Rice Pilaf Holiday Lunch

Today's Holiday Photo

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!

Menu

• Pecan and Veggie Rice Pilaf
• Roasted Butternut Squash Star
• Cheddar Cheese Stars
• Roasted Golden Beets
• Persimmon Slices
• Chocolate Ornament

Preparation Notes

Either use leftovers or prepare a fresh batch of pecan and veggie rice pilaf. Put your cooled rice pilaf into your extra large container.

Slice and roast a butternut squash. Let squash cool and then cut into a large star. Place your star on top of the rice pilaf.

Slice cheddar cheese and cut into small stars and place on the rice pilaf leading up to the butternut squash star.

Cut beets into chunks, sprinkle with olive oil, coarse salt and pepper before roasting. Once cool, sprinkle with parsley and use to fill up your medium lidded container.

Cut up a ripe persimmon for your medium unlidded container.

Put a chocolate treat into one of your bento dividers and put it into your extra large container for a special treat.

Risotto Wreath

Today's Holiday Photo

Risotto is great for holiday celebrations as either a main course or a side dish. It’s fairly easy to make, can be customized to suit your palate and makes for great leftovers. We had fun using our leftovers to create this festive wreath!

Menu

• Risotto Wreath with Pea Sprouts, Tamari Almonds and a Red Pepper Bow
• Steamed Cauliflower
• Yam Stars
• Mixed Nuts
• Fresh Pineapple Chunks

Preparation Notes

Shape a serving of risotto into a wreath. Top your wreath with pea sprouts, tamari almonds and a red pepper bow. Place your finished wreath into your extra large container.

Add steamed cauliflower and yam stars to the bottom of your extra large container.

Fill your medium unlidded container with mixed nuts.

Fill your medium lidded container with fresh pineapple chunks.

Holiday Lunch Menu #6 & FREE Shipping

Just a quick reminder about our free shipping through Dec 31st. We're also offering same-day shipping on all orders placed before noon M-F.



Be sure to take advantage of this rare opportunity at http://www.laptoplunches.com.

Swiss Cheese Snowman

Today's Holiday Photo


What better way to brighten a cold winter's day than with Frosty, the Swiss cheese sandwich? We hope this holiday bento will remind you to join in on the fun this season has to offer.

Menu

Swiss Cheese Snowman Sandwich
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Striped Apple Sticks
Cranberry Relish

Preparation Notes

Make a Swiss cheese sandwich and cut it into the shape of a snowman. Put your snowman in your extra large bento container using part of the crust as the ground for your snowman to stand on. To decorate your snowman, cut olives out for the eyes and buttons. Use pieces of wild rice to create a mouth. Cut out a carrot nose and use red pepper to create a scarf as well as eye highlights. Top your snowman off with a cucumber peel hat and then use a micro planer to finely grate Swiss cheese to create a snow fall in your bento.

Cube and roast sweet potatoes with your favorite herbs and spices. Once cool put into one of your medium containers.

Cut an unpeeled apple into sticks and use a paring knife to cut stripes onto your sticks and add to your other medium container. You can also use one of your sticks as your snowman's broom.

Fill your dip container with cranberry relish from a recent holiday celebration

Lunch Boxes for Adults are a Smart Holiday Gift Idea!

The holidays are here and what better way to spread the cheer than with the gift of a Laptop Lunches bento box? Last week, we covered our best kids’ lunch box gift picks for those of you who are shopping for little ones this holiday season. This week, we’ll dive in with our suggestions for adult lunch boxes that are sure to be a hit with that special family member, friend, or co-worker on your gift list!

Laptop Lunches are a smart gift idea that adults can use all year long. Plus, they promote positive habits like eating balanced meals, reducing waste, and saving money. Check out our top adult lunch box picks below!

Adult Lunch Boxes for the Women on Your List

Lunch Dates - $65.99 (Designer) and $46.99 (Casual)
Our new Lunch Dates are the ultimate way to pack a healthy meal in style! A bento set with five inner containers slides into an insulated bento sleeve, which fits perfectly inside a chic, purse-style lunch bag. Next time a friend or coworker invites you out to lunch, you can say, “No thanks, I’ve got a Lunch Date!” and feel good about eating smart, saving money, and helping the planet - in style!

Designer Lunch Date (left) and Casual Lunch Date (right)

Confetti Bento Kit - $36.99
Make every day’s lunch a celebration of healthy eating with the Confetti Bento Kit! A purple insulated tote holds a purple bento box with five brightly colored stay-fresh containers. A set of utensils and the Laptop Lunch User’s Guide make the kit complete.

Adult Lunch Box Options for Men On the Go

Power Lunch Bento Systems - $44.99
Packing a bento lunch in our Power Lunch System is the perfect way to enjoy a balanced, nutritious meal that will power you through your busy day! Choose an insulated carrier in black/blue or black/red, load up the coordinating bento box with wholesome food choices, and fill the drink bottle with your beverage of choice. Stainless steel utensils complete the system, and the Laptop Lunch User’s Guide provides fresh lunch making ideas.


Striped Bento Kit - $36.99
You’ll be feeling anything but blue while looking forward to the delicious bento lunch you’ve packed in the Striped Bento Kit! This functional, sustainable adult lunch box kit comes with a striped blue insulated tote that holds a blue bento box with five light blue inner containers. Reusable, stainless steel utensils eliminate the need for plastic cutlery, and the Laptop Lunch User’s Guide is also included.

Adult Lunch Box Accessories

Bento Dividers - $3.99
These bright little cups can help to organize your bento lunch and are great for snacks like berries, olives, nuts, and crackers. They are made of silicone and are easy to clean. For a sweet treat, use them to bake muffins or cupcakes! Available as a set of two, one lime and one teal.


Bento Buddies - $12.99
Available in lime, berry, pink, purple party, and red, Bento Buddies are great for creating additional configurations inside your bento lunch box! Or just use them on their own for snacks and munchies instead of disposable plastic bags. A set of Bento Buddies includes four bento containers of varying sizes designed to expand your options for making creative, healthy lunches without any waste!



Large Double-wall Drink Bottle - $16.99
This tapered 17 oz. stainless steel drink bottle is both stylish and comfortable to hold. The double-wall design prevents condensation from forming on the outside of the bottle, while keeping the contents cool. Stay hydrated this year and for many years to come!

Get Healthy Holiday Gifts for Everyone on Your List!

We hope this list has provided some inspiration when it comes to holiday shopping for the adults in your life. Be sure to check out our suggestions for kids lunch box gift ideas if you missed it last week! And don’t forget, customers who place orders over $65 will receive Free Shipping until December 31st. Plus, we’re offering same day shipping on all orders placed Monday-Friday before noon (Pacific Time) through December 23rd.

Leave us a comment below! Which of these gifts are you hoping to receive this year?

Peanut Butter and Jelly Christmas Tree

Today's Holiday Photo




We’ve been enjoying our Christmas tree so much that we decided to carry that joy along with us in our bento boxes today. Our peanut butter and jelly Christmas tree was fun to decorate and is sure to be a hit this afternoon.

Menu

Peanut Butter and Jelly on Whole Wheat Bread
Yam Star
Red Pepper and Cheddar Cheese Presents
Steamed Broccoli
Yams with Cheddar Cheese Stars
Red Seckel Pears


Preparation Notes

Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread and cut into the shape of a Christmas tree for your extra large container.

Cut small ornaments out of strips of red pepper and cheddar cheese to decorate your tree.

Make presents out of cheddar and Swiss cheese slices to put around your tree.

Surround your tree with steamed broccoli.

Cut and steam yams. Once cool, cut stars out of the center of the yams with your star cutter. Use one of your cut-out stars to top your Christmas tree with. Use the same cutter to cut stars out of a slice of cheddar cheese. Fill the star cut-out in your yam with a cheddar cheese star. Put your cheddar cheese yams into one of your medium containers.

Clean a couple red seckel pears for your other medium container.

Holiday Lunch Menu #5 & FREE Shipping

Here's another holiday bento photo for your enjoyment. What do you think??? What creative holiday lunch ideas have you come up with? Post your ideas and comments here.