Thursday, December 20, 2012

Winter Welcome

This Week's Bento Lunch

Winter Welcome

Just because winter is knocking on our doors, doesn't mean we should turn our backs on all the great fruits and veggies of summer. This year, we've decided to welcome winter with one of our summertime favorites, a refreshing gazpacho soup filled with veggies available to us year round. Enjoy! 

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Holiday Health and Happiness

This Week's Bento Lunch


Rice Pilaf Holiday Lunch

Following these stars will lead you to a well-rounded meal that will help you through those last minute shopping and holiday details. We hope your holidays are filled with joy, happiness, and of course, bentos for everyone! 


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Friday, December 7, 2012

Free Shipping on Great Gifts


If you're looking for a fun last minute gift idea for the kids or adults on your list that like to enjoy their favorite foods at school, work, travel, and anywhere in between, be sure to check out www.LaptopLunches.com and take advantage of our Free Shipping offer on now! 






Thursday, December 6, 2012

Holiday Hustle

This Week's Bento Lunch

Holiday Hustle Lunch


Ready set go... and keep on going and going and going! Yes it's that time of year when everyone seems to be hustling around trying to enjoy all that the season has to offer! To help keep you going, we decided to put together a bento lunch full of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants sure to give you that extra needed boost for those extra busy days. 



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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Keeping Your Kids' Stuff out of the Lost 'n Found

If you're hoping to make 2013 the year you get yourself and your family organized, be sure to join in on our Facebook chat with Julie Cole of Mabel's Labels tomorrow, 12/5 from 11:am-12:pm pst.


 Julie will be on hand to answer your questions and offer her insight (she's the mom of 6!) on staying organized and keeping your kids items out of the lost and found! 








Thursday, November 29, 2012

Rainy Day Bento

This Week's Bento Lunch

Rainy Day Lunch

It's been a rainy, wish we could stay in bed kind of week, so we decided to give ourselves a little sleep-in treat by preparing this breakfast bento last night. That's right... we hit the snooze button a couple extra times and still enjoyed this delicious, well-balanced morning meal! 


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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Your Chance to Win $500!

Vote for Laptop Lunches as the longest lasting lunch box and be entered for a chance to win a $500 Giggle.com gift card! 

Just click here, vote for us, enter your email address and city and you're done! 

Healthy Holiday Bento




Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Repackaged

This Week's Bento Lunch

Thanksgiving Repackaged

Thanksgiving leftovers are arguably the best leftovers of the year, so no matter where you're headed Friday, be sure to pack your bento full of holiday goodness! Happy Thanksgiving! 


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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Going Nutty

This Week's Bento Lunch

Going Nutty

With the holidays right around the corner it's hard not to feel a little nuts, so we've decided to honor our nuttiness in this week's bento lunch. Seeds and nuts are filled with protein, antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3's, so they're actually a great way to keep your body going throughout the holiday season.


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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Fueling Up and Feeling Good

This Week's Bento Lunch

Fueling Up and Feeling Good


Is your body craving comfort food and warmth to combat the chill in the air? If so, you'll love the veggie loaf in this week's bento lunch! This veggie loaf is both filling and loaded with the veggies your body needs, so you'll feel comforted now and ready to bounce right back this spring. 



Click here to view this week's full menu.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween Detox

This Week's Bento Lunch

Halloween Detox

After satisfying our sweet tooth with Halloween goodies, we decided to make fruits and veggies the stars of this afternoon's meal. To keep this nutritious meal fun and satisfying, we put together small portions of a variety of good for us foods and included a little ranch for some dipping goodness. 


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Thursday, October 25, 2012

In a Rush Lunch

This Week's Bento Lunch

In-a-Rush Lunch

Short on time? This lunch should fit the bill. Prepare the salad and potatoes tonight, and you'll have them on hand to drop into your lunch box tomorrow morning.


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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Any Weather Soup

This Week's Bento Lunch

Any Weather Soup

Great warm or cold, cucumber soup is perfect for the unpredictable fall weather, especially here in Santa Cruz. Leaving the house, we thought we'd be warming our soup up today, but by lunch time we were quite happy to have a cool, refreshing mid-day meal. 


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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Bringing on the Balance

This Week's Bento Lunch

Bringing on the Balance

Now that the cold and flu season seems to be knocking at our door and the holidays are right around the corner, we decided to make balance and nutrition king in this week's bento lunch. Here's to eating well and feeling great! 

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

A Bento Fit for your Favorite Tike

This Week's Bento Lunch

A Bento Fit for your Favorite Tike

Bento lunches aren't just for big kids, so this week we decided on a lunch menu for our younger users. We combined bright fruits and veggies in fun shapes with yummy extras to get even those picky eaters out there chowing down. 


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Friday, September 28, 2012

Vote for Laptop Lunches by 9/30!

We're hoping to get nominated as the Longest Lasting Lunch Box by Red Tricycle and need your help! Please vote for us at: http://awards.redtri.com/ . Voting's quick and easy, just fill in the fields as shown below by this Sunday, 9/30:



Thanks for your support! 











Thursday, September 27, 2012

Exploring the Season's Best

This Week's Bento Lunch

Exploring the Season's Best


One of our favorite things about the beginning of a new season is always the fresh new flavors available, so we were delightfully surprised to open our lunch boxes today! We had both mahi mahi which is plentiful in the Pacific this time of year as well as blackberries that have just hit their perfect ripeness here in California. They may not be the typical flavors associated with fall but they made for one spectacular fall lunch! 



Click here to view this week's menu.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Hitting the Trails

This Week's Bento Lunch

Hitting the Trails

Now that the weather has cooled, it's a great time to hit the trails which is exactly what we did over the weekend. To keep our bodies fueled, we brought along our bento lunches with some of our favorite on the trail snacks. We're so happy to have a full season of fun hikes and picnics to look forward to! Happy fall! 


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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Better Than a Pancake?

This Week's Bento Lunch

Better than a Pancake?

What could be better than a pancake? How about a thin pancake stuffed with cheese and fried to perfection? That's right... this week we made blintzes for lunch! Enjoy! 


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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Greek Grazing

This Week's Bento Lunch

Greek Grazing

If you ever dream you're sitting on a beach in the Mediterranean instead of the office, you're going to love this week's bento lunch! We've put together a sampling of some of our favorite Greek snacks sure to be the perfect complement to those office daydreams! 

Click here to view this week's full menu.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Back to School Lunch Success for Kids with Allergies

Back to school means big transitions and Cindy Gordon with Vegetarianmamma.com is letting us in on how she transitions into lunches away from home for her child with allergies: 


Its that time of year again, when the kids head back to school! For many parents of children with food allergies this time of year also brings many challenges. There are many schools that are beginning to offer alternative lunches such as gluten free options and some allergy free options. But, if your school doesn't offer those choices or you want to insure all your child's allergy needs are met, you will need to pack your child's lunch.

Laptop Lunches provides the perfect canvas to provide a healthy and fun lunch while keeping our food allergy children safe! To get ready for the school year let your child pick out which box he/she will be using. Getting your child involved will help reduce any fears/anxieties they might have about eating at school. Sit down with your child and make a list of his/her favorite foods that might be options to pack in their lunch! Be sure to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins. The bright cheerful colors and fresh delicious food will certainly catch the eyes of all the kids sitting at the lunch table!

Laptop Lunches are complete; the only other item your child needs is a drink. The box is self contained which means your child doesn't have to worry about food laying their on the lunch table; think about the possible cross contamination of an uncleaned table surface. Children can be messy by nature and I always think about the kids that sat at the table before my child and wonder if they ate any allergens. When my child eats from his Laptop Lunch box I don't have to worry about that. The framed box provides structure and order for children during lunch. The children can sit, eat and enjoy their food instead of struggling with multiple bags and containers in their lunch sack.

We not only pack our lunch for school, but we honestly pack our lunches everywhere we go! There are many risks when going out to eat at restaurants, when you have a food allergy. Everyone has their own comfort levels with restaurant procedures regarding food allergies. Its not easy for a family with food allergies to just “pick up some food” while you are out running errands. I always make sure that I have a lunch packed when we head out. If its nice we can have a picnic, tailgate from the back of the car or the kids have been known to have a picnic in the car. I have found with the the box containers the children are actually neater when eating. As a mom, I like the idea of less mess!

The key to lessening your challenges and stresses is being prepared! I have found that letting my child pick their lunch box and helping pick items to go in the lunch box makes for a more peaceful transition into
school lunch times. Having a sturdy self contained lunch box for my child to eat out of helps my fear of allergen exposure at school and in public places.

What steps have you taken to reduce the challenges you face as a parent of a child with food allergies?

Cindy Gordon is the owner and author of Vegetarianmamma.com She blogs about recipes, products and life. Cindy also is a weekly Vegetarian Gluten Free menu planner for BetterBatter.org  Her vegetarian family is learning to navigate through the food allergy world of peanut free, tree free, dairy free and gluten free.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Lunch Time Makeover

This Week's Bento Lunch

Lunch Time Makeover

For this week's bento lunch, we decided to give one of our classic favorites, the grilled cheese, a little makeover. Less bread and a healthy serving of veggies made this sandwich a new favorite! 


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Friday, August 24, 2012

Laptop Lunches in Eating Well!

We were so excited to see our bento lunch boxes in Eating Well's online lunch article! Check it out: 



Don't-Miss Recipes:Low-Calorie One-Dish MealsSkinny, Grab-and-Go Muffins and Scones100-Calorie Fruit Desserts

#1 Lunch Ingredient That Satisfies
Want to know the secret to a low-calorie lunch that also keeps you satisfied? One nutrient in particular is an excellent addition: it keeps you feeling fuller longer, helping to carry you straight through the afternoon to dinner. Find out what one feel-full ingredient you should add to your lunch to stay satisfied.
#1 Lunch Ingredient That Satisfies
Light Lunches That Satisfy
Pizza Roll-Up Bento Box
Curried Chicken Pitas
Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad
Egg Salad Sandwich with Watercress
Chinese Chicken & Noodle Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Panini

$1.99 Organic Cotton Napkins!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Joys of Summer in a Bento

This Week's Bento Lunch 

Joys of Summer in a Bento

Two of our favorite things about the summer have come together this week to make one amazing bento lunch! Using fresh veggies from our garden to enhance some of our barbecue favorites made for the ultimate summertime meal. 

Click here to view this week's full menu.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Flavor Blast!

This Week's Bento Lunch

Flavor Blast!

This week's lunch packs a blast of flavors sure to please. From the savory tuna burgers to the sweet nectarines and everything in between, we hope you'll enjoy this lunch as much as we did! 


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Thursday, August 9, 2012

From the Tea House to the Lunch Box

This Week's Bento Lunch

From the Tea House to the Lunch Room

To keep lunch time interesting, we decided to combine it with tea time in this week's bento lunch. It's easy - just grab some of your favorite noshes, a glass of tea and enjoy! 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Enjoying the Best of Both Worlds

This Week's Bento Lunch

Enjoying the Best of Both Worlds

The day the pizza met the tostada was a beautiful day indeed and this week we're celebrating that very marriage with pizza tostadas! Feel free to be bold when combining ingredients so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. 



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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Jazzed Up Sandwich Lunch

This Week's Bento Lunch



This week we chose to have a sandwich for lunch but kept things interesting by pairing it with sautéed veggies, fresh berries from the garden and mini pretzels. Enjoy! 



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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Exploring, Enjoying and Protecting on Your Vacation



It’s safe to say that this summer has been brutally hot!   Cool off on a vacation that’s overflowing with fun in the sun, outdoor adventure and new experiences!  Check out these eco-friendly travel tips from Sierra Club National Outings to minimize the impact of your next vacation:

1.       Low-impact activities – Exploring and enjoying the planet without leaving a large carbon footprint is easy when you focus on activities such as hiking, kayaking, nature walks, swimming, and snowshoeing.

2.       Pack it In, Pack it Out – Everything you bring into the outdoors should leave with you. Plan meals carefully and repackage ingredients into reusable containers to minimize garbage. And if you see litter on the trail, pick it up!

     3.       Volunteer – Give back to the wild places you love on a service trip.  You’ll work on a variety of rewarding tasks, like repairing trails and removing invasive plants, with plenty of time to relax.

    4.       Group transportation – If you’re driving, plan a carpool. Some national parks even offer shuttle or train access. When visiting an urban area, opt for public transportation.  Mother Earth will thank you, and so will your wallet.


5.       Be a force for change – Want to protect the places you visit after you return home? Visit the Sierra Club’s My Piece of America site to stay up-to-date on threats to our nation’s wild places and opportunities to help save them.

Feeling adventurous, but not sure where to go?  Visit the My Piece of America web site and enter to win the Sierra Club Outings “End-of-Summer Sweepstakes!”  The winner will receive two round-trip tickets to Florida, 6-night stay in the Everglades National Park and kayaking lessons!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Mixing Up the Lunch Time Routine

This Week's Bento Lunch





If you're looking for something new to add to your lunch box, you're in luck. This week we made a rice sauté using black rice which has a decadently sticky consistency, great flavor and is full of vitamins and nutrients. For even more taste and nutrition, we sprinkled nutritional yeast on our sautee which added a wonderfully nutty flavor. We hope you'll try it. We think you'll like it! 



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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Star Studded Bento Lunch

This Week's Bento Lunch



The 4th of July may be over but we're still seeing stars! Fun bento lunches like this week's are a great way to remind us all of the excitement that can be found in every summer day! 



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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Crisp and Cool Bento Salad

This Week's Bento Lunch



Now that the weather is heating up, salads are a lunch time must. This week, we added pumpkin seeds and sprouts to some arugula from the garden. Crisp, cool, and seasonally fresh, this salad is sure become a staple around here this summer.



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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Enjoy Great Food While Greening Your Travels


Italy-Homemade Pizza - After
purchasing ingredients at Campo
de’ Fiori market in Rome, we made our own pizza.
Photo by: Greenloons
Savoring local flavors helps communities, families and the environment.

Eco-tourism travel is about preserving ecosystems, educating visitors about conservation, empowering localities, operating sustainable tourist attractions – and, most of all, having fun and unique family experiences!  Of course, eating is a big part of traveling and aside from the fact that families can truly immerse themselves in the travel experience when sampling local foods and delicacies, the practice of eating locally teaches the value of food to both young and wise, and helps the environment.

The environmental benefits of eating locally include: less need for preservatives, better health since smaller farms are less likely to use pesticides and more likely to grow a variety of foods, and helping local economies since farmers receive the full retail value of the item rather applying it toward the expenses of transportation, processing, packaging, and refrigeration.

To find sustainable food restaurants in the United States and Canada, two great resources are Eat Well Guide and Local Harvest, which provides a comprehensive U.S. directory of farmers markets, farm stands and other sources of locally grown food.

London-Gastropub - Farm-fresh appetizer
 at London’s only certified organic restaurant,
the family-friendly Duke of Cambridge.
Photo by: Greenloons
When traveling overseas, a great resource to use is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which lists organic farms as well as organic farm volunteering opportunities around the world.  While ‘farmers markets’ may be a relatively new concept for Americans, almost every foreign city large or small has established local markets that sell fresh meats, fish, cheeses, breads, pastries, vegetables and fruits.  Traversing through one of these markets with children will not only reveal the different colors, shapes, textures and smells of local food, but will serve as a quick language, math and social studies lesson too.

Alternatively, if you are overseas and a family member suffers from allergies, Select Wisely portable translation cards, which can also be downloaded to a smartphone, cover all manner of food allergies and medical conditions including cards for nut and shellfish allergies, restaurant chefs, gluten-free diets, as well as smoke-free and low-salt requests.

Zurek Soup-Poland - The Polish specialty
of Zurek Soup, served in Krakow,
 is not only nutritious and filling,
 but “delicious” according to
my 7 year-old.
Photo by: Greenloons
Next time you are traveling to a new country, try to find a sustainable food restaurant or organic farm market or festival, and start savoring the local flavors.

About the author:
Irene Lane is the founder and president of Greenloons, which connects families to meaningful and unique nature-based travel experiences all over the world.
·  

Thursday, June 21, 2012

It's a Pizza Pie

This Week's Bento Lunch



The first thing we said after opening this week's bento lunch was, "It's a pizza pie!" That's right... it's not just a slice of pizza; it's a pizza pie and it's delicious! Paired with peas and sweet kiwi, this lunch is the perfect summertime treat. 



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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Taste of the Mediterranean

This Week's Bento Lunch



The Mediterranean diet has been touted as one of the healthiest in the world and, by the looks of this week's bento lunch, it's clear to see why. Rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and full of flavor, this week's bento lunch is one of our new favorites! 


Click here to view this week's full menu.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

20% Off Lunch Carriers




Keep it cool at camp this summer!

3-DAY SUMMER KICK-OFF SALE! Receive 20% off select carriers with
coupon code: camp20




Flower Carrier

Stripe Tote

Black/Blue
Dual Tote

Plum Blossom
Dual Tote