Another Rudolph Lunch

I know, I've already done a Rudolph lunch but he's so cute, he deserves another.  After all, he is the most famous reindeer of all!!

 

• 2 reindeer-shaped sandwiches (stacked), decorated with icing eyes, a cherry tomato nose and crust of the bread for the antlers
• Spinach and tomato salad with Italian dressing
• Fresh pineapple chunks with a Christmas Tree cupcake pick
• Peppermint dipped pretzel stars
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Christmas series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

 

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Kid Created Christmas Bentos

I have been super busy with work (and life!) so my kids got into the fun and created some Christmas themed lunches for themselves!

My 8 year old made herself this lunch:

• Stocking-shaped sandwich decorated with food safe markers
• Clementine flower with a raspberry center
• Peas
• Peppermint covered pretzel stars

And my 10 year old made this one: 

• Christmas tree-shaped sandwiches (stacked), decorated with food safe markers
• Raspberries with a Christmas tree pick
• Peas
• Peppermint covered pretzel stars

Here are some of the items, or similar items, they used when creating these lunches:

 

Deck the lunch with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la!...Cucumber and cherry tomato "holly"!

 

• 2 circle-shaped sandwiches (stacked) decorated with food safe markers and a ring pick to look like an ornament
• Red grapes with a ornament cupcake pick
• Cucumber slices that I cut using a leaf shaped cookie stamp, and cherry tomatoes
• Peppermint dipped pretzel stars
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Christmas series

In addition to the product links above, here are some of the other items, or similar items, that I used when creating this lunch:

 

 

 

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixon...

...Comet, and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...
But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?

• 2 reindeer sandwiches (circle-shaped sandwiches decorated with icing eyes, a red M&M and food safe markers)
• Strawberries with a Christmas tree pick
• Broccoli with a "Merry Christmas" pick and ranch
• Pretzel crisps
• Hershey kisses
• Lunchbox Love Note from Christmas series

Like "Bento-logy" on Facebook!

Sorry for my lack of posting in recent weeks!  We were on vacation for Thanksgiving and since we've been back, between working, decorating, shopping, wrapping, etc, I haven't found my groove with lunches.  I've still been packing and sometimes photographing, but haven't had a chance to blog about them.

Are you on Facebook?  If so, make sure you "like" my Bento-logy page.  Sometimes, before I have time to put up a full blog post, I'll post pictures of the lunches I've made or I'll post past lunches that fit with a certain theme.

As of when I'm writing this, I'm only 14 "likes" away from hitting 1,000!!  That will be very exciting!

You can click here or simply hit the Facebook button at the upper right corner of this page.

Tom the Turkey

Every since I saw this adorable turkey lunch at Bento for Kidlet, I have been looking forward to recreating it.   I used dough presses to make the turkey feathers and then just added a bit of the heal of the bread for his head. 

 

• 2 dough-press sandwiches decorated to look like the feathers of the turkey.   As mentioned above, the turkey's head is just a piece I cut from the heel of the bread and decorated with food safe markers, icing eyes and a carrot nose.
• Red and Green Grapes with a "Give Thanks" cupcake pick
• Carrots with ranch
• Hershey kisses
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Thanksgiving series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch: 

 

Click here for other Thanksgiving themed lunches:

Turkey Bento

I saw this post on Pinterest and it inspired me to make a turkey bento to celebrate Thanksgiving.

•   Turkey sandwich made with 2 circle cookie cutters, icing eyes, a carrot nose and tomato skin.   You may wonder why he's wearing a bow tie (which you can barely see in the picture) and a party hat?   Because they are helping keep his head in place.
• Cucumber slices with a turkey cupcake ring
• Red grapes with a "Give Thanks" cupcake pick
• Candy corn (turkey feathers)
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Thanksgiving Series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:


Click below to see a bunch of other fun lunches:

What Does the Fox Say?

Have I successfully planted that tune in your head that will stick with you all...day...long?  

I saw these fox cookies on Pinterest yesterday and was inspired to make them into a sandwich.  My girls are nuts about that song and I know they will enjoy opening their lunches to this little guy.

 

• The fox-shaped sandwich is made from a star-shaped cookie cutter.   I made the sandwich out of a wheat bread that has a light color and then cut the top (fur) out of the heel of 100% whole grain wheat bread to show the color contrast.   I cut triangles for the ears and trimmed up around the face to show off his snout.   I finished him off with icing eyes and an M&M for his nose.
• Strawberry slices
• Green peas
• Mini Kit Kat bar

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

See more fun lunches at

Happy Halloween!!

Wow, it's already here!!   This month has flown by and I've had lots of fun making festive Halloween lunches.   Today's the last one...A spooky graveyard!

• 2 gravestone-shaped sandwiches decorated with ghost and pumpkin picks, and "RIP" made from fruit leather
• Red grapes with a "Trick or Treat" cupcake pick
• Peas
• Mini Kit Kat candy bar

Here are some of the items, or similar items I used when creating this lunch:

Jack-O-Lantern Lunch

• Jack-o-Lantern shaped PB&J
• Peas with creepy eyes (cupcake ring)
• Clementine that I carved to look like a Jack-O-Lantern and added a leaf pick
• Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Halloween Series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

Halloween Roll-Ups

• Sandwich roll-ups decorated with ghost and pumpkins picks (They are actually game pieces that are part of a Halloween game from the Dollar Store.)
• Carrots with ranch
• Red grapes with a "Boo!" cupcake pick
• Mini Reese's cup

Here are some of the items I used when packing this lunch:

Boo! Another Ghostly Bento Lunch

 

• 2 ghost-shaped sandwiches, stacked.   I put the cheese from one sandwich on top of the bread and, using a straw, added circles for the mouth and eyes.
• Peas
• Strawberries with a ghost cupcake pick
• Marshmallows, decorated to look like ghosts using food safe markers
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Halloween series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Creepy Skull Lunch

 

• 2 skull-shaped sandwiches (stacked), made using a cookie cutter/stamp
• Broccoli with ranch and a skeleton cupcake pick
• Red grapes with a "Creepy" cupcake pick
• York Peppermint Patty
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Halloween series

Here is a link to the skeleton picks I used when creating this lunch: 

Super Quick Jack-O-Lantern Lunch

 

• Pumpkin-shaped sandwich.  I used a pumpkin cookie stamp to add the Jack-O-Lantern face
• Carrots with ranch
• Strawberries with a jack-o-lantern cupcake pick
• Mini candy bar

Here are some of the items, or similar items that I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Sleeping Bats

I was given the opportunity to test out CuteZCute's latest creation, the Animal Palz Mini Sandwich and Egg Press and I loved it!   Like the original CuteZCute, you get several adorable creations in one press.  The system allows you to create a bat, a monkey, a sheep or a panda.  As the name indicates, you can use it to make mini pocket sandwiches or hard boiled eggs.   I used the monkey to make a hard boiled egg - it turned out adorable but my daughter ate it before I could snap a picture!   I used the bat to make this Halloween lunch. I made 2 versions of this lunch: one with PB&J and the other with turkey and cheese and the Animal Palz press worked great on both.  

 

• 2 bat-shaped mini pocket sandwiches, stacked.  I put the bats upside down, because that's how bats sleep :-)
• Clementine with a bat cupcake pick
• Peas
• Peanut butter filled pretzels
• Mini candy bar

Thank you Bento USA for giving me the opportunity to test the Animal Palz!  Two thumbs up!!

 

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

 

My other bento buddies have been having fun with the Animal Palz too.  Check out:

• Wendolonia's panda lunch
• Bent On Better Lunches for a Panda Egg lunch and a batty lunch
• Organized Bites for an adorable sleeping bats lunch
• One Crafty Thing for a Panda lunch
• Following In My Shoes for a bat lunch

Boo-tiful Ghost Lunch

The other day, while perusing Pinterest, I saw this post suggesting using a tulip cookie cutter as a ghost.  Brilliant!!!!   I am totally going to use this down the line for a Pac-Man lunch but for today, I stuck with a Halloween theme.

• Sandwich pocket, decorated with 2 little ghosts cut from a tortilla using the mini tulip cutter and decorated with a food safe marker
• Cucumber and tomato slices, decorated with a "Boo" cupcake pick
• Red grapes with a ghost cupcake pick
• Mini candy bar
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Halloween series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:



This post contains affiliate links.

This lunch was super easy and quick to make.   For other lunches that were made in 15 minutes or less, check out:

Frankenstein

Well, I held out to October 8 before I made my first Halloween lunch ;-)

• 2 square-shaped sandwiches made with a spinach tortilla, turkey and cheese and honey mustard, stacked.  I decorated them to look like Frankenstein using nori, icing eyes, a food marker and pretzels.
• Green peas
• Raspberries with a "Happy Halloween" pick
• String cheese decorated to look like a ghost using a food safe marker.
• Mini candy bar
• Lunchbox Love Note from the Halloween series

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:


This post contains affiliate links.

Scarecrow

I am itching to get started on Halloween themed lunches.   I'm not a crazy fan of Halloween (I mean, it's fun to dress up and who doesn't love all the candy?! But I'm not a Halloween fanatic) but I do love making Halloween lunches.

But, before I jump into Halloween, I wanted to make one last fall-themed lunch.  

• Scarecrow sandwiches.   I made this by cutting out circle-shaped sandwiches (There are 2, stacked).   I cut the hat and nose out of the heel of the bread, accented with a flower pick, and then decorated it with food safe markers, icing eyes and linguine for straw hair.
• Carrots and sugar snap peas with ranch
• Red Grapes with a "fall" pick
• Mini candy bar

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

This post contains affiliate links.

To see some more fun lunches, check out:

I'm nuts about you!

Quick and easy lunch to celebrate fall.

 

• 4 mini acorn-shaped sandwiches.   I used the crust of the bread to cut out the acorn tops.
• Cucumber slices with a squirrel pick
• Red grapes with a squirrel and an acorn pick

 

Here are some of the items, or similar items I used when creating this lunch:

 



This post contains affiliate links.

Chicken Salad Bento Lunch

Today's lunch was quick, easy and delicious!!

• Chicken salad with a scarecrow cupcake pick and a pretzel roll
• Carrots with ranch
• Strawberry hearts
• 2 Oreo cookies

Today is the last day to enter my Lunchbox Love Notes giveaway!   Don't miss out on your chance to win these adorable notes!  Click here to enter the giveaway

Here are some of the items, or similar items,  I used when creating this lunch:


This post contains affiliate links.

Reach for the Stars

I find that the easiest way to add a little pizazz to a lunch is to use a sandwich stamp.  It adds detail to a sandwich in seconds!  Here is today's quick lunch to remind my girls to reach of the stars!

• 2 star-shaped sandwiches (stacked)
• Kiwi stars with a cupcake pick
• Peas
• Pretzel snaps with chocolate hazelnut spread for dipping

In addition to the product link above, here are some of the other items, or similar items, that I used when creating this lunch:



DON'T FORGET - Click here to enter to win a set of Lunchbox Love Notes!

This post contains affiliate links.

First Fall Lunch

Can you believe it's fall already?  

 

• Acorn and leaf mini sandwiches cut out using pie crust cutters
• Red and green grapes
• Broccoli and carrots with ranch
• Cheese stick
• Hershey's chocolate nugget

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Check out other lunches at:

:*~*~* Lunchbox Love Notes Giveaway! *~*~*

For those of you who are regular readers, you know that my family loves Lunchbox Love Notes.  My daughters have asked me to send them even when they are buying lunch at school!  So, I was very excited when the wonderful people at Say Please offered to giveaway a set of their newest cards (Kids volumes 49-52 PLUS 1 set each from their Halloween and Thanksgiving collections!) to one of my lucky readers.

For those of you who are not familiar with Lunchbox Love Notes, they are an easy yet meaningful way to let someone know you are thinking of them. A positive message on the front of the card reminds them how much they are loved while the "Did You Know" trivia or joke on the back will entertain. My daughters' classmates always want to hear the trivia or joke, which encourages lunchtime conversation.  Each volume contains 12 cards --10 with different phrases and fun facts or jokes and 2 blanks so you can add a personal message.

 

The "Did you know?" trivia facts are lots of fun.   Can't you just see all the kids at the lunch table trying to hum while holding their nose?:

 

I also love when the message ties to the theme of the lunch: 

They also have Lunchbox Love Notes specific to the holidays!  Here are Thanksgiving and Halloween lunches!

 

There is a Lunchbox Love Notes perfect for every occasion!

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment below letting me know what your favorite thing is about Lunchbox Love Notes.  This will open up additional entry options.   This giveaway is open to United States and Canadian residents only.   I will randomly select a winner on October 2nd and the winner will have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't hear back within 48 hours, I will select an alternative winner.   All entries must be active and will be verified at the time of the drawing in order to be valid.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you want even more chances to win?   Click over to Bentos on the Bayou and enter her Lunchbox Love Notes giveaway!

Piano Bento Lunch

My oldest daughter loves playing the piano.  So, when I saw this lunch that Rina from Bento School Lunches made, I knew I would have to recreate it for her.  

Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite go according to plan.   Rina used nori, which looks great but my kids really don't like.  So, I often use cucumber peel instead.   That was my plan here until I went to get it (after already making the sandwich and the piano keys) and discovered my husband had eaten all the cucumber for lunch.  Hmmm...plan B....pea pods?   The color is a little strange but at least you can tell what it's supposed to be.

• 2 rectangular shaped sandwiches (stacked) and decorated with provolone cheese and pea pods to look like piano keys
• Carrots with ranch
• Red and green grapes with music note picks
• Hershey's Chocolate Nugget

Purrfectly Quick and Easy Lunch

If I want to make a super quick but cute lunch, my "go to" tool almost always ends up being the Cute Z Cute cutter.   In this lunch, I used it to make a kitty.   I used the crust of the bread to cut out the features and give it a little "pop".

 

• Sandwich made with the Cute Z Cute
• Broccoli with ranch and a kitty cupcake pick
• Raspberries
• Pretzel snaps
• Hershey's chocolate Nugget

Here are some of the products, or similar products, that I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.

 

Check out other quick lunches at:

Pizza Friday!

To me, pizza and Fridays just go together...The perfect pairing.  I'm also making a concerted effort not to pack sandwiches everyday because I don't want the girls to get tired of them.   So, today's lunch is pizza pinwheels.   I got the recipe from Pinterest and just used frozen pizza dough - easy peasy!

 

• Pizza Pinwheels with extra pizza sauce for dipping
• Cucumber and tomato slices
• Berry fruit salad (blueberries, raspberries and strawberries) with a "Love" cupcake pick
• Hershey Kisses

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when packing this lunch:

 

Lunch in a Flash!

So, apparently I'm not quite in "school mode" yet because I completely forgot to pack the girls lunches for today until the very last minute!  Ack!!  So, for those of you that feel like you don't have the time for cute lunches...this lunch is for you.   It took minutes to make!

 

• 2 flower-shaped sandwiches (stacked).   I used a small circle cutter to cut cheddar cheese for the flower's center.
• Red and green grapes with daisy and lady bug picks
• Carrots with ranch
• Pretzel/goldfish crackers
• 2 Hershey Kisses

In addition to the product links listed above, here are some items, or similar items, I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Looking for other super quick lunch ideas?  Click on the link below:

Bubble Gum Bento

Coming off a holiday weekend, I wanted a quick and easy lunch for today.   Lunch Punch cutters make it easy to make a cute sandwich in a hurry!

• Sandwich cut with the Lunch Punch cutter and decorated with cheddar, provolone and Colby jack cheese circles as "gum balls"
• Red and green grapes with letter picks
• Broccoli and carrots with ranch
• Hershey kisses

My older daughter was in the mood for a wrap so her lunch was similar but with a whole wheat wrap, herb cream cheese and salami.  I decorated it with a few dolphin picks.

Here are some of the items, or similar items, I used when creating these lunches:


Click on the images above to purchase these items through Amazon.  This post contains affiliate links.

Back to School Bus

The inspiration train continues...Today's lunch was inspired by Rina from Bento School Lunches, who was inspired by Jill from Kitchenfunwithmy3sons.

Even though we're finishing up our third week of school already (time flies when you're having fun?!) there are still kiddos just starting back.  So, today's lunch was a back-to-school bus theme.  The first thing both my daughters noticed was that all the passengers were girls!  That really wasn't intentional...I was just going with the picks that I had ;-)

 

• School bus shaped sandwich decorated with cheddar cheese, cucumber peel, black olives and people picks
• Sugar snap peas and carrots with ranch
• Blueberries and strawberry slices with a school themed cupcake pick
• Hershey kisses

I always include a Lunchbox Love Note in with the girls' lunches.  As I've mentioned before, they LOVE them and love sharing the trivia fact that's on the back of each card with their friends at the lunch table.   I don't always remember to include the note in the picture when I photograph the lunch but this one was too perfect, I just had to make sure I included it!

 

Here are some of the items I used when creating this lunch:

 

This post contains affiliate links.