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!!