The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet

A Lunchbox Digest for Healthier Eating

Hello everyone!!

On July 2014, Laura Fuentes, owner of  Momables released her first cookbook entitled, The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet - Make Lunches Your Kids Will Love with Over 200 Deliciously Nutritious Lunchbox Ideas - Real Simple, Real Ingredients, Real Quick!

Beautiful, isn't it?

The book cover isn't fancy at all, but the content is overflowing with lots of genuine information that every family must know. It surpassed my expectations. An absolute keeper.  I even bought a Kindle Edition to access the recipes whenever and wherever I want.

It is best for school lunches, picnic snacks, beach outings, amusement park trips, or even finger foods party that is geared towards healthier eating. Mostly are homemade,with lots of tips on how to maximize ingredients, pack hot lunches, and more.

The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet is more than just a cookbook for me.  It is packed with so much information on interesting lunch packing tips, tricks, strategies, and inspirations to get started.  The first part of the cookbook has excellent guide on stocking your fridge efficiently, and even lunchbox gears to invest on, at least for people who are new to lunch-packing, which I know in some point of our lives, we've been there too.

The table of contents are very organized.  You don't have to rummage through the book just to find what you are looking for.  They are categorically placed under meal types, such as: breakfast, sandwiches, hot lunches, treats and desserts.

Its fully-colored vibrant pictures next to the recipes made it even more inviting to try them out. You have a visual idea on its finish product. What's even wonderful is her presentation on lunchboxes.  It gives you a creative idea to serve foods more appealing to kids, better portion control, and type of side dish that goes well for a particular entree.  I believe that presentation is the key to lunch packing success for any types of eater, picky or not, big or small. Don't you agree?

We are not sandwich-packers. We love varieties in our lunchboxes, which I must admit, is tough for any moms, working or SAHM.  This is why The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet is a great tool for someone like me.  This cookbook is my best friend.  It accompanies me in the kitchen all the time.  Not only there, but also on doctors' appointments, airports, and even in the car while waiting for kids' dismissal.   I just can't get enough.  And that is not in any way exaggerating.

If you are new to Momables, you will find this cookbook handy.  It is allergy-friendly, homemade, and makes use of ingredients that are easy to substitute for the purposes of dietary restrictions. It makes use of simple ingredients.  Not a lot.  Just enough to make each entree delectable.  It even teaches you how to maximize the use of your ingredients.  Economical in every way.  If  you can't get enough of it, Momables actually have a monthly plan you can purchase that will plan your weekly menus.  No sweat! I have actually tried that too.  You can see my review here.

 

 

The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet is nothing "too good to be true".  It is very transparent. No hidden steps or tricks. She tells you all.  It has a full chapter filled with different sandwich recipes, which I thought was useless for us.  I am so ready to close the book and shelf it until I flipped through all the pages towards the end, where I found the chapter for hot lunches. Voila!! A chapter filled with so much delectable recipes that my kids actually eat when we're out.  All I need to do is get the ingredients and start making them.  In fact, I learned how to make grilled sandwich better with her technique, which does the trick to pack sandwiches for my pickiest eater. Something that push my kids to try sandwiches on some days.

My favorite chapter

I highly  recommend The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet to people who are seeking to serve healthy homemade foods.  It's a page-turner.  Everything in it is filled with inspiration.  Thank you, Laura for a marvelous book that is truly helpful and useful.  Something that I can pass on for generations to come.

I have included an amazon link below in the event you want a copy for yourself, or for someone else. It's the best & healthiest gift you can share to your special someone.  Rest assured, it will be appreciated and treasured.

Thank you for dropping by.  I miss blogging and YOU.

Disclaimer:  A copy of The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet was provided by the publishing company to try it out.  An honest review was voluntarily written without any form of additional compensation.  I love what I saw and it exceeded my expectations.

If you love Healthy Eating Starts at Home, you may subscribe via email to get all my posts straight to your inbox. No spam mails, just healthy food ideas for your lunchboxes.

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

If you need weekly meals straight to your inbox, try MOMables.

It's our one-stop shop when we're on a lunch rut.

TWO - Complete Lunch Gear Giveaway

A Back to School Event & 2nd Year Bloggiversary

It's August....and it's Back to School!
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break.

	/

We did! As a matter of fact, we also had a break bento-ing and packing lunches till the last week of July, when I had to tow the kids with me to work, coz Dad visited my brother in Chicago.  I work early in the day on a daily basis. So I had to pack breakfast for the kids, and we ate out at noon on our way to their summer swim classes. 

School resumes in August, so do Gavin and my birthday. Not only that, but it's the 2nd year of my blog as well.  So there's a lot to celebrate at this time of the year.  I thought of throwing a huge giveaway for everyone to enjoy, with the help of my thoughtful and generous sponsors, who have helped me all throughout my lunch packing years.

I know that we are all very busy preparing & shopping for school uniforms/clothes, shoes, supplies and the likes.  We're not even done yet.  So I'd like to give you a break by taking good care of the lunch gears. I am hosting 2 giveaways in one. All packed with everything you might need for school to pack meals in a stress-free way.

Don't they look so lovely with a little help from our sponsors? Even the pickiest kid will eat whatever food is served.

Are you ready? I am giving away 2 winners of:

• EasyLunchboxes:  your choice of Classic or Brights, and a cooler bag.  The #1 best selling lunchboxes on Amazon.com. The only lunchbox I trust that is dishwasher and microwave safe.  
• Momables: 3 Months Free Subscription that will help you with healthy packed lunches each time. It includes weekly menus of 5 recipes, with shopping lists, packing tips, pictures.  Great for any type of diets especially for family with food allergies.
• Lunchbox Notes: The credit card sized love notes I send to show my love when packing lunches for my family.  The only notes that were written with positive words, filled with encouragement which helps boost self-confidence and self-esteem.
• FunBites Cutters: The cutters I use to cut foods in bite-size pieces in a snap.  Even kids can do it. It's safe, no metal blades attached.  Your choice of Squares, Hearts or Triangles. Just let me know.
• $15 Bento USA giftcards: to buy your choice {not mine} of bento accessories.  It is where I get most of my picks, silicone cups, vegetable cutters etc. Indulge yourself.

Yes! You read that right.  2 random winners for each prizes mentioned. 2 for my 2 year Blog anniversary.
2 for a Back To School Event & A Bloggiversary.
And that's even more reasons to celebrate & get treated well!

I will only be asking you of 2 things:

• Please enter thru my Rafflecopter and do all the mandatory entries as a way of thanking my sponsors.  You miss one, all your entries will forfeit.
• And please help promote. Tweet daily. Each tweet adds up as one entry. Sharing in Facebook on a daily basis helps in your chances of winning.  Promoting is not mandatory, but it will not open till you're done with other mandatory entries.  Come back daily to tweet for another entry.

The following giveaway is open only to US residents.  

No international entry please.  

Giveaways will ship separately. 

They will come directly from the retailers.

Winners will be notified via email.  You are given 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.  If you have any question, feel free to email me and I will get back to you shortly.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If for any reason, my rafflecopter widget wouldn't work, 
please leave a comment so I could fix it right away.
Comments are moderated so they wouldn't show up till approved.

Check out other Back To School Events happening right now at Bento Bloggers and Friends website. You might not want to miss them too. The more entries, the more chances of winning.

Goodluck to Everyone!  May the most entries win :)

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

Momables' Chicken Nuggets

Chicken Nuggets has been my kids' favorite lunches.  I'm sure you could tell coz I've been frequently sending this for school lunch. And I don't even worry about it because it's all-natural and safe for them to consume every single day.  It's by Momables, the only menu planner that my family trust throughout my lunch packing years.

On his Lunchbots Trio, he has homemade Chicken Nuggets on one compartment, a BBQ sauce on the second, and blueberry and edamame on the third.  For this small box, it's a matter of partitioning to pack all the needed nutritions for lunch.

On her Goodbyn Mix and Match Set, she has the same lunch but smaller in portion size.  Everything she needs to be satisfied and stay focused in school.

Happy Tuesday!

 

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

A Week of BIG and SMALL Bento School Lunches

It's been a whole week of crazy schedules last week, when blogging is not a part of it.  I was called to work twice during the weekday, and once on a weekend. Then the rest of the days were volunteer duties in school.  Well, like it or not, but I am that one of those crazy parents who love to volunteer their precious time for their children's classes, no matter what the duty calls for. And, I honestly LOVE it.  It feels good to be needed.  It satisfies me all the way.  What's worst? I was invited to be a part of the PTA-Board Committee the following school year. Of course, I finally accepted after constant invitations for a year now.  So get ready for the drama!

Asian Fried Rice

This lunch was inspired by Momables' menu plan.  I have been sending varied rice meals to school, but never thought of making use of Asian Seasoning which is an equal mixture of soysauce and sesame oil drizzled onto the rice as you stir-fry.

My girly-girl, Missy A adores flowers.  And, she eats anything shaped in florets.  So in her 2-tiered bento box, courtesy of Bento USA, I packed 3 Asian Rice shaped in florets by making use of a 4-shaped onigiri maker {found at the end of this post}, grapes and Oreo cookies on flower-shaped bento cups.

On Mr G's Aqua-lidded Easy Lunchboxes, he got a similar lunch and sides except its cuteness. No more cute shapes for my 4th grader boy. He just wanted me to toss everything in his box.  Glad I could still make use of my silicone cups though.

Breakfast Sushi Rolls

Sushi is one of the best rice meals sent to school without the need of any utensils.  May not be the easiest one to make for most, but once mastered, you'd be hooked like a PRO.  Right now, I'm challenged to make the inverted sushi rolls, which Nori sheets are placed in between the rice and the filling. Are you in?

 

On Missy A's Goodbyn Mix and Match Box, she had half of the amount of sushi roll Mr. G got on his EasyLunchboxes {below}.  Both got apples for fruit sides. The only difference was that Missy A got hers chopped up, while Mr G 's apples were chunked up. Broccoli florets for my veggie loving swimmer, and a choco chip cookie for my sweet tooth little fairy.

 

DIY-Pizza Bagel Lunchables

Addicted to pizza lunchables? Why not DO IT YOURSELF.  It's easy.  All you need is any type of bread. I have used pita breads, thin bagels, thin wheat round breads, and pocket breads.  I even tried Pillsbury's pizza dough, and they worked just fine.  I send them pre-toasted to get the crusty taste of a pizza crust. They taste better.  Then pack it with shredded cheese of your choice, meat toppings, marinara sauce, and a fruit.  Don't forget the spoon to scoop up the hearty sauce and spread them onto the bread crust.

On Mr. G's EasyLunchboxes, he had shredded 4 types of cheese (Mozarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, & Monterey Jack), spaghetti sauce, and turkey pepperoni.  On his other compartment, he had some strawberry hearts.

Bagels

Since we had a stash of bagels at home, I thought of sending in bagels for Thursday as well.  I worked on this day, so something quick and easy was highly favored.  Another easy and simple lunch to go by on rush mornings without compromising healthy nutrition.

Missy A's Goodbyn Mix and Match containers was filled with PB & J bagel thins, 2 heart bento picks of red globe grapes, and a strawberry on a heart shaped cup.

On Mr G's Easy Lunchboxes, a ham and cheese bagel was accompanied by some strawberry wheels and dill slices.  Best of all, it held a special Lunchbox Love Note to send this lunch with a burst of LOVE.

Leftover Dinner

I was called to work again, so Friday's lunch was just a leftover pizza dinner.  It was homemade though, so it wasn't that bad after all.  I was thinking of packing a different lunch, but the kids insisted on pizza.  So it was pizza all the way with a little fruit heavy for Mr G {Aqua ELB}.

On both of the kids' EasyLunchboxes BRIGHTS, they both had each one's portion size of pizza and oranges. On their smaller compartments, Mr G {aqua lid} had kiwi and Missy A {pink lid} had whole wheat fishy crackers swimming on a yellow cup.

It was a long and winding lunch making last week.

So glad you were able to drop by today.

Thanks for stopping by!

All bento accessories are purchased through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other tools are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link:

Thank you for your support!

Momables Lunch: DIY Pizza Buns

It's the first day of December and Christmas is almost here.
We plan to make all or most of our lunches Christmas-sy for the remaining 10 school days this December.  We don't own any Christmas themed cookie cutters, so it might be a little bit tougher for us  to pull our lunches together.  But we'll try our best and do the countdown.

It's the third today, so there are
22 
more days before Christmas

Today's lunch is inspired by Momables,

The Pizza Buns!

As all of us know, Momables always have an easy fix lunch. That's why I love them for always being so reliable and for fixing kid-friendly lunches all the time.

I don't have mini bagels on hand this time, so I made use of hotdogs buns instead. Actually I like the buns better because of their flexibility to fold together and  eat them like pizza sammies.  Missy A is not a fan of pepperoni, so she had turkey bacons on top with Mexican blend of cheese.  I made them a little bit festive by adding the gingerbread girl on the mandarin Cuties.

Mr G had a similar lunch except that he had pepperoni toppings on his pizza.  He also had  red globe grapes and red pears on the side.  Both lunches are packed on an Easy Lunchboxes.

For her snack recess, Missy A had some fudge coated pretzels and red globe grapes
with a mini apple juice. Snacks are packed on her Goodbyn Lunchboxes - Small Meal Box.

Tools used:

Momables Lunch: French Toast

I could never be so lucky to have won 2 giveaways in a row, but I did it.
I love giveaways and try not to miss a chance especially
when it's from a product that I truly love and adore.

About a couple of weeks ago, I won a 3 month free subscription over at MOMables.  It took me every single giveaway to enter until finally my name was drawn and now I'm enjoying the full benefits of a lucky subscriber.  What else could I ask for? I have weekly menus and shopping lists all ready to be put together into 3 full months of scrumptious meals.

French Toast Lunch packed on EasyLunchboxes.

Day 5: Thank You Momables!

My lunch for the week wouldn't be complete without the help of Momables.  Like any other moms, I have days when most of my lunch ideas are exhausted, or just too lazy to plan. These were the days I turn to Momables. And our favorite is their Homemade Chicken Nuggets.  Something that I make in bulk and freeze to stock up.  This is my go to breakfast and school lunches on a morning rush, like today.

For Missy A's lunch, she requested the chicken nuggets with 

BBQ sauce on the green dipper.  I also gave her red globe grapes

to snack on after.  All packed in her favorite pink

 Goodbyn Small Meal Mix and Match Set.

For recess, she had fudge covered pretzels and mini 

jello packed in her pink Goodbyn Snacks Mix and Match Set.

School Lunches: Momables Chix Nuggets

Today the kids didn't like anything but their favorite crispy chix nuggets that I have learned to make thru Momables. If you're looking for the recipe, it can be found here. I'm not just so keen on making them with shapes because I always make them faster when just molding with my hands.  You just have to be generous enough with the breadcrumbs for the success of making them crispy and crunchy. We bake them for extra healthy options. Kids don't like them fried anyway.

And The MOMABLES Winner is:

GIGI  C.

Congratulations!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Email has been sent. 

Please respond within 48 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Thank you for your entry!

☺☻☺

Blogiversary and a Review & Giveaway: MOMables

I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to try out MOMables for 3 months. They are healthy school lunches made fresh by busy parents. During summer, they offer 3 lunches and 2 dinners, which helped busy moms prepare healthy meals in a snap.

I attest to the yumminess and simplicity of their recipes. The weekly menu planning is awesome.  It worked out just fine.  There was never a complaint of disliking what I serve on the table...considering my kids are picky-eaters.

I have been packing school lunches for my son for a year now. I must admit that there were days when all of my ideas were exhausted and I just couldn't think of anything new or good enough for him to bring to school.  But with the help of MOMables, I was able to send school lunches up to their last days.

Home-made Chicken Nuggets
courtesy of Momables' LunchBox Wars

With MOMables, you can choose the right ingredients and control portion sizes. Thus, lesser waste, nutritious lunches and happier tummies. This is when MOMables is helpful to plan your school meals ahead of time. Stress-free. Worry-free.

DIY Lunchable Pizza Meal
courtesy of Momables' LunchBox Wars

MOMables doesn't even take too much of your time to prepare and pack lunches for your loved ones. A matter of fact, it takes only under 10 minutes to prepare each meal. It gives you a week of school lunch menus ahead of time, with recipes and shopping lists in a single download to print and bind. 

Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Bento
courtesy of Momables' LunchBox Wars.

This is where I keep mine. And I have integrated my shopping list on my Android App, OUT OF MILK, just so I have access to my list anytime when I'm on the go.

My MOMables Menu filed and bound.

Ham, Cheese & Lettuce Bagel
courtesy of MOMables LunchBox Wars

I have featured some of my most requested meals, that I have done for my kids, all courtesy of Momables, which everyone of us enjoyed and complimented.

Spaghetti Marinara

MOMables offer subscription rates for 3, 6, and 12 months. As low as $5-$6 a month, depending on the length of subscription. Once signed up, you have easy access of their wide-array of menus and recipes, downloadable on a weekly basis as it becomes available.  It includes 5 lunches per week with an image to visualize how a meal would look. Ready by Thursdays, it gives you ample time to shop. I love that it comes with a handy shopping list that accompanies you at the store. Also, you have the freedom to adjust and modify ingredients, according to your pantry's availability or if anyone has allergy issues.  Most recipes are gluten-free and nut-free, too.  What else could you ask for?

Still not convinced? No worries. Sign up for their newsletter today, and be entered for a $5 Starbucks GiftCard every week.  Not only that, but you also have access to their free sample menus, and other great tasting recipes prepared by actual moms like us.

For my BLOG-anniversary, MOMables is giving away FREE 3-month subscription to one of my lucky readers.  To enter, you only need to leave a comment why you would like to win this giveaway, and follow each mandatory steps to qualify. So what are you waiting for?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you very much!

Good luck to each one of you!!

 ~Marie

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a FREE 3-month MOMables subscription to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are purely mine.*

School Lunches: Cracker, Deli & Cheese

Our second day called for a volunteer work at school for me.  If you've been reading my blog over at Momscapade, you would know that I've been a parent volunteer for both of my children for 2 years in a row. So when the opportunity called for it, I would open-heartedly do so.  I learned so much from it as an after-school educator as well.  And dealing with children seemed to make my daily schedules busy and satisfying.

Today was pretty-much a different routine compared to last year, as Kindergarten classes went. There were three teachers moving around on each room to test the kids' performance on various aspects individually.  After 9 days, they'd be placed on their permanent classroom for the whole year.  This must be tough for the kids, because this is the time that they're making good friends.  Only to find out that after 9 days, there'd be possibilities that they'd be separated again.  Oh well, we're keeping our fingers crossed, and hoping for the best.

As much as I like helping in the classroom, I mostly look forward for break time.  This is the time, I like seeing the kids eat and play around the school grounds. I also noticed a few kids who brought bento styled-lunches. Honestly, this excites me a lot. I spoke with the child, and told her that I do the same kind of lunches to my kids too.  And we bonded right away. I introduced her to my daughter and they seem to click pretty well.

This was what Missy A brought to school. Ham deli cut into pieces by FunBites Cube It. All skewered by my girly-colored triple hearts picks. I added apple slices and strawberries to fill her up.  She also brought with her an Oreo brownie and a juice pouch for snack.

Ham deli prepared with FunBites CUBE It!

And Mr. G had crackers, pepperoni, and cheddar cheese for lunch.  Like Missy A, he also had strawberries and apple slices for a fulfilling lunch.  All lunches packed in our favorite lunch container system, the Easy Lunchboxes.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Tuesday!

See you tomorrow.

~Marie

Back To School: Get Ready...Be Prepared!

I've been meaning to post a back to school event for quite a while now but I just couldn't get myself organized. I am actually holding a series of giveaway for all those getting their stuffs ready for school. So keep watch of it. I have cool giveaways you wouldn't want to miss.

Everything is related to school lunches.  I know that many have criticized the bento world.  Like we have too much time to do cute lunches for our kids. But truth to be told, we don't. We're like any ordinary moms who are advocates of healthy eating presented in a whole new perspective. Welcome to the BENTO World!!

Here's to get you started:

Bento Boxes & Bags:
Purchase all the needed supplies like bento containers & bags, preferably something your child would want to use and eat on.  That's important because it will encourage and motivate them to eat healthier.

We're making use of the Easy Lunchboxes this year.  And I will be holding a giveaway very soon. So stay tuned if you're interested to try out the best and most economical lunchbox system I've found so far.

Menu Plans:  

The key is planning ahead of time.  Here are some pointers:

Make a weekly calendar of main entree and sides (fruits, veggies or treats) ready by Friday to give you ample time to shop for the ingredients. 

Cook all food items at least the night before so it doesn't add up when packing it in the morning.  It's best to pack at night especially if you're not a morning person.

Pre-cut fruits, veggies, and other treats to add appeal to your lunches.

When making big batches of hamburgers, chicken nuggets, eggrolls, meatloaves, and the likes, divide and store them in containers so you thaw per consumption only. 

Refer to your school's cafeteria monthly menus for ideas. Ask your children what they like best. Make a home-made version of it with the use of healthier ingredients.  This is very favorable on families with allergies.

Refer to frozen store-bought pre-packaged meals to get ideas on what to pack. I'm not recommending to purchase them but just to give you an idea that the option is varied and endless.

You can also sign up for MOMables to help you get started with a plan and go from there. I learned to make my own version of pre-packaged lunches through them. So in my honest opinion, it's worth the try. And we're keeping them. I'm holding a giveaway for MOMables at the end of the month to celebrate my blog anniversary. So stay tuned for that too.

Bento Accessories:  

Gather up your supplies to complete the Bento idea.  Remember you don't need to make it beyond your skills. Just keep it simple but appealing so as not to stress you out. Make use of accessories to jazz it up, then you'll learn your way in once the creativity kicks in.  I get most of my supplies through All Things For Sale since they always cost at a fraction of its price, unless you find something similar in the Dollar Store. That works too.  You can shop locally at any Japanese Bento outlet located on Malls or Japan Town if you have any in your area. Daiso and Marukai are 2 other places to frequent for bento supplies.

• Make use of silicone cups, or baran sheets as dividers when using undivided bento boxes.
• Make use of bento picks/forks instead of regular utensils.
• Make use of cookie cutters to add shape on your lunches. You can start with playdough cutters, sandwich crust cutters, or bite-size cutters, such as FunBites, to make the meals kid-friendly. (I have a giveaway for that too as part of my Back-To-School Event.)
• Make use of bottle sauce/dip containers when sending in dressing, salsa, dips, ketchups and sauces.

Pack with Water Bottles: Don't forget to hydrate. Shop for insulated water bottles to keep cold drinks cool for longer hours especially on warmer weathers. Or if you prefer plastic spout reusable bottles, you can fill and freeze them overnight, for another purpose of an ice pack to keep foods fresh.

• You may also freeze yogurts, and juice pouches for the same purpose. They will thaw by lunchtime.
• Choose 100% juice rather than from concentrate when choosing juice pouches.  That's a healthier option.

EXTRAS: Don't forget to label. Label your bento boxes, lunch bags, and water bottles.  It's the best way to keep track of your belongings when you misplace them in school or left them on school bus, after school care, daycare. I'm sure you would want each one of them back.

I guess that's about it.  I hope this helps in some way.  Any questions? Please leave a comment and I will answer them as honestly as I could. If you want to see the lunches I've sent, you may find them under Bento Galore.

Happy bento-hunting!!

~Marie

Disclosure: All images found herein belong to the said company/manufacturer.  They were used for visual purposes only.  I have not received any compensation for my recommendations.  Recommendation is solely based on my personal  positive experiences with the said company.