Bento #14

Shrimp cocktail, anyone? Here's whats for lunch tomorrow:

On the right: I decided to pick up some frozen fruit to keep on hand for days that my fruit is low. So, I have a berry medley mix and a small amount of light cool whip to top it off.
Carrots and cucumbers with the yogurt dill dip.

On the left: Shrimp with cocktail sauce. I tried to garnish with a radish rose. Look at the middle of the rose...I cut a small heart! Cute, huh?

Tomorrow is my middle son's birthday, so we will have some celebrating going on tomorrow night. I have no idea what's for dinner (he will get to choose what I fix). We'll see what ends up in the bento tomorrow night!

Have a great Tuesday! Enjoy!

Bento #13

Didn't realize this was #13. Should have done a "spooky" theme. Instead, I broke out my new Valentine picks to help add color. Here's what's for lunch tomorrow.

In the blue container: Carrots and cucumbers with the Greek Yogurt dip I found last week.

In the green container: the last of the fresh pineapple

In the yellow container: Cajun chicken with havarti cheese rolled up with lettuce.

In the purple container: Greek yogurt with strawberries on top (this will be my breakfast.)

I got an email from www.Allthingsforsale.com and my package has been shipped!! I found out on another bento blog (Bentobloggy) that if you enter Bentobloggy in the code section, you get 5% off, AND she earns credit to get things to give away! So, of course I helped her out and put in her code. Who couldn't use an extra 5% off?! When I receive all my bento things, I'll be sure to post a picture for you all!!

Have a GREAT Monday! Enjoy!

Bento #12

Lunch for Wednesday, although I'm still trying to figure out when I'm going to eat it. I have a meeting at noon tomorrow and running to do before the meeting. Might just try to get to the meeting early and eat in their break room. I packed my lunch, anyway, so I can continue to eat right and not grab something through a window. (Even if I have to end up eating in my van. Hey! We have a DVD player. I can pop in Thomas the Train and watch it while I eat. Oh! Dinner AND a movie! HA!)

Anyway...here's lunch for tomorrow:

After I took the picture, I noticed that I have a lot of yellow, green, and orange. Oh well...

In the top yellow cup: steamed broccoli and carrots with garlic pepper

In the green cup: Deviled egg salad

In the blue cup: Lettuce (for the egg salad); Buffalo Chicken nuggets (jerky); Pomegranate Craisins

In the purple cup: Some more of the fresh pineapple I bought. (Holy cow, is this some good pineapple!)

No more post for the rest of this week. I'm off of work Thursday, and won't get back until late Thursday night. (Won't have time to make it.)

So, everyone have a great rest of the week! Enjoy!

Bento #11

If I haven't mentioned it before, I will say it again...I am really lovin' creating my bentos. It has helped me plan out my lunch and snacks for the next day at work. I am also eating healthier, with all the new fruits and veggies added into it. I know I am still learning my Bento Basics...but I LOVE IT!

Okay, here is lunch for tomorrow:

On the left: Grilled chicken w/feta cheese on a bed of lettuce. Raspberry Pomegranate Vinaigrette dressing, and strawberry fans.

On the right: Cherries, fresh pineapple (I found on sale for $1.98 for a whole pineapple! First time I've ever cut my own pineapple!) and edamame.

Creating a bento for myself has also added creativity to my sons' lunches. More so for my 5 year old than my 3 year old. I found some food markers at our local Walmart, so I purchased some and used them on my 5 year old's sandwich. He LOVED it! I did have to tell his friends that they were special FOOD markers, and NOT the markers they use in class!! HA! I would hate for some Kindergarteners to get sick because they colored on their bologna sandwiches with Crayola Markers!

Enjoy!

Bento #10

We have had 2 snow days and all weekend...I AM READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL! I have all our lunches packed, and here's mine for Monday:

In the yellow cup: I ate at Olive Garden on Friday night, and this was my leftover chicken with sauce. I'm going to use the lettuce and make some wraps out of it.

In the purple cup: Star fruit!! (One of my new adventures.) Here's hoping I like it!

In the blue cup: My favorite!! Strawberries and blue cheese.

In the green cup: Carrots and blue cheese dip

OH! Guess what!! My husband is THE BEST! My birthday is next month. I've asked for some bento supplies and such to support my new adventure. Well, yesterday, as I was exploring others blogs, I came across a link for the website: www.allthingsforsale.com. It had TONS of bento stuff on it!! So, I started looking around and Mike told me I could go ahead and order some things for my birthday. So, in a week or two, I will be getting some picks, grass, 3 new bentos, a bento bag, and straps. When I get the box, I'll post a picture of my loot. I am so excited!! One thing they didn't have was an egg mold. :( But, I'm holding out hope that perhaps my buddy, Thelma, will get me one for my birthday! (You gettin' the hint, Thelma?! LOL!)

Have a great Monday!

Bento #9

Okay, so tomorrow's bento appears to be a little boring. It's also on the small side. Couldn't eat all I brought with me today, so I decided to trim it back a bit and try using a smaller container. I made this bento with a Lock and Lock box. Here you go:

On the left: Spicy Thai Tuna Salad lettuce wraps

Top in the red cup: Feta cheese for the wraps

On the right: Red Grapes

All over: Sharp cheddar stars (I love sharp cheddar the most!!)

I'll also have a Fiber Plus bar for an afternoon snack.

I really hope I get some bento books for my birthday! I need some ideas!!

Bento #8

I really like this bento. I'm getting a little better at garnishing. Doing the bentos has also got me to shop better in the produce section. Today, I picked up a fresh pineapple, a mango, and a quince. All things I would have NEVER bought for us before. REALLY stepping out of my box!

Here is my lunch for tomorrow. I had to use up some of the fruits I already had in the fridge.

In the blue container: fresh strawberries

In the purple container: broccoli and carrot flowers! (I'm so impressed with myself!!)

In the yellow container: Turkey and cheese wraps with lettuce leaves (another new love of bento...I really love cheese. I've been trying different flavors of cheeses. I have about 6 different ones right now.)

In the green container: I found a new veggie dip at the store. It's made with Greek yogurt, fresh dill, cucumber and feta. Then, cinnamon almonds.

Enjoy!

Bento #7

It has been so fun blogging what I'm making! As I made my meal for tomorrow, I noticed that I was lacking in color. So, off I ran to the grocery store...JUST TO PACK MY LUNCH FOR TOMORROW! Now, I know I'm not doing a "traditional" bento, but I am trying to make sure I have color and make it visibly appealing. Here's what's for lunch tomorrow:


On the left: Fresh cherries; fresh strawberries and a cup of bleu cheese (They were SO good together the other day that I wanted them again!); fresh carrots and broccoli

On the right: Bleu cheese dressing to dip the veggies in (bleu cheese...hmmm...seems to be the flavor of the day!); clementine; Oriental Boneless chicken wings wrapped in cabbage leaves. YUM!

This is the last one for the week. No school Monday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day. Back Monday night with another bento. Have a great weekend!

Bento #6

So, we've had 2 snow days from school, so I haven't posted a bento. I'm thinking we will go tomorrow, maybe on a delay, but we will probably go. (Gosh, I hope so!) In the hopes that we go, here is what I'm bringing:

In the yellow container: Turkey and Harvarti with dill cheese roll-ups. I found some cute snowman and snowflake picks at one of our stores. Being that we've still got it on the ground, I thought it was appropriate! Throw in some fresh cherries for my sweet tooth!

In the green container: Sugar free jello with mandarin oranges.

In the blue container: Fresh steamed green beans

In the red cup: Cucumbers w/blue cheese dressing to dip in.

I've honestly missed not packing a lunch/snacks the past couple of days. It sure would have helped my eating! Snow days=bad carb days for me! Seems that we always bake cookies while we're home and I end up eating half! Ugh!

Back on track just in time for the weekend! Ha!

Bento #5

Back to work tomorrow. Leftovers for lunch, but that's okay. It's one of my MOST FAVORITE meals in New Orleans!! Here you go:

On the left: Shrimp Etouffee; 1/2 cup of rice; fresh steamed green beans
On the right (to snack on through out the day): Orange; Honey roasted almonds; fresh strawberries; and bleu cheese (I like the combination of strawberries and bleu cheese together.)

I'm really liking preparing my lunches the night before. While I work on mine, I do my sons' as well. The other day, I decided to cut my 5 year old's bologna in a fun snowflake shape (because it was suppose to snow that day). He LOVED it! Came home and asked that I do the same thing the next day. Bento for the boy, now! Makes me smile!

Bento, day 4

No bento to pack last night for today. I was off of work to take my youngest to doctor's appointments to get ready for preschool. However...it's back to work tomorrow, so here's what's for lunch!

We had take home tacos last night for dinner. I'm having some of the leftover stuff for lunch.

In the yellow container: rice and black beans with some shredded cheese

In the green container: some flavored sour cream for the beans and rice

In the purple container: fresh cherries

In the blue container: sugar free raspberry jello with mandarin oranges; Havarti cheese with dill; and 2 Hershey's Bliss

So, I went to Sam's today and really walked around their produce/deli area to get some ideas for my bento. I stocked up on some fresh fruits and veggies and then I hit their cheese section. I. LOVE. CHEESE. All cheese...although, my favorite are the strong flavored cheeses (the more sharper, the better!). The Havarti cheese isn't a sharp cheese, but it does have some fresh dill in it. Can't wait to try it tomorrow!

This will be my last bento for this week. See you all again Sunday night!

Bento, day 3

Had a friend ask me today, "What's for lunch tomorrow?!" That put a smile on my face! So, here you go!

Okay, lunch for tomorrow:

In the yellow container: Barbecue beef skewers on a bed of cabbage

In the purple container: Steamed edamame, lightly salted. I'm planning on eating this cold, as a snack. Great source of protein!

In the green container: Sugar free raspberry jello with mandarin oranges. (Dessert!)

In the blue container: String cheese; a small container of barbecue sauce for my skewers, and a little muffin cup with 2 Hershey's Bliss bites, for when the sugar bug hits!

I'm telling you...planning my meals and snacks like this has really helped me out. Usually I am looking around the office for an afternoon munchie. Now, I have it right in my bento, ready to go! Love it! Looking at my picture above, I'd really like to get some more supplies; like pics and stuff like that. Oh! And I really want to get those Bento idea books I talked about in one of my first blogs. I think it would really help out with ideas. Maybe I need to send a birthday wish list to my family?! Hmmm...

Bento, day 2

Okay, first...my review of my first time using my Laptop Lunchbox. Everything arrived to work as placed in there last night. I was really impressed! No leakage or anything. A+

Now, for tomorrow's bento, I'm going to use the other container I found in my kitchen and give it a test drive. Here is what's for lunch tomorrow:



Container on the left: Left over turkey enchiladas. (Notice the "K" garnishing...for Me, Kelly!) Blue cheese dip and carrots.

Container on the right: Summer sausage and cheddar cheese (cut into birthday hat shapes, because it's my youngest son's birthday tomorrow). Sesame honey almonds that one of my good friends brought me back from Trader Joes. And some grapes.

I'm having to work late tomorrow night, so I packed heavy to last me until I get home.

Then, tomorrow night...cupcakes and a candle with a "3" on it! Happy Birthday, big boy!

My First Bento!

Okay, after all the daydreaming of what I was going to put in my bento, this is what I came up with for my first time out. After compiling it all together, I must say...I have a lot of green. Here is a picture of what I did:

In the blue container I have cucumbers that I cut into fun flower shapes. Once I put them in the container, my mind started thinking about summer and how much I LOVE cucumbers and onions, so I decided to make that! I added some onions, flavored rice vinegar, and a splash of oil (to get my oil in for the day).

In the yellow container is crab meat (I already had opened and needed to use) on a bed of shredded cabbage. The pink container contains raspberry pomegranate vinegrette for the crab and cabbage (going to eat it like a salad).

In the green container is vanilla greek yogurt with a tablespoon of Lime curd to mix it up! (Planning on eating this for breakfast at work.)

In the purple container are honey roasted almonds for a snack and homemade granola to put on my yogurt. I found a recipe on the internet today for it! You make it in the microwave! Super easy and yummy!

Now, lids have been placed on appropriate containers. We'll see how the lunch holds up tomorrow and will let you all know how it goes!

I also discovered that I already had a bento-type lunch box here at the house already! I bought it this summer at one of our discount stores. I was busy cleaning and organizing this weekend and found it. Might use it for tomorrow's lunch. We'll see!

See you tomorrow!

I'm getting so excited!

How silly is it that I'm getting so excited to go back to work Monday? Do you know why?! Because I get to pack my Bento! I received my new Laptop Lunchbox about a week ago, and ever since then I've been packing my lunch in my mind. I've been purchasing cookie cutters, fun muffin cups, discounted food picks...all in preparation for Monday. My goal is to pack my Bento at least 3 days a week. (My personal goal is to be at my goal weight by the end of the year. That's about 75 more pounds...I've lost 80 already! I am hoping that the portion control of Bento, and Weight Watchers, will help me achieve that!)

So, my plan is to pack my lunch tomorrow night and take a picture of it to post on here. Be kind, it will be my very first Bento. It won't be anything fancy and it will be Americanized, but all the Bento Bloggers that I've found will be my inspiration!

I can't wait!!