Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star ... Fruit

It's amazing how one little change can make a boring lunch look suddenly magical.

RED: Star Fruit
(fruit)

How FUN is a fruit shaped like a star?! And it's so bright and juicy! I took a normal hum drum lunch and gave it some edible bling by throwing in some star power! Rock 'n' roll!

Note: Lightly sprinkle with sugar or drizzle with honey as this isn't the sweetest fruit in the world. It's got a good flavor, but it's not red grapes or plums. The girls really like it with sugar, so it's kind of a 'mulligan' fruit dish - but it's not a regular lunch item, so once in a while won't kill 'em. :)

GREEN: Sun Chips
(carb)

YELLOW: Celery & Ranch Dip
(veggie, dairy)

PURPLE: Turkey Sandwich w/American Cheese
(carb, protein, dairy)

The Madness Begins

Welcome to my "lunchbox blog". Here, I'm going to share my lunch ideas with folks who like the Bento Lunchbox that I got from LunchboxShop.com. It started out as a way to cut back on all the baggies I was using, but it turned in to kind of a hobby! They're not just environmentally friendlier and cheaper than using box after box of plastic baggies. They're fun to pack and they make healthy lunches look good! In fact, the first night I made lunches for my daughters, they looked so pretty I had to post a picture of them on my Facebook page. More people commented than I thought they would, so I posted another one on another night and before I knew it, I had a whole album of lunchbox pictures! Since then, I've chatted with a few of my bigger "lunch fans" and thought it might be even more helpful to include extra notes and maybe reviews from my kids to help you decide if your kid might like or NOT like something we've tried. There has been some trial and error so I might as well save you the trouble! :)

My daughters are the reason I make my bento art and they are the ones who drive my ideas. I will refer to their feedback and experiences when I discuss certain items. Their nicknames are "Goo" (almost 10) and "Baloo" (age 6 and a half). I'll share their responses to some of the more unpopular or exotic foods. Goo is more adventurous and loves good food so she is easy to please. Baloo is a little more finicky, but she will at least try most things once.

Please feel free to share your Bento ideas and feedback. I love these lunchboxes and I enjoy hearing how others are keeping lunch exciting. You get points for nutritional balance, color and originality! Haha!!