Forget the Mommy Guilt, it's a new day
By Summer:
(clockwise): pork chop with sautéed peppers and onions, granola bar, carrots, yogurt in the cup, strawberries and grapes
Many times I’ll give my husband or children a bento with leftovers. Why not? ESPECIALLY if my kid liked it! However, this one is my husband’s bento.
In this box the granola bars are meant to be crusted onto of the yogurt. The yogurt won’t fit inside the Bento, so this was an extra thing my husband had to pack into his work backpack along with his bento.
By Summer:
(clockwise): slices of ham, Colby-Jack cheese sticks, yellow carrot sticks, cucumber medallions, chocolate chip cookie
My ham is from a bone in smoked (using naturally occurring nitrates) ham from a local butcher. I like to chop it into chunks and eat as breakfast or in lunches. My family loves ham!
These cheese sticks are cut from a block. I buy Tillamook which is a local-ish cheese; I live in the Seattle area and the cheese is made in Oregon. We love cheese and I purchase blocks at Costco. If you don’t enjoy cheese as quickly as my family but are interested in purchasing blocks to make your own cheese sticks, know that cheese freezes easily. Adding frozen cheese to a bento will allow the cheese to defrost by lunch time and still be cool to the touch.
The yellow carrot sticks almost look white in this picture. I love to try and interest my family in “new” vegetables. My 5YO is so pick about vegetables but he loves regular carrots, so I’ve tried interesting him in different colored carrots which, mind you, taste the same. My favorite are purple carrots; they just look cool and when you cut them they are still orange in the middle.
These are my homemade no refined sugar chocolate chip cookies.
By Summer:
(clockwise): egg slices, chunks of ham, orange slices
These egg slices are what my sons refer to as an “egg pancake”. I beat a raw egg with a bit of milk, salt, and pepper. Then I fry the egg over medium-low heat in butter inside my smallest skillet. I let the egg cook until firm and flip once so the egg is not runny. My sons sometimes eat it whole or enjoy in slices as it is here. They sometimes eat it with a fork and sometimes with their hands.
To learn more about the ham we love in my family, refer back to Bento #2.
By Summer:
(clockwise): apple slices (with a spoon), yogurt with honey, raisins
This is only ½ of an apple.
This yogurt is a local yogurt and is made with honey to sweeten its bitterness instead of refined sugar. My family does enjoy it. One of my children doesn’t like flavored yogurts, but for other family members I muddle fruit into the yogurt or add jam as a stir in. The jam I use is homemade.
By Summer:
(clockwise): globe grapes, macaroni and cheese, Trader Joe’s plantain chips
I like to purchase globe grapes because they have the seed in them. We don’t always eat the seeds, but I love that they’re not GMO. If you’re eating seedless grapes their make-up is modified; how would a species survive without seeds?
This is another attempt at homemade macaroni and cheese. My family still prefers the box to my attempts. But I keep trying! This particular sauce is made with cheese, milk, butter, a pureed orange carrot, paprika, garlic powder, and dry mustard. I’ve been trying to find the right recipe since my research on macaroni and cheese (April 20, 2011).
By Summer:
(clockwise): Trader Joe’s Just Mango, Muscat grapes, yogurt covered pretzels
If you’ve never been to Trader Joe’s you need to find out if there is one in your area. I love their “Just” line which is dried fruit that is just the fruit. No added sugar of any kind and not dried using sulfate (which some people are allergic to).
Muscat grapes are my FAVORITE grape! YUM! They taste just like the wine they create. I was introduced to Muscat grapes in France and when I find them, I’m completed to purchase them. I got mine at PCC, my local coop. If you’re in the Seattle area too and don’t know about PCC you should check it out. You don’t need to be a member to shop there, but if you join (which is a one-time fee) you get 10% coupons plus bonus 5% off days.
I also got the yogurt covered pretzels from PCC. Most yogurt covered any things are made with partially hydrogenated oil. But PCC’s aren’t! Be sure to check the labels of the food you purchase. Some foods may not be as healthy as you think.
By Summer:
(clockwise): orange slices, maple syrup in the innobaby container, silver dollar pancakes, meatballs
I love innobaby containers. I have a pair of small ones like the one you see here and they’re just so handy to have a REALLY small container. Innobaby is a mom owned small business; I love that. I also love that their plastic products are BPA free. Innobaby now also offers a bento line of containers.
By Summer:
(clockwise): Muscat grapes, mozzarella string cheese, Trader Joe’s freeze dried mango slices, Trader Joe’s “Savory Thin Mini Edamame Crackers”
Again, Muscat grapes; if you don’t see me raving about them last time you should check out Bento #6.
Again with the Trader Joe’s too! If you’ve never been there, most of their packaged foods are their own line/brand.
Freeze dried are different than dehydrated. Both contain no moisture, but hydrated foods need to soak to regain their plumpness. Freeze dried foods absorb liquids quickly and easily. In large freeze dried food packages, such as the mangos package from Trader Joe’s, you’ll find one of those “do not eat” moisture packages. Make sure you pull out that package if giving the bag to your children.
By Summer:
(clockwise): apple slices, egg slices, chunks of ham, Trade Joe’s plantain chips
These egg slices are from an egg pancake, refer to Bento #4, and the ham is from my butcher, refer to Bento #2.
If you’ve never enjoyed Trader Joe’s plantain chips beware, they’re addictive! These chips are a SALTY snack. The packaging is a purple bag with monkeys, so my children and their friends fondly call them “Monkey Chips”.
By Summer:
(clockwise): carrot, chicken drum stick, spoon, vanilla yogurt, popcorn
Sorry, this picture is a lot blurry. I couldn’t find my camera, so I took it with my phone. On the small screen it don’t look out of focus. Oh well.
The carrot is peeled and the ends are cut off, but I left it whole.
The drum stick is another dinner leftover.
The spoon is of course for the yogurt. This yogurt is not sweetened and not loved by my children. I tried!!! But it is a bit sour. It is the Trader Joe’s European Non-fat Yogurt; I’m not concerned with fat though and will have to try the whole milk version next in hopes that it’s thicker. I think I’ll have to dress this yogurt up with muddled fruit or jam.
Popcorn can be considered a choking hazard for children because of the kernels. I love popcorn and eat it growing up. My young children also eat it and enjoy it. I just wanted to put that warning out there especially if you’re sending the box to school with your child.