How can I find time to make these super-arty lunches

LJM

i always make up my girls main of there lunch boxes in the eve before i go to bed then put in the fridge,least i only have to add a few bits quickly before we leave

bestpud

I was reading about bento boxes the other night and I've decided to give them a go. I posted a question but the thread has disappeared down the pages, so here it is again...

If you put sliced up fruit in, how do you stop it going brown?

Plus, does anyone do these and have a child who throws their lunchbag around? Does it all get jumbled up?

Tia

Bestpud

celyn90

if you stick a teaspoon of lemon juice on it, then it won't go brown. I use little lock-lock type boxes for this kind of thing as my rucksack gets chucked about alot and it seems to work. HTH cel x

heavenleigh

Hi hun,
As said by celyn i also use lock-lock boxes which i find is the best way to keep fruit freash.
If sending them with apples/oranges/pears etc i tend to leave them whole and just put in the lunch box as is, which also stops them discolouring.
With strawberries/pineapple/blueberries etc i put them in the lock boxes and they dont need anything adding as they dont tend to discolour anyway.

Leigh xx

bestpud

Thanks

Dim question coming up...

Does the lemon juice affect the taste? Plus, does it work for bananas too?

On a different note, are there any combinations of fruit that just don't work together? We put something together once - I think it was kiwi fruit with something and the whole lot went very bitter (inedible)! Since then, I've been a bit reluctant to mix fruits. Or was it just a bad lot of fruit?

pavlovs_dog

bumped for bestpud :beer:

i think with fruit it will be a case of trial and error. im thinking of investing in a series of mini lock n lock containers to fit inside my lunchbox, so that i can graze throughout the day in between lectures, without fear of things leaking as they rattle around as the lunch box empties.

as an alternative to cut apple, have you tried dried apple rings? be warned, they are incredably more-ish

pavlovs_dog

have bumped the bento thread for you bestpud

celyn90

I don't think it does affect the taste too much, I'm not sure about bananas though as I don't eat them, but they might go a bit squelchy with some liquid in there. You can also use orange juice too, you just need something slightly acidic.

jo1972

Yeah come on bestpud, I'm going away next week and will only have a week to prepare for ds's new lunches :eek:

vivaladiva

Saw a bloke on a Channel 4 programme dunk pears in lemony water to stop them going brown. Might be easier/more effective than just using lemon juice which might taste a bit strong.