Showing posts with label lunches for kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunches for kids. Show all posts

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Grazer's Delight

This Week's Bento Lunch

Grazer's Delight

Calling all grazers! If you're looking for a lunch to enjoy all afternoon, this one's for you. Everything in this lunch can easily stand on its own giving you a series of small meals to get through the day. 

Click here to view this full menu and nutritional information.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Wake Up and Bento

This Week's Bento Lunch

Whole Grain Cakes 

Whole grains contain a number of vitamins and antioxidants that have been proven to have a positive impact on our overall health, so it’s important to get at least three servings a day. To help meet this recommended daily allowance, we decided to make a batch of whole grain pancakes for lunch. That’s right; as long as you use healthy ingredients even a treat like pancakes can be good for you! 

Click here to view this week's full menu and nutritional information. 

Monday, March 3, 2014

Eating and Reading for National Reading Month


We’re so excited to share some amazing bento lunches and great reviews of books sure to make it to your “must read” list! Be sure to check in here every Wednesday in March as we honor National Reading Month with lots of fun, creativity and inspiration for lunch time and story time.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Happy Hanukkah!

This Week's Bento Lunch

Hanukkah Inspired Bento Lunch

Traditional Hanukkah menus often include latkes as a way to symbolize the drop of oil that burned for 8 days and 8 nights following the rededication of the holy temple. Over the years, these traditional potato pancakes have evolved to become extremely versatile and can now be found in a number of variations. Although there are many options available, we decided to keep our latkes traditional and served them with sour cream and apple berry sauce as part of this fun and tasty holiday lunch. 


Click here to view this week's full menu.

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! 


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.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Making Bento Lunches


Ever wondered how our amazing bento lunches come to life?

Be sure to check out our new weekly, "How To" series on the Laptop Lunches YouTube Channel. Here you'll see real life Laptop Lunches users making real life lunches such as in this video featuring co-founder Amy Hemmert:

      

If you make bento lunches at home and want to learn how to become part of our series, email us at: info@obentec.com and we'll be happy to help get you started.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Making Lunches Work


By Marissa Vicario, Marissa’s Well-being and Health (MWAH!)

Eating the same deli salad for lunch day in and day out can get boring and going to the nearest restaurant chain with co-workers can quickly pile on the pounds. Well-portioned lunches that travel well from home to office are well worth the minimal effort they take to prepare and result in a fatter wallet and slimmer waistline. Try some of these ideas for a healthier, more satisfying lunch.
·        
      Last Night’s Leftovers: Make more than you need and enjoy them the next day.
  • Nori Wraps: Nori, the seaweed that is used to make sushi, can be used to wrap any leftovers from the refrigerator. Get creative with your combinations or try this: leftover cooked brown rice, romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, sliced apple, a few basil leaves, some cilantro sprigs and leftover cooked greens like kale.
  • Super Salads: Deli salads don’t stand a chance next to homemade mixes that pack organic, high quality ingredients and loads of superfoods. Make your own dressing or keep it simple with lemon juice and olive oil or a splash of balsamic vinegar.
  • Homemade Soups: Make soup loaded with beans, grains and veggies ahead of time in a large batch and freeze any excess for a later date.
But just because you’re bringing lunch from home is no excuse to overdo it on the serving size. Use this guide for smart portion control: 
  •          Keep meat/poultry/fish to 4 ounce servings - or the size of your palm
  •          A serving of whole grains should be the size of your fist, one cup
  •          Two ounces of organic cheese is the size of two fingers
  •          Fill half your plate with green vegetables and limit second helpings to greens
  •          Eat sweets only on occasion and plan ahead




About Marissa Vicario
Marissa Vicario is lover of all things health and wellness and Founder of Marissa's Well-being and Health (MWAH!). As a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Marissa  works with urban professionals who want to lose weight, control their cravings and feel more energized without dieting, deprivation or calorie-counting. Having navigated her way to health while working in the corporate world, Marissa knows how to balance health and wellness with a demanding workload. She regularly lectures on corporate wellness, teaches cooking classes and is a believer in motivating women to kick off their stilettos and break in their stove tops as a first step in adopting a healthier lifestyle and kissing their unhealthy habits goodbye. Marissa blogs on health, wellness, spirituality and self love at www.whereineedtobe.com

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Kids and Cholesterol


By: Andrea Metcalf

Almost 20% of children have high cholesterol.  It may be logical to believe that this disease only affects overweight children, but genetics plays an important role as well and even skinny kids can have high cholesterol.  Fourteen year old Jason Myers is conscious of what he eats.  He was diagnosed with high cholesterol, like his brother and father, when he was only two years old.  When talking with him about his condition, he says "It just means I have to be more aware of what I eat."  
Here are some healthy breakfast and lunch ideas from Jason - "Dinner", he says, "is up to mom!"

Jason preparing an egg white omlette
Breakfast - 
Healthy Egg White Omelette  

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Egg Beaters, 1 cup raw spinach, 1/4 cup feta cheese, light cooking spray

Directions:
Spray the pan and lightly saute the spinach until it's shiny
Add the Egg Beaters ( whip in blender first to make them fluffy) and roll them to edge of pan
Cook until they lightly bubble then flip them over
Add feta cheese to one side of the eggs and fold in half
Slide onto plate

Lunch -
Rolled Turkey Wrap Ups - Take it with you using a great Lunch box from Laptop Lunches


http://www.laptoplunches.com/rss/42/bento-lunchbox-refried-rollups.htmlIngredients:
4 oz lean turkey lunchmeat, 2 large green leaf lettuce leaves, 1/4 sliced into strips red pepper, 2 oz light Cabot cheese, 1/4 cup of sprouts, Lemon slice and bottle of water

Directions:
Start with large lettuce leaves and evenly place, turkey, pepper, cheese and sprouts into each of them
Roll and wrap and place in lunchbox
bring a lemon slice for your water

"Anyone over twelve can make these items and eat healthier", says Jason.  He just may be the next Top Chef!

Andrea Metcalf, a fitness and lifestyle expert, has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America Health and Chicago's NBC 5 .  She is a nationally recognized Speaker, author of the best selling book,  Naked Fitness, Good Day Show radio personality, and producer and host of, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, a reality weight loss show that airs in Chicago on NBC Nonstop. She can be found giving fitness tips, inspirational thoughts and information on living a healthier, happier life at: www.andreametcalf.com.






Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Nutritiously Delicious Bento Lunch


This Week's Bento Lunch

Nutritiously Delicious Bento Lunch

Hummus is a great double-duty dip that is both nutritious and delicious. We added sundried tomatoes to our hummus to give it an extra burst of flavor and brought along carrot sticks and pita chips for dipping. Energy- packed trail mix and a sweet pluot rounded out this meal which left us feeling energized enough to tackle the rest of our day.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Picnic Lunch

This Week's Bento Lunch:

Picnic Lunch

Last weekend we enjoyed such a great bento picnic that we decided to recreate it for today's lunch.
This bento is a breeze to pack and is sure to be enjoyed in any setting!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Bento Fiesta


This Week's Bento Lunch

Bento Fiesta

Last night we had Mexican food for dinner, so we decided to use our leftover beans and rice to create a bento fiesta for today's lunch. Although Mexican food is often high in calories and fat, keeping items simple and pairing them with fresh fruits and vegetables is a healthy way to enjoy this popular cuisine.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Middle Eastern Lunch Box Feast

Today's Lunch Menu:



A meze is a combination of palate pleasing foods often served as appetizers at Middle Eastern gatherings. Like much of the region’s cuisine, the meze often features dishes made of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes with a variety of spices. After having our own Middle Eastern feast for dinner last night, we decided to create a personal sized meze to enjoy today for lunch.

Menu
  • Falafel Balls
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Baba Ghanoush
  • Tabbouleh
  • Whole Wheat Pita

Preparation Notes

Use leftovers or make the night before:

Use your favorite falafel mix and either bake or fry balls. Once cool, put into one of your large containers.

Add a handful of cherry tomatoes to the large container with your falafel balls.

Prepare the baba ghanoush and put into your medium lidded container. Following is the recipe we used:http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/baba-ghanoush-2/Detail.aspx.

Prepare the tabbouleh: http://veganconnection.com/recipes/tabouli.htm and put into your other medium container.

Cut up a whole wheat pita and place into your remaining large container.


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Veggie Omelet

This Week's Photo




We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is often also the most rushed. Having breakfast for lunch is a great way to enjoy some of your breakfast favorites--but in slow fashion.

Menu

  • Vegetable and Cheese Omelet
  • Home Fried Potatoes
  • Orange Segments
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin

Preparation Notes

Make an omelet with cheese and your favorite steamed vegetables to put into your large lidded container.

Cut a lemon poppy seed muffin in half and put both halves in your other large container.

Prepare home fried potatoes, let cool and put into our medium container.

Peel and cut an orange into segments to put into your other medium container.


Friday, January 7, 2011

Almond Butter and Bananas

This Week's Photo



If you're facing a stressful day at school or work, this is the lunch for you. Bananas play a starring role in this meal and their unique make up will help boost your energy, reduce your stress level and lighten your mood. All that and you get lemon cookies for dessert! How could your day not turn out great?

Menu

Almond Butter and Banana Sandwich
Steamed Broccoli
Ranch Dressing
Lemon Cookies

Preparation Notes

Spread almond butter on both halves of a whole wheat English muffin. Thinly slice half a banana up and add to the muffin. Put your sandwich and the second half of the banana in your extra large container.

Steam broccoli crowns and add to one of the medium containers.

Fill the dip container with ranch dressing and add it to the extra large container to enjoy your broccoli with.

Fill your other medium container with your favorite lemon cookies.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Four Cheese Ravioli

This Week's Photo



Ravioli are easy to prepare and, with the seemingly endless combination of fillings and toppings, are sure to be a hit amongst the entire family. We served our four-cheese ravioli with a fresh green salad, oranges and chocolate squares for dessert which made for quite the lunch time treat.

Menu


•Four Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce
•Green Salad
•Tuscan Salad Dressing
•Orange Slices
•Dark Chocolate Squares

Preparation Notes

Cook the ravioli and put into your large container. Top with marinara sauce and fresh basil.

Toss your favorite greens with dried cranberries and walnuts to put into your other large container.

Fill the dip container with Tuscan dressing to drizzle over your salad.

Fill one bento divider with dark chocolate squares. Store chocolate and Tuscan dressing in your medium container.

Slice oranges to put into your other medium container.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

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.


Friday, December 17, 2010

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

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

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.