TTMA Bento Boxes

[pbandj714]

Since the kiddos are coming up on their first birthday (WUT) and they've been showing less and less interest in purees recently, I realize that I need to up my game on their meals. Especially lunch. Right now it's so easy and mindless to throw some puffs and other snacks and purees in the bag for the babysitter. But I want to start transitioning over to more wholesome, whole foods. You know, an actual balanced meal. I know ovenrack packs some kickass toddler lunches. What suggestions do you have?

Also, I was apparently under the impression that Bento was a brand but it's actually more of a style of container, correct? Amazon search results were overwhelming me. So please suggest your favorite bento boxes as well!

[sarenu]

I make similar ones for snacks. I just use the plastic (gasp!) meal plan boxes. Then I use the silicon cupcake holders to keep portions small or keep dips contained (thanks TJ!). Then I grab random things in the fridge.

- Cucumber, carrots, peppers, cherry tomatoes
- hummus or veggie dip
- fruit
- Cheese and crackers
- lunch meat
- nuts
- hard boiled egg

You could also do small sandwiches (hummus, PB, Jelly).

Edit: Also, it's nice to have the meal planner boxes (you can get one compartment or several), because you can make a few of them at a time.  I do 4 at a time.  We don't get to them right away sometimes, but 4 will always get eaten before things go bad.

[TJ]

I have Rubbermaid lunch blox. Link below. I actually bought it for myself when I worked and used it for over a year. Now E has used it for her first year of pre-k and it's still going strong. We wash it by hand most days so it's ready to fill for the next day. But any time we are planning to run the dishwasher anyway, we throw it in. I also have some of those silicon muffin liners, and use those also to separate out smaller sections.

As far as foods, here are my go-to's:
Mains-
1/2 hot dog in bun (applegate nitrate free)
Toasted cheese sandwich cut with cookie cutter in cute shapes
Hard boiled egg
Lunchable style cheese, ham, and crackers
Leftovers
Hummus and carrot sandwich rolled sushi style, sent with kiddie chopsticks to up the fun factor
Meatballs, cheese, and tomatoes on a lollipop "skewer"
Cheese roll ups in a tortilla
Sliders on Hawaiian rolls

Sides-
Raw veggies - especially carrots and grape tomatoes
Pretzels
Applesauce
Go-gurt
Fruit - 1/2 apple cut side down, whole cutie already peeled, berries, grapes, etc
Cheese sticks
Cereal or granola
Various bars (fig, granola, etc)
Trail mix (depending on kids age and nut rules)
Animal crackers

I usually do one main, and 3 sides. I send tomatoes just about every day bc E loves them. I try to do one fruit, one veg, and one carb for the sides. I know a lot of mom's send a treat. But I'm not that mom. No judgment, E just doesn't tolerate sugar well and they get enough treats at school.

www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Lunch-Blox-Container-Entrée/dp/B0078K40P6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1495129352&sr=8-7&keywords=Rubbermaid+lunch+box

[sarenu]

These are similar to what I use.

www.amazon.com/MEAL-PREPSTER-Meal-Containers-1-Compartment/dp/B01EVS6TY2/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1495129909&sr=8-15&keywords=meal+planner+boxes

I like these for snacks more than the divided ones. Plus at this age you may want everything removable.

[pbandj714]

These are giving me such good ideas! Thank you! I never realized how clueless I'd feel about lunches, but I guess my lunch has never taken much thought when I buy from the cafe at work just about daily.

[brandiewine11]

At that age my go-to food for school lunch was mostly our dinner leftovers.

But other things I'd pack for going out included:

Ham and cheese slices (low sodium)
Blueberries or other fruit
Applesauce or yogurt pouches (I filled my own)
Crackers
Cucumbers
Leftover steamed broccoli or whatever vegetable
Hard boiled egg
Cold pasta salad with chicken
Meatballs- I used to make them and freeze them. They were a great easy protein source when I just wanted to grab something.


Start giving them your dinner so you know what they can handle and go from there.

[rugger]

May 18, 2017 12:53:26 GMT -5 TJ said:

I have Rubbermaid lunch blox. Link below. I actually bought it for myself when I worked and used it for over a year. Now E has used it for her first year of pre-k and it's still going strong. We wash it by hand most days so it's ready to fill for the next day. But any time we are planning to run the dishwasher anyway, we throw it in. I also have some of those silicon muffin liners, and use those also to separate out smaller sections.

As far as foods, here are my go-to's:
Mains-
1/2 hot dog in bun (applegate nitrate free)
Toasted cheese sandwich cut with cookie cutter in cute shapes
Hard boiled egg
Lunchable style cheese, ham, and crackers
Leftovers
Hummus and carrot sandwich rolled sushi style, sent with kiddie chopsticks to up the fun factor
Meatballs, cheese, and tomatoes on a lollipop "skewer"
Cheese roll ups in a tortilla
Sliders on Hawaiian rolls

Sides-
Raw veggies - especially carrots and grape tomatoes
Pretzels
Applesauce
Go-gurt
Fruit - 1/2 apple cut side down, whole cutie already peeled, berries, grapes, etc
Cheese sticks
Cereal or granola
Various bars (fig, granola, etc)
Trail mix (depending on kids age and nut rules)
Animal crackers

I usually do one main, and 3 sides. I send tomatoes just about every day bc E loves them. I try to do one fruit, one veg, and one carb for the sides. I know a lot of mom's send a treat. But I'm not that mom. No judgment, E just doesn't tolerate sugar well and they get enough treats at school.

www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Lunch-Blox-Container-Entrée/dp/B0078K40P6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1495129352&sr=8-7&keywords=Rubbermaid+lunch+box

I'm saving this list for when I need to pack lunch for R's kindergarten(!) days in the fall