Bento Box Fever!

[Henrietta23]

Bento Box Anonymous!

 

[speckledhen]

Ok, I've NEVER heard of a bento box. And after cruising through some of this thread, I still don't know. What the heck is it?? Even looking at pics, I have no idea. Is it a certain kind of lunch box? A certain style food? Or a certain style food in a Japanese lunch box? 'splain, please.

 

[Henrietta23]

I'm going to let Ninja or someone else explain so they aren't stuck correcting me when I don't get it right! It is Japanese. I'll leave it at that for now! It's a lot of fun and it's helping our kids eat healthy (and spouses and selves too!)

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Here are some good sites to get you started, and you can also search Flickr for "bento." There is even a "Bento Porn" Flickr group!

http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-basics

http://lunchinabox.net/faq/

Basically, it's a meal in a box, usually a compartmentalized box, or one that uses dividers and cups and things to form compartments. The idea behind making it "cute" is to encourage kids to eat a wider variety of healthy, diverse foods. Or at least that's my idea.

 

[speckledhen]

Ooohkay. I have an ugly brown plastic lunchbox with little brown tupperware containers/cups with lid, etc, and a carry handle that snaps onto the box. Guess we were in style ages ago. And how much does one of these lunchboxes cost? Just wondering. Cant believe the interest in this thing. Sorry, I just dont get it-must mean I'm older than I look, LOL. Carry on, lunchbox warriors!

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
If you can get the authentic Japanese ones from an Asian store, they only run a couple of bucks. The "Americanized" versions tend to be higher. The Laptop Lunchbox, which is what Alex and I use, is about $21 for the set, including a recipe/idea book.

One of the main reasons to use stuff like this (including your Tupperware set, which, YES, would definitely qualify) is to keep from adding things like disposable plastic bags to the landfills. Yaay, reusable containers!

So bust out that old brown Tupperware set, you'll be in the height of fashion!

 

[speckledhen]

So bust out that old brown Tupperware set, you'll be in the height of fashion!

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LOL, LOL. If you met me, you'd know that being the height of fashion is so not on my list of life goals, LOL. Have fun, ladies!​

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
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LOL, LOL. If you met me, you'd know that being the height of fashion is so not on my list of life goals, LOL. Have fun, ladies!

That's OK. I don't think any of us are doing it because it's "in style." We're doing it because it's good for us and our kids, good for the environment, and fun!

 

[ninjapoodles]

Here's Bella's first lunch in her Clickety-Click "Minky" (the monkey) oblong 2-tiered box. I like it as far as the amount of food it holds, BUT I have to pack her snack separately. That's one thing I really like about the Laptop Lunchbox--that I can use one of the small boxes for her snack, and all she has to do is reach in and grab that box out at snack time. Oh, well. Hopefully the variety will help keep her interested.

Purple Hull Peas & Canadian Bacon
Cornbread
Carrot Sticks & Homegrown Cucumbers w/Ranch Dip (in the little monkey container)
Cheddar Cubes

SNACK:
Strawberry Yogurt & Gingersnap Granola

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
If you can get the authentic Japanese ones from an Asian store, they only run a couple of bucks. The "Americanized" versions tend to be higher. The Laptop Lunchbox, which is what Alex and I use, is about $21 for the set, including a recipe/idea book.

One of the main reasons to use stuff like this (including your Tupperware set, which, YES, would definitely qualify) is to keep from adding things like disposable plastic bags to the landfills. Yaay, reusable containers!

So bust out that old brown Tupperware set, you'll be in the height of fashion!

I love the reusable factor. So far my son hasn't thrown anything away. Ninja, you mention an Alex. That's my son's name too!