Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 (edited) Okay, I took the plunge. My boys love snacking, and Ben loves mixing art with food. I ordered these cute snack plates: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V92XRQ/ref=oss_product These rice molds: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04FU/ref=oss_product These egg molds: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04JG/ref=oss_product'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04JG/ref=oss_product'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04JG/ref=oss_product'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04JG/ref=oss_product These vegetable cutters: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TZ04JG/ref=oss_product This grass: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200458314361&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT These cheese cutters: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=110628550745&si=W4d09yOgEe8jUm7wGHfKRhYq5gs%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT ********************************* Any favorite food or product ideas? We don't avoid meat or dairy here, though I don't serve any raw meat/fish. Here are some blogs I like: http://justbento.com/ http://happylittlebento.blogspot.com/ Edited January 2, 2011 by nestof3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 (edited) http://www.aibento.net/2009/02/15/an-online-bento-evolution/ There is another bento blog I love, but I can't find it. I took it out of my bookmarks because it made me want to do this, and I do not have time to become the Extreme & Perfect Bento Lunch Maker I would like to be. Oh! Here it is: http://happylittlebento.blogspot.com/ Edited January 2, 2011 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 http://www.aibento.net/2009/02/15/an-online-bento-evolution/ Wow -- that is seriously artistic. Amazing! I figure I'll do some fun art Bento with Ben, but most days, we'll just do simple and healthy with some cut-out veggies and cheese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 (edited) Wow -- that is seriously artistic. Amazing! I figure I'll do some fun art Bento with Ben, but most days, we'll just do simple and healthy with some cut-out veggies and cheese. Yes, but since you are an artist, I think you will go a lot further with this. I hope so ... tell us about it so I can live vicariously through you! It has to be vicarious because I don't have an artistic bone in my body. I can hardly stand to look at the Happy Little Bento blog the lunches are so cute! I know they have cutters and so forth -- but the lady has to come up with the ideas of what to make, colors that look well together, and how to arrange it. Edited January 2, 2011 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Yes, but since you are an artist, I think you will go a lot further with this. I hope so ... tell us about it so I can live vicariously through you! It has to be vicarious because I don't have an artistic bone in my body. I can hardly stand to look at the Happy Little Bento blog the lunches are so cute! I know they have cutters and so forth -- but the lady has to come up with the ideas of what to make, colors that look well together, and how to arrange it. Awww. Thanks. :blush: That's so sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 The little bento girl (3rd from the left) is my favorite one: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Dd and I bento several times a week. We've found that those toothpicks with the frills on the end or the cute Japanese picks are handy for spearing fruits, meats, or cheeses. We also use silicone cupcake cups (regular size and mini) to separate things. Sometimes we just want to warm our bentos but take out the fruit or cheese in it. Or sometimes we have a tiny thing we want to warm, like a mini quiche...and having it in a silicone cupcake cup makes it easy to pop out and warm. We also have tiny ( like a third of the size of a Tupperware midget) containers for sauce. Ours has Hello Kitty but they make tons of them. We've found that we're more inclined to save a bit of leftovers because even a small amount will help give a bento more variety. Mine for tomorrow is already packed- rice in a heart shape, orange chicken, potstickers, sauce to accompany, edamame, and grapes. Enjoy! It used to be annoying when people commented on my arranged lunches but now they're used to them and they ooh and aah over them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 The little bento girl (3rd from the left) is my favorite one: Yes, that is just the sort of art I know Ben will really get into. I will need to help him with the cutting and such. Fun. I've been really bad about lunches lately, but Ben is one of those kids who loves a little of this and a little of that, and he loves the artistic flair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Take a look at the Mr. Popper's Penguins thread if Ben likes black olives and cream cheese -- those are just adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 This always seem to have some good ideas... :) http://www.laptoplunches.com/ :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamee Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 DS wants me to start making more Bento lunches for him this year. I should, we have enough of the "cutsy" stuff. You can get major overdose on cute bento here. I love all the Disney products I can get. I'll be sure to post some on my blog through the year. Last year we had a lot of winne the pooh cheese and crackers. Stitch onigiri. Bento is fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Art and I don't mix well ;-) but I ran into this blog once and loved seeing the creations: http://www.annathered.com/gallery/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Inman Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 A few of my close friends have recently gotten into this and i've been looking into it over the holiday. I bought my friend the new "Just Bento" book for christmas and we had a fun time looking through it. Thanks for the links... going to have to start ordering soon! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Oh, those are so cute. I'm taking the snow-man one, and making a dinner meal with it. I may even dig up our Bento boxes from Japan. Very inspiring thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 We love these rice ball shapers- http://www.jbox.com/product/ASA244 or sometimes we just make them by hand w/saran wrap. That's as cutesy as I get though. My kids really liked the chicken nugget recipe from the Just Bento cookbook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 And, now one more thing I can feel inadequate over. :lol: Here I was thinking I was doing a good job just feeding my kids a hot lunch everyday sometime before 3 PM. Now I have to make the meal CUTE?????? :blink: Sigh......off to buy Bento boxes. As if. :smilielol5: My kids will NEVER look see those links. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 And, now one more thing I can feel inadequate over. :lol: Here I was thinking I was doing a good job just feeding my kids a hot lunch everyday sometime before 3 PM. Now I have to make the meal CUTE?????? :blink: Sigh......off to buy Bento boxes. As if. :smilielol5: My kids will NEVER look see those links. :D Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 I wasn't trying to overwhelm you. Trust me, the cutesy thing won't happen that often to that extreme, but I love the idea of a snack tray with lots of little things, and some cheese and cucumbers cut in little shapes, and an eg molded. I'm thinking Ben will do the artistic stuff on his own. I think we all get tired of food around here, so a little of this and that is great for us. And, now one more thing I can feel inadequate over. :lol: Here I was thinking I was doing a good job just feeding my kids a hot lunch everyday sometime before 3 PM. Now I have to make the meal CUTE?????? :blink: Sigh......off to buy Bento boxes. As if. :smilielol5: My kids will NEVER look see those links. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I love this idea. I probably won't do the cute cutters and things, though that egg mold looks fun and ds5 loves eggs. Maybe I could do a couple of those. But I started looking around at the lunch boxes, the Mr. Bento lunch box looks great for dh. I like the idea of making a bento tray in the morning and when they are hungry they can eat off it instead of rushing around trying to find snacks and figure out what to make for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I wasn't trying to overwhelm you. Trust me, the cutesy thing won't happen that often to that extreme, but I love the idea of a snack tray with lots of little things, and some cheese and cucumbers cut in little shapes, and an eg molded. I'm thinking Ben will do the artistic stuff on his own. I think we all get tired of food around here, so a little of this and that is great for us. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fabulous if you can do that for your lunches!! I would LOVE to have a lunch like that to look forward to each day.....it might help me get through math with my 10 year old more easily. :glare: I'm just jealous, that's all....and laughing at myself. :lol: However....maybe I can make this into a "home-ec" project for my 17 yo dd. That way I could have my bento and eat it, too!! Muahahahahahahahaha!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Tell me about rice balls and egg molds. How do you use them? Can you make rice balls out of brown rice? How do you make it taste good? DS needs more protein; maybe he'd eat an egg shaped like a car :lol:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 (edited) Tell me about rice balls and egg molds. How do you use them? Can you make rice balls out of brown rice? How do you make it taste good? DS needs more protein; maybe he'd eat an egg shaped like a car :lol:. Here's some info here: http://www.justhungry.com/2007/01/onigiri_omusubi_revisited_an_e.html I'm going to try with what I have and see what happens. Egg mold info is here: http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-decoration-techniques/fun-japanese-egg-molds Edited January 2, 2011 by nestof3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Oh my gosh - I can't believe I have been sitting here for an hour poring over the links everyone has posted. I think I'm going to have to give this a go - but not with all the time consuming characters! I really like the Just Bento site - those of you that have her book, what do you think of it? She has so many wonderful looking recipes on her site! I think I can swing doing this at least twice a week. I know my kids would love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Lucky you're such a cutie, Dawn. Or I'd be building serious grudges against you just now. :glare:;) Kitchen gadgets! How I love kitchen gadgets! Food! How I love food! This is gastronomic scrapbooking, isn't it? I don't scrapbook, but I soooo wish I was the type who did. This is killing me! :lol: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I love this idea. I probably won't do the cute cutters and things, though that egg mold looks fun and ds5 loves eggs. I like the egg mold idea, too. (Wondering if I can do it -- picturing it falling apart on me...) I made some onigiri snowmen with dinner tonight. The kids loved it and it was fun! I like the idea of dressing up the tomatoes with nori shapes to make ladybugs... veggie flowers... maybe some hens and chicks? I think I have to teach the kids to do it ,though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I have a friend who, last school semester, would send her DD7 to school everyday with a bento lunch and her DS4 on the days he went to preschool. About half way through the semester, she got a flier in her DD's school bag about proper nutrition, which she ignored because she thought it went to every one, or maybe the teachers had noticed that her DD's bento box always came home half full. Everyday she asked her DD why she didn't eat her whole lunch, and DD would say "I was too full." Well, her bento box was packed with all organic foods, artfully crafted, but not too much so she couldn't understand why her DD was full. Finally, her DD admitted that before she was allowed to eat her lunch, her teachers were making her eat apples and oranges they brought for her. My friend was livid and called the school, only to find out that the teacher's thought cute little food couldn't possibly be nutritious. Let me tell you they got an earful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 Lucky you're such a cutie, Dawn. Or I'd be building serious grudges against you just now. :glare:;) Kitchen gadgets! How I love kitchen gadgets! Food! How I love food! This is gastronomic scrapbooking, isn't it? I don't scrapbook, but I soooo wish I was the type who did. This is killing me! :lol: Rosie Come on -- join me in the Bento craze. Seriously -- we don't have to go all out. Just a little cutesy stuff here and there. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 DD and I want to join! I don't think I'd be able to do the full-on cutesy bento thing, but I definitely like the idea of cute food. In my Amazon cart I now have egg molds, sandwich cutters, and veggie cutters. DD made these eggs this morning from a twin-yolker: Here's what I made for my 3 year old's lunch - dinosaur sandwich, yogurt and sliced bananas. This lighting makes him look sickly! And here's one I found online and saved to my photobucket a couple of years ago :lol:: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 :svengo: I never thought a lunch could frighten me. :001_huh: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 Way to go! I love your eggs! I agree, the facial mask is scary. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 The eggs are adorable! The bento with the facial mask is just plain scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Okay Dawn, I totally don't have time for this, and now I'm addicted. ;) I posted photos in my blog here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 This always seem to have some good ideas... :)http://www.laptoplunches.com/ :) I love those, but $40 each?!?! I want them so much! Especially for my little guy who is a picky eater and would love little bites of this and that. But I'd have to buy dd one too.:glare: And one for me. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Will you be my mommee?! I would love lunches like that. :) Bento stuff is so cute! I'll have to wait until 4 or 5 of my kids grow up & move away before I can attempt those. It would take me a week just to make a lunch like that for all of them now. Maybe one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Tupperware makes something a bit similar, but not really for wet stuff. http://order.tupperware.com/coe-html/webdex/lunchbox.html You can also get the laptop lunch boxes on Amazon for $25 (without the case). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I clicked on your link and briefly got to your blog, but then it redirected me to page that just loads. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 (edited) I clicked on your link and briefly got to your blog, but then it redirected me to page that just loads. :( Argh! I'm going to have to blog somewhere else. I can't seem to get tumblr to work for me:glare: ETA: Can I ask what browser you're using? Edited January 6, 2011 by stormy weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I use Firefox - I just tried it in Google Chrome, and it works there (assuming there are only 2 entries). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Okay Dawn, I totally don't have time for this, and now I'm addicted. ;)I posted photos in my blog here. Very nice! Did you have fun? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 (edited) I have been sick with strep and some sort of cold, but I finally got around to trying this out today. The egg mold didn't work that great, but I read that I needed to use large or extra large eggs, and this egg was rather small. Other than that, I am quite pleased. http://ournestof3.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-bento-lunch-for-ben.html Edited January 7, 2011 by nestof3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Very nice! Did you have fun? :) Yep, I had fun. It didn't take all that long either. I think if I did some of the prep for the whole week like, cutting veg, cheese and bread etc. I could do them after the kids are in bed in about 10 minutes and the next days lunch would be sorted. :D I do think I need some proper boxes and some of those silicone cupcake things and egg molds and.........:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Does this count? :lol: Hey, I tried. [ATTACH]4194[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Does this count? :lol: Hey, I tried. [ATTACH]4194[/ATTACH] I'm a little scared to ask what's on that plate. Salmon, curly seaweed? and caviar?! :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I'm a little scared to ask what's on that plate. Salmon, curly seaweed? and caviar?! :001_huh: Wow. Yes and you're good. It was yummy and the kids LOVED it. Maybe Dawn is on to something. Perhaps they can make their own with little doodads to help them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Does this count? :lol: Hey, I tried. [ATTACH]4194[/ATTACH] Absolutely! Cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Does this count? :lol: Hey, I tried. [ATTACH]4194[/ATTACH] :lol: I just nearly died laughing. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I'm a little scared to ask what's on that plate. Salmon, curly seaweed? and caviar?! :001_huh: Curious minds want to know. :) I think I see an almond and a couple of snap peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freethinkermama Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 This is So Neat! It's something I've been thinking about for a while, so it's neat to see you bring this up here. :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Wow. Yes and you're good. It was yummy and the kids LOVED it. Maybe Dawn is on to something. Perhaps they can make their own with little doodads to help them. My kids love caviar, so we're going to your place for lunch from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 :lol: I just nearly died laughing. :lol: I aim to please, Mommy. Trying to dream up something equally hideous for tomorrow.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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