NEW Bento Planner for August!

Summer ain't over yet! 

Check out this cute bento planner--complete with flip flops and a palm tree to rest under.  Now, let's make lunch!

How To Make Cute Lunchbox Liners

You can make your child's lunch colorful and playful just by adding laminated scrapbook paper to the bottom of the lunchbox.  I went to my local scrapbook paper store and picked out five of the darlingest, brightest, darned cutest papers I could find.

I use the Ziploc divided containers, so the measurements below are for those...

Here's how to do the rest.

1. Buy some cute double-sided sturdy scrapbook paper.  Think of what your kids would like!
2. Cut your paper into these dimensions using a paper cutter: (4 1/4" x 5") (2 1/2" x 2 1/2") (2 1/2" x 1 3/4")
3. Borrow a friend's corner punch (it rounds the corners of the paper--thanks Holly for letting me borrow yours!)
4. Go to Ye Old Office Store and get them laminated (or if you live close to a Lakeshore Learning Store, go there--it's only $.29 a foot!)
5. Cut the extra lamination off--not too close to the edge.
6. Now play mix and matchy with your adorable scrapbook paper lunchbox liners!

Lots of fun colors in your child's lunchbox make lunchtime fun.  When your child comes home, just take out the liners and wipe them clean with a damp cloth.  Or the rear of your skinny jeans ;)

Bento of the Week: July 25, 2011

 

• Homemade Whole Wheat Taquitos (baked, not fried!)
• Tortilla Chips with Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Sliced Cucumbers (guarded by an angry purple mastadon...)
• Sour Cream and Refried Bean Dipping Cups (in plastic shot glasses used for anything but shot)
• Starburst candies (Because for FHE this week we talked about looking for the good inside of things...the candy is wrapped in trash, right?  But there's sweet stuff inside!) 

How To Make Baked Whole Wheat Taquitos

 















Easy Whole Wheat Taquitos
1(10 count) bag whole wheat tortillas
1 lb ground turkey
taco seasoning (packaged or homemade)

Cook the ground turkey with taco seasoning. 

Cut 10 whole wheat tortillas in half, so you have 20 half tortillas.  Spread a little taco seasoning on the wide end of the tortilla.  Roll tightly and lay on baking sheet seam side down.

Bake at 20 minutes at 400 degrees F or until crisp.  

This is an easy-freezy lunch.  I like to make up a big batch and freeze it all.  They defrost in time for lunch and they're great for dipping.

   

Bento of the Week: July 18, 2011

 

• Whole Wheat Waffles (with Nutella inside...)
• Tiny Pretzels
• Celery (with Peanut Butter--my favorite form of protein!)
• Cheddar Cubes (on cute little party picks)
• Chocolate (just 'cause I feel like a nice mommy this week)

Bento of the Week: July 11, 2011

 

• PB & J Sandwich Fingers (with gummy bears!)
• Mango (sliced all fancy-like)
• Graham Crackers (with peanut butter and sprinkles on top--because sprinkles taste like magic!  Ask any kid.)
• Babybel cheese (with a star cut out.  A Dr. Seuss book I read says that stars are all the rage this year.  Or maybe that was last year.)

FREE Printable Bento Lunch Planner

What's the secret to packing quick lunches for your kids?  Planning.  This free Bento Lunch Planner can help with that!  Be sure to check back in August for a new printable lunch planner (with more cute graphics!)

You can fill in the blanks yourself or even have your kids color in what they would like to see in their lunches.  Click on the image to print a copy!

Bento of the Week: July 4, 2011

• PB&J on whole wheat bread (Uncrusted, your highness.  You're welcome.)
• Homemade Gogurt (vanilla yogurt in a pink 3 oz. squeezy tube)
• Whole Wheat Honey Braided Pretzels
• Sliced quarter apple (I love the micro slices of apple)
• A kiss!

Bento 101 for Mommies

Bento boxes are a super easy and fun way to pack a lunch.  It inspires creativity!  The food doesn't have to be Japanese or look like characters from Hello Kitty.  In fact, this mommy prefers bright colors, delicious food, and minimal prep time. (Oh, and chocolate.)  (Sometimes I share.)

So, here's a quick li'l list of tips that will help you start packing adorable, delicious bento lunches for kids in no time!

1. Make it Fast.  Yes, there are some moms who like to take their time making elaborate bento box lunches for their children.  I guess I'm not one of them.  I like to do lots of freeze-ahead stuff, easy veggies and pre-planned menus.  It saves time, which you can then spend with your adorable children.
2. Make it Cheap.  You don't need to shop all organic or provide odd trendy fruits that are definitely out of season.  Shop in season, make stuff from scratch in big batches, and buy a stack of cheap plastic reusable divided lunch containers.  We made the mistake of buying a $25 bento lunch box for each kid.  Yeah, I did the math.  That's $75 (plus shipping!) This year we bought the cheapy-cheap Ziploc Divided containers at Ye Olde Big Boxe Store.  Like, $5 for 2.  Niiice.
3. Make it Fun!  If you find a cool cookie cutter (to cut sammiches!), tiny umbrella toothpicks (for grape kebabs!), or other fun cheap stuff, buy it!  I have a collection of little finger skateboards that I like to put in the kids' lunches.  Not edible, but very cool to see a skateboarding granola bar.  Awesome.  This is the time to think creatively, and think like a kid!  Ask for their help...because kids know how to have fun.  Some of us adults, well, it's a wee bit harder, but you can do it!

Now let's make lunch!