Brown Bear

BROWN BEAR

PBJ sandwich with both white and wheat bread. Boiled Eggwhite, Crust, Granny Smith Apple and Fruit Leather for the cute face. Steamed Broccoli, Roast Turkey, Honey-Wheat Pretzels, Newmans Chocolate Cream Cookie, Leaf Shaped Apples.

HOW TO MAKE BENTO LUNCHES!!!

How to make simple bento lunches:

It's imperative to have the right tools. You can start simply by buying a few of the staples.
-Mini cookie cutters in the following shapes: star, heart, flower, circle.

-Colorful silicone baking cups. These are getting more popular so you can find them in most stores, but I know Michael's and JoAnn's both carry lots of them!

-Tin filled with multiple shaped circle cutters, most chef supply stores carry these tins as chefs use them often in food design.

-Bento box. You do not have to have a "traditional" one (but it sure is fun to find a fun and creative one that the kiddos love). www.bentousa.com has EVERYTHING you need! The most important thing when buying a box is that it fits in to your lunch bag/ tote/ box! You can even use a chinese food container or simple tupperware to start.

-Choose foods you know your child (ren) will eat. Yes, this can be tricky if you have a picky eater or multiple children but you'd be surprised how creative you can be with simple foods. This is the case for me as the 3 kids tends to like and eat different things. It's all about planning ahead. You don't need to be a food stylist your first time trying! Start simply and build from there. Think color! Also color = nutrients. The more color (natural of course, NOT FOOD DYE) the more nutritious. In my opinion if you spend time on a creative lunch and your child won't eat it- what's the point?!

Here is a photo of the mentioned supplies. I included the bento picks too...Obviously you do not NEED these to make bento lunches but they sure are cute!!

HAVE SO MUCH FUN!

Power Rangers 2- TROY

Power Rangers- TROY

Troy mask- PBJ on Whole Wheat, decor- Fruit Leather, American Cheese, Apple, Star Sprinkles with Shaped Semolina Pasta, Clementine, Star Strawberries, Boiled Egg Whites, Lightening Bolt Cheese Sticks, Star shaped Fig Newtons.

NY GIANTS

NY GIANTS

Grilled Cheese on Whole Wheat Bread with Chicken-Apple Sausage, Cut Red Grapes, Circle Shaped Strawberries, Mini Marshmallows and NY shaped Roast Turkey!

Power Rangers!

Power Rangers!

My Tommy is in LOVE with the Power Rangers so I'm sure this will be the first of many to come. PBJ on Whole Wheat with Fruit Leather & red sprinkles mask design, Star shaped red and green Apples (with a squeeze of lemon to prevent browning), Chicken/ Apple Sausage (from Applegate- they are DELICIOUS), Bowtie Pasta, Hard Boiled Egg Whites, Newman's Chocolate Cream Cookie

Toddler Bento 2

Toddler Bento 2

Colorful Silicone cups filled with Whole Grain Mini Waffles, Broccoli, Strawberries, Grapes and Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Sprinkles! Add animal/ fruit picks for some fun and color!

Little Girl

Little Girl

Whole Wheat Bread with Roasted Deli Turkey and American Cheese, Egg Whites for Eyes and Raisins/ Fruit Leather for nose/ mouth. Roast Beef for rosy cheeks, Broccoli, Whole Strawberries, Grapes and Black Olives, Bowtie Pasta for the bow

DINO 2

DINO 2

Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets, Heart Shaped Watermelon, Organic Dino Shaped Cheese Puffs, Raisins and Fruit Shaped Fruit Bites. I decorated with Dino Cupcake Picks!

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD!

Daniel and Friends are made with Whole Grain Bread, Graham Crackers, Blueberry Pancakes (owl), Teddie's All Natural Peanut Butter, Royal Icing Eyes, Low Carb Wrap, Fruit Leather and Chews, Sliced Carrots, Grapes, Apples, Kale for garnish!

MOOSE

MOOSE

 

PBJ and Whole Wheat with Fruit Leather antlers, Royal Icing eyes, Applesauce, Pretzel Stix, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Strawberries and Purple Sprinkles (today's purple was to stand up for the fight against bullying!)

LION

LION

 

 

Pizza English Muffin with Annie's Shells Mac n Cheese mane, Raisin Eyes, Strawberry nose and Cheese Mouth, Dino Shaped Organic Cheese Puffs, and Strawberries

Apple of my Eye!

APPLE OF MY EYE!

Apple shaped Peanut Butter and Homemade Peach Jelly Sandwich, Fruitful O's Worm with Blueberry Face, Party mix with Pretzels, Raisins, Fruit Bites, M & M's and Pistachio's, Wheel Shaped Pasta, Berry Apple Sauce with Star Sprinkles, Heart Shaped Green and Red Apples and a Strawberry!

CAR PLANE TRAIN

CAR PLANE TRAIN

 

 

 

Sandwiches made with Whole Wheat Bread and PBJ. Strawberries, Grapes, Fruit Snacks/ Leather, Broccoli, Clementine and Cheddar Cheese.

ANGRY BIRDS!

ANGRY BIRDS!
Chicken Nuggets with Apples, Sliced & Cut Cheese, Icing Eyes and Fruit Leather Eyebrows, Sliced Strawberries, Bleberries, Pretzels and Ginger Cream Cookie

SKULL & CROSSBONES

Skull & Cross-bones
PBJ on Whole Wheat, Red M & M Eyes, Cantaloupe Stars, Sliced Red Grapes, Brownie Stars, Cheese Stick Bones, Pretzel Sticks

Polka Dot Butterfly

Polka Dot Butterfly
Mixed Grain Bread Round with Turkey, Arugula & Low Fat Cheese, Both Cheddar & American Cheese Butterfly with Fruit Leather Body, Strawberry Fruit Rope, Blueberries, Carrots, Ginger Cream Cookie, Brownie Butterfly, Pretzels, Apple Flowers

BROWN BEAR

BROWN BEAR

 

 

 

Whole Wheat Bagel with Cream Cheese, Bear Face made with Egg White, Hot Dog, Candy Eyes and Raisin, Hot Dog ears, Ginger Cream Cookie, Pretzels, Cantaloupe Shaped Bears, Strawberry Yogurt with Bear Shaped Sprinkles

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLDEN!

8TH BIRTHDAY BENTO

Cheese Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread, Cupcake decor made from American and Monteray Jack Cheese, Star Sprinkles and Hot Dog Round for decor, Newman's Ginger Cream Cookie, Hot Dog Bites & Cheese Stars, Cheese for the 8, Pretzel Sticks, Cantaloupe Stars

RAINBOW BENTO

RAINBOW
Apple Stars, Clementine, Chicken Nuggets, Broccoli, Frozen Blueberries, Red Seedless Grapes and a Purple Marshmallow Peep!

GARDEN PATCH 2

GARDEN PATCH 2
Ham & Arugula Pinwheels, Flower Shaped Crackers, Pretzels, Little Chick Egg, Chicken Hot Dog & Cheese Flower skewers, Mushrooms, Carrot Flowers, Cantaloupe & Watermelon Flowers, Broccoli, Fruit Rope and Stuffed Grape Tomato!

SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL CUPCAKE

SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL CUPCAKE
Made with Low Carb Spaghetti, Ricotta, Rao's Marinara Sauce, Chicken Meatball, Broccolli and Watermelon Hearts

BEAR PARTY

BEAR PARTY
Bears- Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dogs and Fruit Leather for the face, Clementine, Pretzels, Fruit Roll Up, String Cheese Bites, Blueberry and Strawberry Bento Stick Kabobs

BAGEL PIGGY!

BAGEL PIGGY
Piggy- Whole Wheat Mini Bagel with Vegetable Cream Cheese, Cheese Hearts for ears, Candy Eyes and Whole Wheat Bread round for the nose, Snackimals Oatmeal Cookies, Teddy's Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Mini Chips, Animal Shaped Apples (that Tommy and I picked!), Blueberries

UNDER THE SEA

UNDER THE SEA
Pirate- PBJ on Whole Wheat Bread with Fruit Leather Face and Candy Eye, Cream Cheese Bread Squares with Star Sprinkles, String Cheese Foliage, Strawberry Flowers, Whole Grain Pasta Shells, Whole Grain Shell Mac n Cheese, Blueberry Sea, Pretzel & Monteray Jack Cheese Goldfish, Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rounds, Hot Dog Octopus 

LOVE BIRDS

LOVE BIRDS
Birds- American Cheese & Kate's Butter  (no preservatives made in Maine!) on Whole Wheat, Strawberry Hearts,  Gluten Free Spagheti nest, Angry Bird Graham Cookies, Plum & Cantaloupe Flowers, Green Grapes, Banana Sun with Yellow Sprinkles

T-REX FOR MY T-REX!

T-REX FOR MY T-REX!!!
Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets with Apple Heart, Popcorn, Red Seedless Grapes, Blueberries, Trader Joe's Vanilla Yogurt with Star Sprinkles, Oatmeal Letter Cookies, Watermelon Star

TODDLER BENTO 2



TODDLER BENTO 2
Mickey Chicken Nuggets, Fruitful O's, Soy Sesame Rice Crackers, Fruit Shapes, Broccoli, Turkey Flower with Fruit Leather Centerpiece



TODDLER BENTO



TODDLER BENTO
Applegate Hot Dog Bites, Pretzel Goldfish, Blueberries, Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella, Annie's Fruit Bunnies, Silicone Cups



SUBMARINE

SUBMARINE
Applegate Beef Hot Dog, Potato Roll, Raisins for windows, Blueberries, Boat Shaped Fig Newtons, Pretzel & Cheddar Goldfish

SPIDERMAN

SPIDERMAN
Spiderman Sandwich- PBJ on 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Spider carved Apple, Pretzels, Blueberry & Strawberry Skewers, Turkey Sausage Kabobs
*To keep the apples fresh I coat them in lemon juice- they taste GREAT and don't brown!

OCTOPUS

OCTOPUS
Hot Dog Octopus, Cheese Stick bites, Cheddar Goldfish, Broccoli, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Checkered Apple Slices

MONKEY LUNCH



MONKEY
Monkey- PBJ on Whole Wheat Bread with Candy Eyes, Broccoli, Red Grapes, String Cheese Bites, Banana, Fruit Hearts (Plum & Apples), Devils Food Cookie 



BUNNY PATCH DINNER

BUNNY PATCH DINNER
Bugs and Butterflies Mac n Cheese, Butterfly Strawberries, Chicken Meatball Stars, Chicken Bunnies, Wild Rice 

Garden Patch

This is one of my favorites! I love the colors. And, anything that has to do with the garden usually makes me happy.

GARDEN PATCH
Turkey- Arugula & American Cheese Pinwheels, Broccoli, Grape Tomatoes, Red Seedless Grapes, Cucumber Hearts, Ham Flower, Pretzels, Carrot Cake Cupcake, Cubed Cheese, Arugula for Leaf garnish



SNAKE

SNAKE
Banana and Strawberry Snake, Star Sprinkle Eyes, Blueberries, Animal Shaped PBJ, Soy- Sesame Rice Crackers, Vanilla Yogurt with Star Sprinkles

KITTY



KITTY

Peanut Butter & Homemade Raspberry Jelly on Whole Wheat Bread, Carrots, Celery, Fruit Leather and Monteray Jack Cheese for the face & ears, Carrot Cake Cupcake, Checkerboard Apple Slices, Pretzel Sticks, Broccoli 

LION- RAWWWR!

LION
Whole Grain Pasta mixed in Rao's Marinara Sauce, Whole Wheat English Muffin Pizza Center with Raisin Eyes, Strawberry Nose & Mouth!

PIZZA BUNNY



PIZZA BUNNY

Whole Wheat English Muffin with Tomato Sauce and melted Cheese. Candy Eyes, Tomato Nose and Mouth, Carrot Whiskers, Broccoli, Annie's Bunny Snacks, Bunny Mac n Cheese, Carrot Sticks,

ELMO & Dorothy!

ELMO
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich with Candy Eyes, Cantaloupe Nose and Hearts, Oreo Cookie mouth, Red Sprinkles for color, Strawberry Hearts, Green Grapes, Pretzel Goldfish, Fig Newton Dorothy Fish

Hearts

HEARTS
Blueberry Pancake Hearts drizzled with Maple Syrup, Heart carved Apples, Cantaloupe Hearts, Fruitful O's, Yogurt stuffed Apple

Bento inspired lunches... let's GO!!




LADYBUG

Lady Bug Cheese Sandwich with Whole Wheat Bread, Chicken Meatballs, Broccoli, Blueberries and Grapes, Animal Shaped Fig Newtons. I used a slice of low fat American Cheese and punched holes. Stuffed every other hole with Grape rounds :)