Benot boxes for son's lunch

beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

Ok, I read earlier someone's post about ordering a bento box for their child's lunch. Great idea! So, I just spent 2 hours searching the net. There are too many to choose from; I'm bento'd out! What have people gotten? There are expensive ones that keep foods hot or cold (like the Zojirushis) and many others that apparently do not (but some are very cute). And there are the Laptoplunches ones which look great, but get not so great reviews on Amazon. Does anyone have any recommendations for a 7 year old for school and camp this summer please? Thanks so much!!

Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

Well, I ordered a bunch from www.ichibankan.com a few days ago. These were the cheeeapest bento boxes I've found...we're talking $1.75 (yes, a buck 75) per box. You can even get matching chopsticks for another dollar. I spent a whopping $12, and I'll be getting in a bunch of stuff.

I'll let you know how they look when I get them! I figured I don't want to spend a ton of money on super-cute bento boxes and accessories until I know that the kids will remain interested in this sort of thing, and that the novelty of cooking up a special lunch every day doesn't wear off for me either.

I found some great looking stuff at jbox.com, but I just can't justify $28 for a lunch box (even if it IS Hello Kitty and about as adorable as this sort of thing can get).

I've been spending a bunch of time looking through cookingcute.com, too. She has lots of great ideas, and posts pics with recipes of her bento lunches. She also lets you know where she got some of her favorite boxes.

So far we're having a blast with this, and both kids are eating great, and seem to love the Japanese style foods I'm cooking.
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

Oops, I though that I replied to this, but Thanks You Gus's Mama! I've also been really enjoying the lunchinabox.net site; there is a lot of info on there. I broke down and ordered my son a Mario and Luigi (his all time favorite video game characters) bento box that I found. I guess even if he hates it for lunch (it might be too small), he'll find some use for it. I haven't started making any bento lunches yet, but he apparently did not eat the left over (home made) fried rice that I sent in with him yesterday. I might get him a new thermos too, maybe we can share a Ms. Bento. Well, thanks again and please let me know how your bento boxes work. Did you order any of the cute little sauce bottles or separators that Ichiban Kan sells?

Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

Let's see.....I'll just post the contents of the cart!

"Natural Lunch" Two Tier Lunch Box (Green) $1.50
TomoBoy Tight Seal Lunch Box $1.50
TomoGirl Slim 2-Tier Lunch Box (Pink Rabbit) $1.50
"Natural Lunch" Lunch Box Belt 2p (Green) $1.00
Animal Chopsticks & Case (Pattern: Zebra) $1.25
Boiled Egg Mold Rabbit & Bear $1.50
"Natural Lunch" Lunch Box Belt 2p (Pink) $1.00
"TENMARI" 2-Tier Lunch Box Pink $1.75
Baby Zoo Yellow Chopsticks w/ Case 3P $1.00
TomoGirl Rabbit Chopsticks w/ Case $1.25

(Sorry I didn't respond sooner--our phone was dead for a couple of days, and I couldn't get online)
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

I ordered some of the Ichiban Kan stuff too after all. The prices are so good! I bought a couple of the Natural Lunch boxes and some rice bowls for using at home. I hope that it is not totally cheap garbage! I can't wait for them to show up so that I can see them in real life. Did yours come yet?

smalltownslackermom · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

help! that link didn't work for me, took me to a tailor's site?
What site are you guys using?
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Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

Sorry about that!

Here's the real address:

http://www.ichibankanusa.com/

My stuff hasn't come yet. I got the cheapest shipping option, so I'll be seeing my stuff tomorrow at the earliest.
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

Yup, I got the tailor's site too several times! Laughing

I won't be seeing any of my stuff until school is over, ha!

Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

My bento stuff came today! These are really cute, and seem to be well made. Thing is, they are teeeeeeeeeney!!

I had ordered one for myself, one for hubs, and one each for the kids. They are a great size for the kids, but just way too small for an actual grownup. I guess I'll have to use these for the kids, and go to jbox for mine!
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

Grrreat! Well, I keep reading that you'll be surprised at how small they are, but be amazed at how much fits in. Hmmm, I hope my DH doesn't laugh, but I sense it coming on. Have you tried making onigiri yet?

Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

So far just a really basic one for Gus. Two bunny onigiri made with an egg mold, with a basic chicken entree and broccoli. I did get a lot more in there than I expected! He loves eating bunnies..... Shocked

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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

Irish Daveyboy · Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Dublin Ireland

With all this talk about Bento Lunch Boxes, I presume
when it comes to filling them everybody knows these sites ??
.
http://lunchinabox.net/
.
http://www.cookingcute.com/
.
http://dailytiffin.blogspot.com/2007/04/art-of-japanese-lunchboxes-introduction.html
.
Best Regards,
David
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beckyhiker · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 88 Location: New York

Hi David! Yes, I've been reading the 1st 2, but not the tiffin blog. I will go look it over. Thank you very much for the suggestions! Oh, also I bought a book through Amazon called The Manga Cookbook which has some easy-sounding recipes. The book just came, so I haven't tried them out yet. Stay away if you don't like manga though - the book might be too cutesy.

Gus's Mama · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Boston MA

Sickeningly cute is just the thing for my older child. She just turned 7, and hates everything; but if it came out of a bunny mold and has chopsticks with little bunnies on it, she'll eat it.... Rolling Eyes

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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)