Category Archives: Bento

Day 2 of day camp for the kidlet.  It’s actually been nice weather for several days in a row, which is fortunate since his camp is all outdoors 😉

Yesterday I just sent a laptop lunchbox; things were a little crazy in the morning, I wasn’t exactly sure where we were going (and it was a good thing we left early; we ended up having to hike about 15 minutes on the trails to get to the camp location — today I found the way to drive to that back parking lot), baby L was super needy.  Today I was a tiny bit more creative.

Pb and J sealed Sandwich, blueberries and yummy fresh local strawberries picked up at the Tigard farmers market on Sunday, carrots, babybel cheese.  Cheese birdie with carrot beak and candy confetti eye.  Ranch dressing and a small rice krispie treat cut into a flower shape packed separately. 

I know today’s lunch is nothing special.  I’ve done a similar bird before, but it looks so bright and colorful and something about it I quite like =)

Yesterday as we were headed off to the community center, Kidlet declared that he didn’t want to go to day camp, but I explained that it wasn’t like school, but more like recess all day, and he decided to give it a try.  He had a great time.  We also had an afternoon birthday party over at an inflatable jumping place.  You’d think after all morning at sports camp and all afternoon running and jumping that he would be worn down and exhausted and ready to sleep like the dead.  Not so much 😉

Baby L and I went shopping after dropping Kidlet off this morning.  We stopped by Uwajamaya for quail eggs and found okinawan sweet potatos (the ones with the purple inside), which I’ve never seen there, although I always look.  Sherimiya at Happy Little Bento uses them fairly often and I’ve always admired how colorful and fresh her lunches always seem to be.  I also was drawn in by some really nice looking dragonfruit, despite swearing off them when the last time I picked one up it was 20$ :0  These were very fresh and plump and not at all withered looking, which they sometimes are given that they are sent via plane from some Asian country or another, and not exactly fresh off the vine.  They were also about half the price this time.  Still expensive but not nearly as hard on the pocketbook as the last one I bought.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

I made up snack bento in the hopes that the weather would cooperate and we could get out and go somewhere.  There was a single sunny day this week, and aside from that it continues gray, frequently wet and rainy.  It doesn’t seem like summer – even Oregon summer isn’t usually this ugly.  I think we have had maybe 3 or 4 days where the sun shows its face since April.

PB with whipped cream cheese flavored with a little no sugar added jelly on english muffin, blueberries, broccoli and carrot and babybel cheese.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

Kidlet picked out colby-jack cheese this week at the deli counter and it made me think of a mottled goldfish we watched the last time we went to the pet shop, so it became a fish for todays lunch.

Fish shaped tuna sandwich with cheese topper (I just got these new hat picks, so cute! ;)), hard boiled egg, cherries (halved and pitted) and blueberries and a few carrot and zucchini sticks hidden under the fish, propping him up.

I can’t believe that the kidlet’s kindergarten year is almost over!  Most likely there will be fewer bento, although I did buy a nice picnic sized box for taking snacks for all of us when we head out to the park, zoo, etc.

This is the box that I bought — although the meal is not mine, but was packed by An American in Bento, who hopefully doesn’t mind that I’ve snagged her photo, as I couldn’t find a photo of the empty box and was too lazy to go downstairs and dig it out to take a picture.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

Somehow this one didn’t get posted back in March.  Since I didn’t make one today, might as well post this one 😉

Ham and cheese on a roll, blackberries, carrots, cheese and a little cupcake.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

Last Art Literacy “class” this morning.  I went in and talked about Marc Chagall with the Kindergarteners and then they each did thier own version of “I and the Village“.  I’d forgotten my camera, but in the end it didn’t matter since I didn’t have 2 helpers this time and was so busy I doubt I would have had time to take pictures anyway 😉

PB and J uncrustable, colby jack bears, cheese round, lil smokey, blackberries, broccoli.  {See — I can pack to the edges without lettuce lining — I just think the lettuce lining looks nice!}

Posted by Kristen in Bento

Baby L is not sleep training very well.  She is however walking like a champ.  Kidlet is doing fine.  He’s been keeping busy with extra curricular activities.  His behavior is dramatically improved from the beginning of this kindergarten year and we’ll keep working at it.

Ham and provolone roll-ups, kiwi, sweet potato steamed and then lightly sauteed in five spice, a few vanilla happy face crackers.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

Wednesday night we had an art festival at Kidlet’s school as a fundraiser.  Some cool pieces of art, handmade clothing, live music and tasty foods were to be had.  I was in charge of the kids activities, and I had to scramble at the last minute since the weather took a turn for the rainy and had to re-think everything (we were supposed to be outside).   I’m still sore today after the 4 hours sitting in a hard plastic and very tiny elementary school chair. 

Super simple bento, fast fast, but one that Kidlet will gobble up.

Pepperoni and colby jack on picks, quail eggs, blueberries and checkered apple, celery and zucchini.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

I have been preparing lunches in my absence from blogging.  Not bento everyday; probably about half the time I am using the yubo or a laptop lunchbox because it is faster and easier (and still a waste free / green solution).  Even when I am making a bento, I haven’t been taking pictures and documenting.  I am just busy, worn out, and the baby doesn’t leave me the time to spend at my computer.

Owl sandwich made with both wheat and whole grain white breads, cheese and spinach eyes and carrot beak, more carrots, pineapple and a dark chocolate covered almond.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

 

Egg salad bunny sandwiches with cheese and spinach accents, cheese and spinach “carrot” and butterflies , corn on the cob, carrot and spinach flowers, grapes and blueberries.

Posted by Kristen in Bento

 

Egg salad sandwich cut to look like a sheep with cheese and spinach accents, tomatos and carrots (ranch dressing packed separately), mixed berries.

Time taken: 20 minutes

Posted by Kristen in Bento