[giggleandhoot]

I'm seriously thinking of getting some bento boxes for school for DD1. I LOVE the concept of them and we are trying to eat clean so to speak with bread not being very good for her tummy i'd love to ditch it for bit and see how she feels. Has anyone used them for school? how did they go, with the rice and such does it keep well? I also found a thing on one web site where you can make lollies with this cute machine plus you can use agave instead of sugar so wanted to give that one a go for special treats coming into Christmas. I can see i'm going to get totally addicted to this one site. So if you've used them how did it go?
Thanks

[CupOfCoffee]

I have actually been googling Bento tools today (nori punches, egg moulds, sandwich cutters, etc).

I am looking for a good place to get some tools to start doing this (I like making food into things for my daughter already, but I suck at it).

So I will watch this thread.

[Frau Farbissina]

I can't comment on the bento box - although I have a Japanese friend who showed me some pictures of the absolutley gorgeous and delicious looking bento lunches her sister makes for her little girl... looks great and I'm sure tastes great too. I know you can get bento moulds like these I bought some. but have never got around to using them.

Can you share a link to the lolly machine website? I'm intrigued!

[~ky~]

I don't use them as my older kids think it would be too "embarrassing", but I have a little one that I can experiment on so am planning on getting a few moulds, cutters and punches etc.

I've seen a moulded hard boiled egg - it looked really cute!

[niggles]

DD has used a Goodbyn bento style lunchbox all year. The smaller size has been perfect for her. The seal takes some practise to learn how to close the lunchbox properly but she's worked it out now. She really enjoyed personalising the box with the stickers when it arrived. I ordered it from biome.com.au.

I like that I can just throw anything in there without worrying about cut up fruit making her sandwich soggy and no wrapping and packing to do. It works well for throw together lunches like a bit of pasta, ham, cut up tomatoes and so on.

I freeze the water bottle that comes with it each day and pop that in the middle section to keep the other two sections cool.

[giggleandhoot]

Yep i can totally see i'm going to be addicted to it lol DD1 is getting tummy pains and i'm sure it's the bread..we are all like it! So i'm hoping she'll think it's cool - as there's some pretty cool designs..hello kitty etc. This was the candy maker ..http://casabento.com/shop/en/1401-good-me-candy-gum-maker.html.
I am so getting one. I got a book from the library for the bento box with some great ideas in it. I love everything there!!!

link didn't work but i guess you can cut and paste lol can't figure it out!

[CupOfCoffee]

Oh, I am going to buy some gelatin and try and make some lollies. My daughter can't have colourings and certain preservatives, but this would be awesome. (I have some mini lego man silicon ice trays to use).

But the penguin is very cool.

[Bacongirl]

The bento boxes are lovely, but expensive! With the number of containers my two seem to lose in a year, I'd go broke replacing those!

i use these for DD (12j. http://www.sistema.co.nz/pages/Sistema_To_...To_Go/21356.htm

Reasonably cheap too. She likes me to make salads. Each spot stays seperate and there is no leaks. Easy to open and seal. I bought mine from Coles.

I also have the breakfast to go one. Yougurt and fruit in the bottom, muesli on top. Or rice on the bottm and leftover stirfry on top.

[Georgette47]

Check out Daiso (Japanese $2.80 store) if you have one near you. They have bento boxes and related products (egg moulds, onigiri boxes, cute food separators, tiny sauce containers, etc.).

And try http://lunchinabox.net/ for inspiration.

[giggleandhoot]

Daiso store looks great - not near me though though SIL would be near it..might get her to check it out for me