Making Lunch Fun, One Box at a Time

ben·tol·o·gy (ben t äləjē) Noun : The study of making nutritious and fun lunches for my daughters.

I get a lot of inspiration from other blogs. So, in hopes someone might get some inspiration from me, I've decided to post some pictures here.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 3:7-9

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Reach for the Stars

I find that the easiest way to add a little pizazz to a lunch is to use a sandwich stamp.  It adds detail to a sandwich in seconds!  Here is today's quick lunch to remind my girls to reach of the stars!


  • 2 star-shaped sandwiches (stacked)
  • Kiwi stars with a cupcake pick
  • Peas
  • Pretzel snaps with chocolate hazelnut spread for dipping
In addition to the product link above, here are some of the other items, or similar items, that I used when creating this lunch:



DON'T FORGET - Click here to enter to win a set of Lunchbox Love Notes!

This post contains affiliate links.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

First Fall Lunch

Can you believe it's fall already?  

 
  • Acorn and leaf mini sandwiches cut out using pie crust cutters
  • Red and green grapes
  • Broccoli and carrots with ranch
  • Cheese stick
  • Hershey's chocolate nugget
Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:
 


This post contains affiliate links.

Check out other lunches at:
Bento Lunch

:*~*~* Lunchbox Love Notes Giveaway! *~*~*

For those of you who are regular readers, you know that my family loves Lunchbox Love Notes.  My daughters have asked me to send them even when they are buying lunch at school!  So, I was very excited when the wonderful people at Say Please offered to giveaway a set of their newest cards (Kids volumes 49-52 PLUS 1 set each from their Halloween and Thanksgiving collections!) to one of my lucky readers.

For those of you who are not familiar with Lunchbox Love Notes, they are an easy yet meaningful way to let someone know you are thinking of them. A positive message on the front of the card reminds them how much they are loved while the "Did You Know" trivia or joke on the back will entertain. My daughters' classmates always want to hear the trivia or joke, which encourages lunchtime conversation.  Each volume contains 12 cards --10 with different phrases and fun facts or jokes and 2 blanks so you can add a personal message.

 
The "Did you know?" trivia facts are lots of fun.   Can't you just see all the kids at the lunch table trying to hum while holding their nose?:
 
I also love when the message ties to the theme of the lunch: 

They also have Lunchbox Love Notes specific to the holidays!  Here are Thanksgiving and Halloween lunches!

 
There is a Lunchbox Love Notes perfect for every occasion!

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment below letting me know what your favorite thing is about Lunchbox Love Notes.  This will open up additional entry options.   This giveaway is open to United States and Canadian residents only.   I will randomly select a winner on October 2nd and the winner will have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't hear back within 48 hours, I will select an alternative winner.   All entries must be active and will be verified at the time of the drawing in order to be valid.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you want even more chances to win?   Click over to Bentos on the Bayou and enter her Lunchbox Love Notes giveaway!


Monday, September 23, 2013

Piano Bento Lunch

My oldest daughter loves playing the piano.  So, when I saw this lunch that Rina from Bento School Lunches made, I knew I would have to recreate it for her.  

Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite go according to plan.   Rina used nori, which looks great but my kids really don't like.  So, I often use cucumber peel instead.   That was my plan here until I went to get it (after already making the sandwich and the piano keys) and discovered my husband had eaten all the cucumber for lunch.  Hmmm...plan B....pea pods?   The color is a little strange but at least you can tell what it's supposed to be.


  • 2 rectangular shaped sandwiches (stacked) and decorated with provolone cheese and pea pods to look like piano keys
  • Carrots with ranch
  • Red and green grapes with music note picks
  • Hershey's Chocolate Nugget

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Purrfectly Quick and Easy Lunch

If I want to make a super quick but cute lunch, my "go to" tool almost always ends up being the Cute Z Cute cutter.   In this lunch, I used it to make a kitty.   I used the crust of the bread to cut out the features and give it a little "pop".

 
  • Sandwich made with the Cute Z Cute
  • Broccoli with ranch and a kitty cupcake pick
  • Raspberries
  • Pretzel snaps
  • Hershey's chocolate Nugget
Here are some of the products, or similar products, that I used when creating this lunch:
 


This post contains affiliate links.
 
Check out other quick lunches at:

Friday, September 6, 2013

Pizza Friday!

To me, pizza and Fridays just go together...The perfect pairing.  I'm also making a concerted effort not to pack sandwiches everyday because I don't want the girls to get tired of them.   So, today's lunch is pizza pinwheels.   I got the recipe from Pinterest and just used frozen pizza dough - easy peasy!

 
  • Pizza Pinwheels with extra pizza sauce for dipping
  • Cucumber and tomato slices
  • Berry fruit salad (blueberries, raspberries and strawberries) with a "Love" cupcake pick
  • Hershey Kisses
Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when packing this lunch:
 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Lunch in a Flash!

So, apparently I'm not quite in "school mode" yet because I completely forgot to pack the girls lunches for today until the very last minute!  Ack!!  So, for those of you that feel like you don't have the time for cute lunches...this lunch is for you.   It took minutes to make!

 
  • 2 flower-shaped sandwiches (stacked).   I used a small circle cutter to cut cheddar cheese for the flower's center.
  • Red and green grapes with daisy and lady bug picks
  • Carrots with ranch
  • Pretzel/goldfish crackers
  • 2 Hershey Kisses
In addition to the product links listed above, here are some items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:
 


This post contains affiliate links.

Looking for other super quick lunch ideas?  Click on the link below:
Bentos on the Bayou

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bubble Gum Bento

Coming off a holiday weekend, I wanted a quick and easy lunch for today.   Lunch Punch cutters make it easy to make a cute sandwich in a hurry!


  • Sandwich cut with the Lunch Punch cutter and decorated with cheddar, provolone and Colby jack cheese circles as "gum balls"
  • Red and green grapes with letter picks
  • Broccoli and carrots with ranch
  • Hershey kisses

My older daughter was in the mood for a wrap so her lunch was similar but with a whole wheat wrap, herb cream cheese and salami.  I decorated it with a few dolphin picks.

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating these lunches:


Click on the images above to purchase these items through Amazon.  This post contains affiliate links.