speed tips

Bento 101 (Getting into the Bento Making Habit) Part 4:The Power Of the Bento Stash

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Welcome to Part 4 (which is actually the 5th lesson) of Bento 101! If you have been following along on schedule, by now you should have packed a bento and brought it along to work or school. How was the experience for you? Was it too much work or doable? Did you run into any problems during transit (such as your box leaking) or during lunch (such as your co-workers trying to steal your lunch or making comments)? Above all, is it something you see yourself doing regularly? If the answer to the last question is yes, then you're well on your way to becoming a bento convert.

The theme of this lesson is about something that will enhance your bentos in many ways...

Bento 101 (Getting into the Bento Making Habit) Part 3: Let's pack a bento

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It's time to get real - pack a real bento for lunch, that is!

Speed bento tips from a busy American mom

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This is a guest post by Amy Vander Vorste of Avlor's Imprints.

Are you sure you don't have time to plan or pack a lunch? Speed tips are here to the rescue!

Bentos are "the in thing" in lunches right now and for good reason! They provide a great way to pack a nutritious meal while providing reasonable portions.

As an American mom, I was frustrated at what our school was providing as a "healthy" lunch. I love our elementary school, but I don't have an ounce of affection for the lunch program. I'll spare you the details - but lunches are 9 times out of 10 full of highly processed food. Milk is also pushed - but not just plain milk. There's strawberry, chocolate, and cookies-and-cream sweetened versions. Yipes! I hope you find it as humorously ironic as I did that the school district sent home reminders that a pop, chips and a cookie don't constitute a good lunch.

I want better for my children who need to learn and pay attention in school. Last year my son's teacher mentioned to me that my son was having troubles paying attention in class. After I started packing nutritious lunches, my son's attention problems virtually disappeared. Quality food may not be the answer for all attention problems, but it's helped us tremendously! Squeezing time in to make a lunch is essential for my family.

I wondered how my son would handle taking lunches that are different from the ones his friends have. But he's enjoying it and even asks to take chopsticks. His quote, "It's awesome!" There's positive attention over his lunches (and the chopsticks) from his classmates, and not much of the negative "Eww is that broccoli?" He's becoming very conscious of what is good for him and what is not. Could a mom be more proud?