Feeding the Adult Apetite

This Week's Bento Lunch

We know it's not just kids packing their lunches, so this week's lunch was made specifically for all of you adults out there! Spinach salad, curry, chocolate covered espresso beans - this isn't your kid's lunchbox.

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

Rock Star Soup

This Week's Bento Lunch

Kale and lentils and potatoes - oh my! This week we've got red lentil and kale soup in our bento lunches which just may be the rock star of all soups. Heat it up or enjoy it cold. Either way, you'll feel great knowing that you're filling your body up with the vitamins and nutrients it deserves. 

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Autumn Picnic

The leaves are beginning to turn and the weather is just perfect for spending a day out of doors! Take the afternoon to read in the park or go on a light hike in the woods and don't forget to pack your picnic bento! 

Find this weeks Full Menu details here. 

Get Your Greens!

Getting your greens doesn't have to be a drag! Dress up a salad with fun garnishes and panda picks, make a bear shaped egg, plus a side of delicious dip and you will have the most festive and fun-to-eat salad, ever! 

Find this weeks Full Menu details here. 

Pack Lunch, Pack Love!

Don't just pack lunch, pack love! There is something so delightful and heart warming about the simple combination of Soup and Salad for lunch. Adding in a whole grain roll and melon hearts makes this bento lunch both filling and an extra special treat for anyone. 

Click here to see this weeks Full Menu details. 

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This lunch is a fresh and festive way to brighten up your day. A zesty quinoa salad, with pita and hummus, plus a side of mango is an easy gourmet lunch to pack on the go, whether for work, school or play!

Click here to see this weeks Full Menu details. 

Sweet Potato Hummus and Spinach Salad

It's not just hummus- It's sweet potato hummus! YUM! Served with flax seed chips, spinach salad dressed in balsamic vinaigrette, a side of curried couscous and two little cutie mandarins, this bento lunch hints at the autumnal season soon to come, while still celebrating the bounties of summer.

Click here for the Full Menu details. 

Pasta Salad Picnic Lunch

Need to get out of the house? Pack a bento picnic lunch filled with pasta salad and greens and take yourself on a lunch date! With a side of whole-grain pretzels, sunflower seeds and grapefruit, this lunch will give you a little break from the mundane.

Click here to see this weeks Full Menu details! 

Smoked Albacore and Avocado Dip ~ submitted by Ailis Roisin of AnthroposDomestica

This Easy Gourmet Recipe Submission is a great party snack or salad topper! See Ailis's blog here.

1 package Hickory Smoked Albacore Tuna
1 Avocado
1 tsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. (or more) Hot Sauce
Salt and Pepper

Halve your Avocado, remove the pit, and scoop out the meat into a bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork till somewhat smooth. Add in the Smoked Albacore Tuna, Olive Oil and Hot Sauce. You can use any brand of hot sauce. I prefer either Tapatio or Sriracha. Sprinkle in Salt and Pepper to taste. Stir until evenly mixed.

Serve with Corn Chips, Veggies or on Small Toasts.

California Brown Rice Salad ~ submitted by Lauren Pierini

This Easy Gourmet Recipe submission is perfect for a summer picnic or barbeque.

Ingredients:

1 Shallot, chopped
2 cups Cooked Brown Rice
1 Tomato, diced
1/2 Cucumber, diced
2 tbsp Arugula, finely chopped
1 Avocado, cubed
1/3 cup Crumbled Feta Cheese
Juice of Half a Lemon
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Prepare your Brown Rice according to the package details and set aside.

Dice your Tomato and half a Cucumber into small pieces and finely chop your arugula and shallot. Set these aside. 

Sauté the chopped shallot in a skillet with a swirl of olive oil. Add two cups of the cooked brown rice, the diced tomato and cucumber, along with your arugula. Cube your avocado and scoop into the mix, discarding the black shell. Add your Crumbled Feta Cheese and squeeze one half of a Lemon over the salad, then Salt and Pepper to taste.  Mix until just incorporated and lightly warmed.

Serve as a side to salmon or as an addition to a green salad. 

Falafel Stuffed Pita

Greek Salad with a Whole Wheat Pita Pocket stuffed with Hummus, Falafel, Olive Tapenade and Greens - Opa! Pita pockets are a fun and healthy meal on the go for all ages. The zesty flavors and crisp veggies will brighten your lunch hour and leave you feeling satisfied and happy!

Click here to see this weeks full Menu. 

Bento Americana

This Weeks Bento Lunch Menu

This American classic makes a great mid-day meal any time of year. Use lots of seasonal fresh greens topped with your favorite toppings for a salad you're sure to love. Pack it with a side of chili and some fresh cornbread, and you've got a real treat!

Click here to view this weeks full menu. 

Pasta for our Loves

This Week's Bento Lunch

We've been so inspired by the amazing Valentine's Day Bento Lunches you've been sharing that we decided to get in on the fun with this week's bento lunch. Happy Valentine's Day! 


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Flavor Blast!

This Week's Bento Lunch

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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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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Fiesta to Go

This Week's Bento Lunch

No time to stop by your favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch? No worries. Just take it to go! That's what we did this week and we will admit to enjoying every last bite! 


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Weekend Casserole

This week's bento lunch


Casseroles make terrific lunchbox leftovers and are great for adding nutrient-rich, fresh vegetables, like spinach, to your mid-day meal. Spinach casseroles, which come in many forms, can be prepared on the weekend and packed for lunch throughout the week. Try a spinach lasagna (pictured here) or a casserole made with brown rice, whole grain pasta, amaranth, barley, bulgur, or whole-wheat couscous. 


Click here to view this week's full menu.

Veggie Spectacular

This Week's Bento Lunch




This week we've packed our Bento Box full of goodness using a flavorful veggie tofu loaf as the main course. Whether you're a full time vegetarian or not, veggie loaves are a delicious way to incorporate great flavor and a number of vitamins and nutrients into your meal.


Click here to view this week's full menu. 

Salad and Sandwich

This Week's Photo



Menu

* Garden Salad
* Mandarin Ginger Dressing
* Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Avocado and Mustard
* Baked Apple Slices with Oats and Nuts


Preparation Notes

As the weather warms, and our farmers' market continues to expand its offerings, you'll begin to see more and more salads featured here. We are truly looking forward to summer's bounty, and we suspect that you might be too!

Prepare a salad with your favorite fresh vegetables and fruits.

Pour some salad dressing of your choice into the little dip container. Consider experimenting with varieties that you've not tried before.

Make a grilled cheese sandwich. Spruce it up with some sliced avocado, marinated red bell peppers, or grilled vegetables.

Prepare the baked sliced apples: Slice apples and sprinkle with a small amount of water or orange juice. Bake in a covered dish (or heat in a sauce pan on the stove) until tender. Add oats and nuts (or high-quality granola), and stir to combine ingredients.

Butternut Squash Soup and Salads

This Week's Photo



Menu

* Butternut Squash Soup
* Not-Your-Ordinary Potato Salad
* Organic Kiwi Fruit
* Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Cranberries

Preparation Notes

Soup and salad make a delicious lunch any day of the year, but butternut squash soup in January is hard to beat! Prepare the soup and salads for dinner and pack the leftovers for lunch. They're delicious, nutritious, and gluten free!

Prepare the butternut squash soup for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch.

Prepare the potato salad. The recipe pictured here is made not only with potatoes, but with steamed green beans, diced cucumber, sliced radishes, scallions and chopped celery.

Slice the kiwi fruit in half and pack a spoon.

Prepare the Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Cranberries. We love Brussels sprouts, but if they're not your thing, try this recipe with cabbage instead.