Bento Storage and Organisation

Each set of school holidays I like to go through all our Bento items and reorganise and put things back where they go ready for the new term. 

I thought some of you may be interested to find some storage ideas for your collection, keep in mind my collection has been building for 3 years and it has become a hobby for me from something that started as a way to feed my ASD son and now my other son needs lunches each day as well so the collection has grown even more. For us this is our way of making Healthy food fun and enticing my little ones to eat. We eat with our eyes first and Bento is a great way to help with that.

To start with I will show you how I store our collection on the bench top then show the contents of each drawer: 

  
I have tried a few different storage types over the last 3 years but have found mini drawers to be the best. I have different sizes for different things. First off I’ll show the inside of the 4 taller coloured drawers:

The Purple Drawer contains our MySqueeze pouches, reusable sandwich bags underneath, circle square and person cookie cutters, Funbites Cutter, animal Sandwich cutter plus other cutters:

  
Next is the Blue Drawer which has stainless steel cookie cutters, flower heart and star cutter sets, Imprint Cutters and Plunger Cutters:

  
Next drawer is pink which has various Sandwich cutters:

  
The green drawer is full of lunchpunch sandwich cutters, we have the match and munch, sporty, vrrrm, sweet, sandwishes plus the dog one from critter cutters and a bear and car pocket mould:

  
The next set of drawers are the mini ones which have most of the smaller cutters.

 The top drawer has all of my mini cutters, I use these mostly for fruits, vegetables , cheese and cutting shapes into babybel cheeses:  
Next is some cutter sets, mainly animals:

  Next drawer has more cutters, superman, different animals and some vehicles:  
Next one is a bit of a mixed bag, Thomas imprint cutters, Stormtrooper container plus more sandwich cutters:

 

Alphabet picks and cutters plus nori cutters:
   
Next drawer is small containers I use for things like sultanas, Dips and others small things:

 

Last drawer in that stack has some different novelty foil:
  
The next set of drawers is the clear set of 3,  it has all of our cute z cute cutter sets and egg moulds:

 

Next has the silicone cups I use most often, and the more plainer ones: 

  
The bottom drawer has more novelty silicone cups and ones I use less often:

  
The next collection is probably my favourite and that is food picks and rings!

This container are the main ones I use:

   
The next box has mainly rings and bigger picks. I have tried different containers but found these tackle boxes to be the best.

 

I hope I’ve given you some storage ideas for all your bento gadgets, any questions just let me know,
– Mel

Easter Lunch

Today’s lunch is packed in the Planetbox, It’s almost Easter time so I thought my son would enjoy an Easter Bunny themed lunch before the holidays start this week: 

I went with a bunny and chick theme, both of which were easy to make but very cute. 

I started with the sandwich which I cut some circles for the head, a smaller circle for the mouth and long strips folded in half for the ears: 

  
I made another bunny, this one from a babybel cheese and carrot: 

  
For the Chick egg I hard boiled a egg, sliced a zig zag around and carefully peeled off the top to reveal the yolk, foodoodler dots for eyes and carrot for beak. 

  
Happy Easter! 

– Mel

Go Green Lunches

Roundup of Lunches packed in the Go Green from Thursday – Tuesday:

 

St. Patricks’s Day Lunch: Fruit and Veg Rainbow, Cheese Coins, Yoghurt Drops, Corn Cob, Sultanas, Natural Popcorn, Tuna Mayo Sushi, Chicken and Cheese Wrap.

  

Bee Lunch: Coco2 Sandwich, Lindt Choc Bee, Corn Cob, Salami,Chicken, Watermelon, Apple slices, Carrot

  

Dinosaur Lunch: Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Salami Stick, Raspberries, Strawberries, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Grapes and Watermelon Strawberry Yoghurt

  

Grade 1 Lunch: Coco2 Funbites Sandwich, Apple, Carrots, Corn Cob, Grapes, Yoghurt covered apricots, Natural Popcorn, Organic Orange Juice

  

Grade 1 Star Wars Lunch: Crackers, Coco2 Sandwich, Popcorn, Yoghurt covered Apricots, boiled egg, Salami stick, Grapes, Yoghurt

  

Kindergarten Star Wars Lunch: Ham Sandwich, Salami Stick, Raspberries, Strawberries, Kiwi Berry, Boiled Egg, Cucumber, Yoghurt

– Mel

 

Bear Hunt and Farm Animal Go Green Lunches

  Today’s Lunches are both packed in the Go Green Lunchbox, for my Kinder son I’ve made a Bear Hunt theme because they’ve been discussing this at kinder and he was reciting the story as he fell asleep do I thought it was only fitting to bring that into his Lunchbox: 

  
He has Bear ham sandwiches, Strawberry Hearts, Cucumber and Cherry Tomatoes, Bear shaped Apple slices, Bear boiled Egg and Homemade Choc Yoghurt in the My Squueze Pouch.

For my Grade 1 boy I’ve packed a Farm Animal theme:

 

Apple Slices, Cheese Stick, Ham Pig Sandwich, Organic Farm Biscuits, Raspberries, Carrots, Corn Cob, Chicken Egg and Homemade Choc Yoghurt in Reusable My Squeeze Pouch

  

I picked up these cute Organic animal farm biscuits in the baby food aisle of my supermarket, they were a perfect addition to this lunch.

  

For his boiled egg i cut some carrot and poked it into the egg and added an eye pick, very quick and easy but very cute.

 

– Mel

Tuesday Go Green Lunches

Lately I have been tired, worn out and feeling like I haven’t been enjoying making lunches as much, it’s in part because my ASD son has decided he won’t eat even more things and partly because I’ve just been too tired to think of things to do. 

On the weekend I went through my Bento Box Pinterest board and created all new boards with proper headings and re pinned everything so it’s organised and easy to find. Today I felt re-inspired to put the extra touch in the lunchbox and I’m pretty happy with the results 😊

My youngest son, Kinder boy requested a car sandwich and egg so I was excited to do a traffic light and car theme for him:

  
I started with the celery traffic lights: I filled celery stalks with corn relish then added red and orange cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Ham sandwich using LunchPunch cutter, traffic light salad: strawberries, Grape Tomatoes and Baby Cucumber, for the Apple slices I used a green apple then the orange side and red side of a royal gala apple. Boiled egg made using car mould, and finally a Ladyfinger Banana. I added some road sign cupcake toppers and the lunch was done. My car mad boy is going to be one happy kid at lunchtime!

For my eldest son, Grade 1 Boy, I went with Under the Sea theme.

  
I included something I normally wouldn’t and that’s the sprinkles on top of the yoghurt, my son has been refusing more foods lately so I’m trying to get him eating yoghurt again and thought this might help. Making things visually appealing is the main way to get through to him, he is the whole reason I started making bento lunches! 

His lunch has octopus and whale coco2 sandwich, Grapes, Peas, Corn Cob, boiled egg moulded into a fish, carrot “anemone” and Apple Seaweed, Vanilla Yoghurt with polka dot Sprinkles and a Banana. 

– Mel 

Go Green Lunches

Go Green has been the lunchbox choice this week and I’ve enjoyed working with it packing larger things which I’m usually restricted   to fit in our other lunchboxes. 

Here are the rest of my Grade 1 boys lunches from this week: 

 

Coco2 Dinosaur Sandwiches, Melty Egg, Banana, Strawberries, Slinky Apple, Yoghurt Covered Apricots and Nudie Orange Juice

  

Top and Tailed Banana, Starwiches, Apple Slices, Grape and Raspberry Kabob, Star Carrots, Corn Cob, Salami Stick, Babybel and Smoothie in MySqueeze

  

Tuna Corn and Mayo Pita Pocket, Orange, Slinky Apple, Melty Egg, Peas and Vanilla Yoghurt

 

Go Green and MySqueeze Lunch Additions plus First Lunches

For the past 2 days my boys have requested lunch in their new Go Green Lunchboxes. I recently went to the baby expo and picked up these along with the MySqueeze Reusable silicone pouch which work perfectly together.

  
The long cavity where the drink bottle comes in the go green is the perfect size for the My Squeeze pouch, a handy tip I got from the creator of MySqueeze! I’m loving both of these products and so are my boys. 

  
Available from Trendy Lil Treats

I always thought the Go Green was too big having only seen pictures but if you factor that the large long cavity will hold the pouch or drink bottle the other 4 cavity spaces are perfect for main, veg, fruit and dairy or carbs. It’s so easy to pack lunch when everything has a space.

The go green has quite large cavities but you don’t have to fill to the brim to fit a decent amount of food in and it’s so easy to pack things like a whole apple or corn cob; something I struggle to fit in all other boxes. 

As for the MySqueeze Pouch it is just Awesome as well. It’s not baby looking so it’s great for my Kinder and Year 1 Boys, the colours are great, the lids are interchangeable so we can mix up the colour combinations and they are extremely durable and well made. The silicone is great for the kids to use and the top makes it easy to open.

  
Available from MySqueeze

They are also freestanding which is great for filling and while in use. 

Without further ado here are our first lunches using this combo with many more to come: 

 

Hawaiian Pizza, Apple Slices, Grapes, Carrots and Baby Corn, Babybel, Salami Stick and Organic Vanilla Yoghurt

  

Wholemeal Ham Roll, Babybel, Cucumber Slices, Cherry Tomatoes, Grapes, Blueberries, Organic Animal Crackers and Vanilla and Strawberry Yoghurt

  

Coco2 Wholemeal Sandwich, Crackers and Cheese, Watermelon, Corn Cob, Carrot Flowers, Slinky Apple and Apple and Banana Smoothie

  

Ham and Cheese Pita Pockets, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberrues, Strawberries, Mini Rice Cakes and Apple Banana and Mango Smoothie

 

Kindergarten Lunches

 

Ham Bagel, Cheese Stick, Sugar Snap Peas, Cucumber slices, Cherry Tomatoes, Strawberries, Boiled Egg, Slinky Apple.

  

Monkey Sandwich, Blueberries, Banana, Boiled Egg, Cucumber and Cherry Tomatoes.

  

Ham Wholemeal Roll, Grape Kabobs, Cheese Stick, Cucumber Slices, Apple, Cherry Tomatoes.

  

Cheese and Bacon Scroll, Cheese Cubes, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes , Baby Cucumber, OJ Gelatin Gummy, Strawberries Raspberries and Blueberries

  

Ham Wholemeal Roll, Salami Sticks, Pear Slices, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes and Organic Strawberry Yoghurt

 

Latest Yumbox and Bentgo Lunches

Roundup of the latest Lunches packed in the Yumbox and Bentgo Kids: 

Coco2 Sandwich, Corn Cob, Roast Chicken, Boiled Egg, Carrot Sticks and Sugar Snap Peas with Raspberries.

  

Coco2 Sandwich, Salami Stick, Carrot Sticks, Peas, Strawberries and Raspberries.

  

Coco2 Sandwich, Apple, Carrots, Boiled Egg, Blackberries, Babybel, Rice Crackers.

  

Taco Wraps, Baby Cucumber, Blueberries, Boiled Egg, Carrots and Cherry Tomatoes

  

Hawaiian Pizza Bun, Carrots, Apricots, Raspberries, Strawberry, Cheese and Salami

  

Bentgo Kids: Tuna Corn and Mayo Wrap, Cheese snd Salami Cubes, Dried Apricots, Baby Carrots, Peas, Raspberries and Strawberries

  

Bentgo Kids: Funbites Sandwich Kabobs, Peas, Cheddar Babybel, Yoghurt Covered Apricots, Roast Chicken, Grapes and Strawberries

 

Latest Planetbox Lunches

 

Boiled Egg, Sugar Snap Peas, raspberries, salami sticks, grapes, flower carrots, coco2 caterpillar sandwich with foodoodler accent

  

Peas, Carrot, Apple Slices, Raspberries, Rice Crackers, Coco2 Sandwich with 2 by 2 Animal Picks and Salami Sticks

  

Baby Carrots, Apple, Bagel Crisps, Cheddar Babybel, Roast Chicken, Peas, Strawberries and Blackberries

  

Peas, Baby Carrots, Banana, OJ Gelatin Gummy, Raspberries, Strawberries and Hawaiian Pizza Bun

  

Peas, Raspberries, Banana, Cheddar Babybel, Baby Carrots, Grapes and coco2 Robot Sandwich

  

Peas, Carrot, Inside out Cheese Sandwiches, Salami Stick, Strawberries, Banana, Apple Slices.

  

Raspberries, Pretzel Sticks, Roast Chicken, Baby Corn, Apricot Yoghurt Balls, Baby Carrots, Grapes, Coco2 Web Sandwich with Grape Spider and Spiderman Babybel