grocery store, so I usually wait until Monday at least before doing my shopping for food. Of course I still have to make something for N's Monday lunch, so this is when something simple is just the ticket!

    It's an excellent time for Crunchies Natural Snacks!
    Crunchies Food Company was very generous to furnish me with some examples of their healthy dried fruits and veggies which I put to the test straight away in the following bento lunch. But first I had to taste them, right? I found them quite flavorfull, my favorite being the mango, hubby liked the pineapple and N the tropical mix. The corn crunchies are like an improvement to pop corn!

     Here's a little info about Crunchies:
    • Crunchies are a healthy, convenient preservative-free snack food. Fruits can be eaten as a snack, or put in hot or cold cereal, yogurt, or pancake and waffle batter. Veggies can be eaten as a snack or sprinkled over your salads for added vitamins and nutrients!
    • Fresh fruits and veggies are harvested and frozen within 24 hours, and then through a refrigerated, cooling process, are freeze dried at the packing facilities.
    • 97% of the moisture is removed, while maintaining 94% of the nutrient and enzyme level of the whole fruit. Only about 44% of the water is removed from dried fruit, and the heat process destroys the nutrients and enzymes.
    • We only use Grade A fruit, all grown in America. All our competitors import their fruit from Foreign Countries. In a taste testing you will immediately notice the difference!
    • Pineapples and Mangoes are grown in South America, all other fruits and vegetables are grown in United States.
    • Everything is processed and packed in the U.S. (Illinois).
    • Crunchies have an 18 month shelf life + re-sealable bags (which is very important, as air will re-hydrate and soften the fruit)
    All of Crunchies Natural Snacks are Kosher Certified, wheat and gluten free, vegan, non-GMO, without additives or preservatives, the fruits are fat free and everything are processed and packed in the U.S. They can be found at lots of stores; here is the present list!  While the price is slightly higher than many other snacks, you will probably find their quality makes it a great value.



    In this bento: Clockwise from top left are cucumber slices, Crunchies corn, bus shaped sandwiches (stacked) and Crunchies fruit snacks which consist of dried banana, raspberries, blueberries, pineapple and strawberries.

    Disclosure: Crunchies Natural Snacks generously provided me with the items for review without cost to me. Other than receiving the products, I have not received any compensation to write this review.

    Here are the items that I used to make this lunch.

    Continue Reading »

    Categories

    Archives

    Sponsors & Affiliates

    Grab This Fun Book!



    My Heroes on Vacation