Going Japanesa bento boxes

picture from turkey hill stores 

Sophie has started school now she is 4 and loves it she was in foundation 1 last year but it was half days now its a long day for her and she has lunch at school.  They do not have school dinners any more and all children bring pack lunches.  Every day like all mums i got up early and made the school lunch box and a sandwich, cheese, yogurt straw, crisps and a drink. i managed to do this for 5 days and was so incredibly bored making it, how un inspiring how dull and un exciting and to top it all off Sophie would come home with only half if that eaten now that's saying something im bored making it and she is bored eating it.  ps the picture above is not mine i nicked it off the web as i think it looks like a really boring old sandwich.

i so happen to be searching the net and found the happy little bento and was inspired totally and set about making some serious changes to the lunch time menu.  First thing first was to change and re organised and so i went shopping and found all sorts of wonderful little things that would be perfect for bento boxes and then i dedicated a little area of my kitchen for bento making and laid all my new tubs goodies out so i could see it all as i made the lunches, these are my dried goods my fridge is full of lovely cheeses and meats fresh fruits and vegetables.

Bento is in my mind small portions of food of which can be a bit arty as it is in the happy bento and i dont have the skills as the lady does there but i did my own little portions of colourful creations.

 Whoops this pic has 2 pepper sets and 2 mini rolls in as 1 of each were ment for daddy.  Sophie also likes to bake with me so we make a mini batch of cakes to put inside.

 Sometimes i slip in a lunch box guardian in Sophie's box a cat or princess as that is what i have at the moment but i will keep my eye out for others

 I always try and do fresh or dried fruit or both a fresh vegetable some sort of wrap or crackers a meat or cheese if its not in the wrap, then some naughties like crisp and both daddy and Sophie share 1 pack and a couple of sweetie

 I showed daddy the first bento box and he was really jelouse and asked if he could have a bento box too so now im making them both their own bento boxes every day.  i have to say it is rather addictive making them filling small colourful pots with little treats to pick at.

 Daddy loves his boxes a lot and Sophie now comes home with it eaten and she is always asking whats in tomorrows box but it always has to be a surprise.  when you get your bento head on its surprising what you start to find in the supermarkets that would fit perfectly.

i have been making them for a month now and they really are no hassle at all to do and i think its down to getting all sorted to start with as in my bento section in the kitchen picture. I have now also got daddy and Sophie their very own real bento boxes too

 Daddies two level bento box

 Sophies Kawaii brown Rilakkuma bear bento box

Yey after 1 month waiting Sophie bear box arrives from Japan

lunches don't have to be so boring and Sophie teacher says that the kids all gather round her box and have a peek inside to find out what she has.