1 Bento #230 - 100th Day Bento

Today not only is it our 100th day of school, but it's also Friday - pizza day!  I decided to do English muffin mini pizzas with pepperoni, channeling the zeros.  The kids all enjoy regular visits from Zero The Hero who comes to school to help them learn how to count to 100! S/He also helps the kids learn the concept of zero being a place holder, and other place value concepts.

The pizzas are made with the aforementioned English Muffins, toasted first, then a large spoonful of fresh basil bruschetta, topped with mozz and the pepperoni slices, a special treat.

Our sides are carrots with dip and craisins with more 0s - Cheerios.

Again channeling the whole zero concept is the round container of applesauce.

Bento #230 - English muffin bruschetta & pepperoni pizzas, baby carrots with ranch dip, craisins and Cheerios.  Snack - Applesauce.

4 Bento #220 - Lego Lunch

I finally got one!!!  Oh Lego lunch box, how I've wanted you for months now, but were only available in the UK....  Long story short, I ordered one and had it shipped to my cousin in London, and we were to meet up on our trip and make the hand off, but it slipped our minds and I returned home to the US empty-handed.  With busy schedules, my adorable pink Lego lunch box hasn't made it over to my side of the pond yet.

So how did I get my hands on this one?  Lo and behold! The Container Store carries them now!!  I was killing time with my daughter (who was off from school) Tuesday after lunch and we headed over to that dangerous wonderful place.  We were browsing a section that wasn't even food-related when we stumbled across these.  They had a range of colors (but no pink, alas) in both the large and small sizes.  By the way, these are food and dishwasher safe.

The small size wasn't available when I purchased my pink one, so that was a bonus!  It's really tiny, so it's a good size for dip, which is what I used it for here. It fits perfectly inside the large Lego box. They only had the two sizes, and I'm curious what a medium would look like.

I know what you're thinking.  "Are those croutons?  That poor kid gets croutons for a snack?"  People listen to me.  These are the most amazing croutons you will ever put in your mouth.  They are garlic/parmesan/herb croutons from a brand called Nonni's, which I picked up at Costco (shocker, I know.)  They are amazing (I want to type that with all caps.)  They are addictive, and yes, today they are a yummy snack.  Ella will thank me later today, I just know it. ;)

Bento #220 - Pasta Prima chicken & mozzarella ravioli, julienne yellow bell pepper, strawberries and ranch dip.  Snack - Nonni's croutons and applesauce.

0 Bento #219 - Vegetarian Cheese & Crackers

Enter the Bon Ami Giveaway!

Me and my gimpy thumbs are back in bento business!  My poor kid had to buy her lunches all last week (thankfully they really aren't bad, and she will usually grab a salad anyway.)  I decided that I didn't want to pay a $50 copay for 5 seconds so that a nurse could remove my stitches, so I did it myself yesterday MacGuyver-style with a pair of new sterilized cuticle nail clippers.  One-handed, even!  Looks pretty good, but I'm still black and blue over my entire thumb.  

My last few lunches have been vegetarian, not wholly by design.  This bento also happens to be vegetarian.  She's got an assortment of fresh veggies and dip, along with some cheese cubes and saltines.

Dessert is sliced apples (NOT done with an apple slicer...in fact I bought these in one of those pre-cut packages...can you blame me?) and grapes.

We have a special snack of a bunch of yogurt star cookies and an apple sauce.

Bento #219 - Celery sticks, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, broccoli, ranch dip, cheese, saltine crackers, sliced apples, and grapes.  Snack - Yogurt Stars and applesauce.

3 Bento #208 - Beef Stir Fry Noodles & Veg

So we are in the middle of our third week of school!  It's a bit of an adjustment (OMG, waking up at 6ish am every morning is KILLING ME) but we are excited about what the year holds.  I volunteered to be room mom again, so I have some work cut out for me, but since I'm crazy and love all that organizational stuff (charts, calendars and to-do lists) I think I'll do okay.  Once or twice a week I let Ella get school lunch, which is amazingly healthy, for the most part.  Yesterday they had a fruit/yogurt/peanut butter plate and salad as a choice.  Love it!  Takes a little pressure off me.  

Today's lunch is delicious.  I made my Korean barbecue stir fry with carrots, bell peppers and spring onions. 

Bento #208 - Korean stir fry with noodles, organic carrots, yellow bell peppers and spring onions, frozen blackberries, and multivitamins.  Snack - Applesauce and spiced nuts.  

0 Bento #201 - Steak Salad & Hello Kitty

Craaaaazy busy day yesterday!  I suffered mild sunburn all in the name of toxic shower curtains.  My local chapter of The Mommies Network was contacted by the Dr. Oz show and asked a bunch of us to come down with our old shower curtain liners and film a segment about their toxicity.  We filmed from 10am to 12:30pm!  I have several speaking lines, though who knows if my bit will ever make it on TV.  It was fun, and the show should air soon, during the next season which starts September 12th.

Goodness, my bento boxes are looking really stuffed lately!  I guess it's that snack.  This lunch consists of sliced steak and a little bit of mac n' cheese leftover from dinner and a whole lotta Hello Kitty.  The panda holds dip, and the little chickie holds two iron vitamins.  I finally found some without aspartame!!  Bluebonnet Rainforest Vitamins.

Bento #201 - Sliced steak, artisan lettuce, ranch, mac n' cheese, iron multi vitamin, and slushy applesauce. Snack: raspberries & granola bite.

4 Bento #200! First Day of Kindergarten Flower PB&J

Aaaand 200!  I asked Miss E what she wanted for her first day of Kindergarten lunch, and she was very specific.  She wanted PB&J, carrots, broccoli (which I don't have, so she settled for celery), dip, and an Aussie apple. This year parents are sending snacks every day, rather than depending on a class snack.  It works for me because I can control exactly what goes in her belly and make sure it's healthy.  She asked for a granola bite and a slushy applesauce (frozen applesauce which is slushy by the time lunch rolls around.)  Your wish is my command!

Bento #200 - Organic peanut butter and organic strawberry jam on 15 grain bread, organic carrots and organic celery, ranch dip, homemade granola bite, frozen apple sauce and an Aussie apple (not shown.)

So, what are you guys planning for your kiddos for the first day of school?