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

amani_2

Just found this great thread. I think its a grest idea! I want to send my 2 boys with packed lunch, but they say its "un-cool" they are 13yrs and 14yrs. Might try it with my hubby though, it a change from sandwiches.

BigMummaF

I'll have to come back for a proper read later, but when my three were little tykes as opposed to the lollopping oiks they are now, I would:-
take small bread rolls & cut two or three times across the top to make a triple decker, as opposed to bog standard ham & tom inside;
same sized bread roll, but make little cuts all over the top & put in little pointy bits of cheese & cue to make a 'hedgehog';
cut out 'plain' sarnies--like marmite or paste--with gingerbread men or similar cutter, or crimbo tree or star for December
cut a smiley face into the top layer of the sarnie

Just some ideas, they said it made them smile & strangely their mates were always hovering around when they opened their lunch

pavlovs_dog

i never did get into this fully, but i am employing bento principles in the way i pack my lunches. first and foremost i find it a great way of reducing the amount of cling film/tin foil etc i use. its also great for portion control. instead of taking a bag of crisps to school, i now buy one big bag a week for us to share, and i take a small handful worth in a small box. its also been an opportunity for me to indulge my lock&lock box fetish

aurora_borealis_2

Well, well!

I did it for Rosie for quite a while. I was rubbish at it, I have to say.

She liked it though ; )

bellsbells

Some of the ideas on here are amazing! I am impressed. In the middle of all this bento however I would like to speak up for the tiffin....
They are a used all over India - from little two tier ones to massive family ones. The principle is the same as bento really - small stacking stainless steel compartments to put a variety of food in. Traditionally in India it would be rice, dahl/curry and some sort of pickle or possibly a salad style thing. I brought back five of various sizes from India and use them a lot for packed lunches and picnics. They are great for leftovers. Ebay sell them:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FREEP-P-S-S-Steel-Tiffin-Billy-Pot-LARGE-3-TIER-Camping_W0QQitemZ290259884194QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290259884194&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

more pictures on here:

http://www.tiffintin.com/


Bells

aurora_borealis_2

... now there's a mobile business opportunity!

arkonite_babe

I just found this thread AFTER I bought a bento box for me and DD2 today!! Bought from http://www.japancentre.com/
We had a whole fiasco over pack ups last year and this year is going so much better. We even have home made sushi for lunch tomorrow!!

I was fed up with squished sandwiches and wanted something different too so I thought a bento would be a good idea for me.

Will post back with pics when my bento boxes arrive, and am also looking out for picks etc to add to the boxes.

HariboJunkie

I just have lots of little tupperware boxes. (very cheap from Ikea)

one for sandwich/crackers/pitta bread. One for chopped fruit. One for HM yoghurt and one for home baking. All fit neatly into the lunchbag with a flask or bottle of water.

arkonite_babe

Just been looking on Ebay, me thinks I'll have to resurrect the sewing machine to make a purse for my bento box!!

aurora_borealis_2

We have a purse for ours