Spinach Frittata

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Eggs have gotten a bad rap in the past, but they are a very inexpensive way to get a number of vitamins and nutrients into any meal. We decided to really amp up the nutritional value by making spinach frittatas for lunch. Paired with the sweet tastes of honey bliss melon and dried papaya chunks, this meal hit all the right marks.

Menu

•Spinach Frittata
•Whole Grain Crackers
•Honey Bliss Melon
•Dried Papaya Chunks

Preparation Notes

Prepare the spinach frittata, let cool and put into your extra large container. You can use your own recipe or try the following: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RE00015.

Add whole grain crackers to the medium container.

Put honey bliss melon into the other medium container.

Fill one of your bento dividers with dried papaya chunks and add it to your extra large container with the frittata.

Flavors of Fall

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The sweet, nutty flavor of butternut squash makes it an ideal vegetable for soups that can be enjoyed either warm or cold. Coconut brown rice, almonds, and crackers round out this lunch making it the perfect accompaniment to a beautiful fall day.

Menu

•Butternut Squash Soup with Sour Cream
•Coconut Brown Rice
•Tamari Roasted Almonds
•Whole Grain Crackers
•Kiwi Slices

Preparation Notes

Make butternut squash soup using the following recipe or one of your own: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/367/Cold-Butternut-Squash-Soup88686.shtml. Let cool before adding to your large lidded container and topping with a dollop of sour cream.

Prepare the coconut brown rice. We liked the following recipe: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Coconut-Brown-Rice. Let cool before adding to your medium lidded container.

Use your favorite whole grain crackers to fill up 1/2 of your large unlidded container.

Make Tamari Roasted Almonds: Let 1/4 cup Tamari Sauce and 6oz of almonds marinate for about 30 minutes. Drain and bake at 350 degress for 6-8 minutes. Let almonds cool before using to fill up your bento divider with and add to your large container with the crackers.

Cut and peel a kiwi fruit for your medium unlidded container.

Asian Combination

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Sweet, crisp Asian pears were the starting point for this week's lunch menu. The combination of flavors and textures we put together were so dynamic that even our pickiest eaters finished everything... including their spinach!

Menu

•Soba Noodles
•Sesame Peanut Sauce
•Steamed Spinach
•Zen Party Mix
•Asian Pear

Preparation Notes

Boil soba noodles according to package instructions. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and use to fill one of your large containers.

Fill the dip container with home made or store bought peanut sauce of your choice. You can find an easy recipe through the following link: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/best-peanut-sauce/Detail.aspx.

Steam spinach, let cool and put into one of your medium containers.

Add your favorite zen party mix to the other medium container.

Slice an Asian pear for your other large container.

New EcoUsable Water Bottles Now Available in Web Store

A new product has recently been added to our Web Store, stainless steel EcoUsable water bottles.

The 10-ounce EcoUsable bottle is lightweight, eco-friendly, and taste-neutral. It fits perfectly inside our bento carriers or in the side drink holder pocket of our bento totes. Complete with a carabiner clip and loop cap, it’s the perfect way to stay hydrated at school or on the go without using disposable plastic bottles, aluminum cans, or juice boxes!

EcoUsable Bottle Features:
• BPA-free
• Durable, lightweight, reusable and 100% recyclable
• Made of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel
• Doesn’t retain or impart flavors
• Non-slip base
• Stainless steel thread
• BPA-free polypropylene (#5) cap
• Loop cap with caribiner

Specifications for EcoUsable Bottles:
• Capacity: 10 fluid ounces (300 ml)
• Height: 6 inches
• Width: 2.56 inches
• Weight: 8 ounces

EcoUsable Water Bottle Materials:
• 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, 100% recyclable
• Polypropylene (#5) cap

If you are looking for a new drink bottle to complete your bento lunch box, stop by our web store and check out the EcoUsable bottle!

Fall Fill You Up Lunch

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When the chilly days of fall leave you craving comfort food, this lunch is the way to go. The protein provided in the tofu along with the nutrient dense baked potato and butternut squash will leave you feeling satisfied without weighing you down. A sliced kiwi brings a sweet end to this meal while offering a healthy dosage of vitamin C.

Menu

•Baked Tofu
•Baked Potato
•Gravy
•Butternut Squash
•Sliced Kiwi

Preparation Notes

Prepare the night before:

Make baked tofu according to the following recipe: http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/baked-tofu-recipe.php. Let cool and place into one of your large containers.

Clean potato and pierce several times. Wrap potato in foil, drizzle with olive oil and bake in 350 degree oven for about 1 hour. Let cool and place into your other large container.

Prepare your favorite gravy recipe to enjoy with your baked potato.

Peel and cut butternut squash into 1" cubes. Steam until squash is tender, about 8 minutes. Use to fill up one of your medium containers.

Peel and slice a kiwi for your other medium container.

Best Kids Lunch Box Award from SheKnows.com!

The results of the 2010 SheKnows.com Parenting Awards have been revealed, and we’re thrilled to announce that Laptop Lunches has been named the 1st place winner in the Best Kids Lunch Box category! This award is a huge honor, and we are so excited to share the big news with all of our fans, followers, and supporters!

The SheKnows Parenting Awards were created to recognize parenting products and services that are most valued by today’s consumer. The awards were broken down into 100 different categories, covering everything from gifts to gadgets and kids lunch boxes to home & living. Each SheKnows Parenting Award nominee was carefully reviewed by the SheKnows.com team of editors and handpicked for quality, functionality, and convenience, so it was an honor just to be considered for this coveted award!

The winners of the SheKnows Parenting Awards were determined via an organic online voting process that was open to the public. Once we learned that our Laptop Lunches kids lunch box had been nominated, we reached out to you, our community, and asked for your help to spread the word and cast your votes. Now it’s time for us to say a big Thank You SO MUCH to everyone who responded! We sincerely appreciate your support!

More information about the SheKnows Parenting Awards is available at SheKnows.com. Check out the results of the Food category, and scroll down to see Laptop Lunches in 1st place for the Kids Lunch Box subcategory!