Korean Bento

A Re-Purposed Lunch

Did you ever wonder what happens with dinner leftovers in most household nowadays?  Tell you what, most re-purposed them in many different ways. For the kitchen ingenious, they create a total different dish out of it.  For working moms, they may pack them for work the following day.  And still for the some, may even freeze them to serve on lazy days. Now which one are you?

We are the people who either re-purposed them for work lunches (yes! We eat the leftovers), or freeze them for any lazy days.  Now that the kids are older and are less picky, they share the chores with us to consume whatever is left.  And they don't mind at all.

The secret to that is the bento-style lunches.  Nothing cute looking anymore, but I make sure they look appetizing and good.  If I need additional compartments, I make use of silicone cups sold mostly at any local Daiso, or online by Bento USA.

Today's lunch is a leftover dinner from our Korean Restaurant dining.  We always order a little too much to what we can actually consume.  Aside from the hefty servings, my daughter was a bit full from her snack before we went to church last late Sunday afternoon.  I like to pack foods in to-go boxes.  I feel it's a great excuse to skip cooking for half a day or so.

Korean dishes is one of our favorites.  From appetizer to dessert, it's all delectable.  So for this bento, I packed Vegetable Kimchi, Chap-chae glass noodle, Beef Bulgogi with Spicy Chicken on a half cup of steamed rice.  To finish the meal, oranges to neutralize all after tastes.  All in on our Easylunchboxes.

 
For my boy, on his Fit & Fresh Bento Lunch Kit, he had a 3/4 cup of steamed rice, half cup of Beef Bulgogi, and oranges with plum for dessert.

 
Lastly, my girl brought in warm steamed rice on her favorite thermal kids' funtainer from Thermos. She also had a half cup of non-spicy Korean Chicken teriyaki to go with her rice, and plums to snack on for recess.  All klip it plastic containers by Sistema.


Hope you enjoyed today's post.
Happy 1st of September!

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.

Double Cheeseburger Meal

Fit & Fresh Lunch Made for School

Welcome to school year 2015-16 everyone!!  It's back to school once again.  First days are fun, but we can't help but have jitters.  I have tons of that especially when it comes to meal planning & preps for first days of school, till Week 1 is over.  With all the jitters come excitement as well. We love it because of new stuffs we accumulate over the break to prepare for the coming school year.

Over the break, I am thrilled to share that I was contacted by numerous bento retailers and suppliers to partner with as I blog away my bento lunches to school as I see fit.  For starters, Fit & Fresh has sent me their wonderful Bento Lunch Kit, which immediately caught my boy's attention.  At first I didn't know how I can present it to you to differentiate it from the other lunchboxes I've tried.  All have positive reviews but this has features to die for. Ok..ok..not to exaggerate, but there are stuffs that Fit & Fresh has that I always wanted for a bento box.

Multi-compartment bento lunch kit is always a must.  We love our main entree to be separated from its sides and desserts.  That way flavors don't mix, and sandwiches don't get soggy by lunch time.

Size does matter. We found that Fit & Fresh lunch kit has the perfect size for my Middle School-aged boy. I can fill up the large compartment with 3 cups of rice, or 2 standard-sized hamburger with buns. The other two smaller compartments can fit 3/4 cups of diced medium pears, grapes, apples, on each side. On this meal, I packed several slices of pickle ovals for his cheeseburger meal.  He loves ketchup and just glad I keep stashes of to-go ketchup sachets from different fast food chains at home.

I also love that those smaller compartments have several packing options. It is given, like others, the base is compartmentalized.  Furthermore, it includes 2 bento pods (containers with individual lids) that can accommodate 1/2 cup each of runny sides like yogurt, dips, and salsa.  It's leak-proof so it's mess-free.



Isn't it lovely to find a lunch kit that includes reusable ice packs to keep food chilled and fresh at all times. And, still keep them compact with minimal parts to assemble.  I like the fact that it is clipped to its lid, that way kids don't lose them. That's what sets Fit & Fresh shine above its leading competitors.  Personally, it's a winner and a keeper.



To top it off, for $19.99, it comes with a quality insulated travel bag that gives no additional bulk. It keeps everything in one place. It's machine-washable, or you can even wipe them clean in between uses. Perfect for kids who just want to stash it inside his backpack and go. They also come in different colors and style.  What more could anyone ask for?

Do I recommend Fit & Fresh Bento Lunch Kit? Absolutely! It's genuinely leak-proof inside and out, and my kids can open and close the lid with no issues at all.

Disclaimer:  The Fit and Fresh Bento Lunch Kit was provided to me by Fit & Fresh to try it out for my daily lunch packing routine, without any obligation to review.  It was my decision to feature their product on my blog as a courtesy due to my overwhelming positive experience with the product.

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.

Vongole

Last year my sister had a break from work and finally visited us in summer.  She stayed with us till after my daughter's 8th birthday in December.  It was a wonderful time to catch up and bond again.  The kids loved her around. The last time we saw each other was back in 2010.  Though we facetime and Skype regularly, nothing beats up close and personal.  Her stay with us gave me a huge break in the kitchen as well.  She's one great cook, who pleasantly served dishes to us meal after meal.  One of the meal that caught our attention was Vongole.  It was our first to have this dish.  My kids devoured it each time it's served.

But when I tried it in my kitchen, I couldn't do it just the way she did.  She cooks by taste. She doesn't keep a recipe in hand.  So if you ask her, she'll give you the ingredients, but the rest is up to you. Oh boy!

 

Just like most, I struggle in the kitchen too from time to time. And when I say struggle, that means trouble.  Before I could really whip up a meal, I have to check several recipes and make sure it tastes good in my mind.  When I can't visualize its outcome, it's a no-no.  So just imagine that.  Chaos huh?!

I experiment a lot. I try recipe after recipe.  Often, I modify it till I get the right yum for my family.  I have been experimenting on Vongole that I couldn't get it right.  It's just Vongole for some,  but somehow the recipes I tried just didn't quite hit the right "umph" for my buds. Nothing close to her Vongole.  Finally last night, I hit it off.  I included the recipes  for you to try and let me know how you like it. Critique me!  Perhaps you can help me twist it a bit for a better appeal.

The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package of spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package instructions.

2lbs clam, shelled

1 cup clam juice

extra virgin olive oil

1 stick butter, unsalted

1 Tbsp garlic, minced

1 medium onions, thinly sliced

3 tomatoes, diced

salt & pepper to taste

red pepper flakes, optional

Gouda cheese, grated

dry white wine
herbs (basil, cilantro, thyme, lime)

Procedure:

1. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions.  Set aside.
2. Boil 2 lbs of clam in a pot of water. Save 1 cup of clam juice for later.
3. In a separate skillet, heat olive oil and butter.  Saute onion till tender.  Add in garlic,diced tomatoes.  Let it cook for 5 minutes till tomatoes are soft. 
4. Add in clams, a cup of its juice, white wine, salt and pepper. Let boil.
5. Add in herbs of your choice.  We used cilantro for this particular dish.  Simmer for another 3-5 minutes.
6. Pour on noodles. 
7. Serve with grated Gouda Cheese on top with red pepper flakes for a little kick.

Serves: 6-8

Leftovers may be packed on any Easylunchboxes for school or work the following day.  Pack them with your favorite side dish, such as fruits, Hawaiian dinner rolls, or trail mixes on yogurts.


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.

Turkey & Cheese Subwich

Today's lunch is a DIY - Subway Lunchable.  
Everything what my kiddos would love to put in their sub.  I tried to put them all together, but I'm afraid that they might turn soggy by lunch time.  So we put all things on the side, but the TLC - turkey, lettuce and cheese.  No tomatoes and onions.



Not sure if I already mentioned that Mr G has started with his ortho appliance prior to the actual braces.  He has the palatal bar attached to his upper first permanent molars, with the bar across his palate.  We thought it was easy at first, but foods get caught on the bar, and is a nuisance for him.  Since then, I tried to cut food as bite-sized as possible so he could chew his food and lessen the chance of getting caught in there.

For a time he's been on soup-based meals.  Anything goes.  For one, he's not a very picky eater.  And secondly, he eats healthy by choice.  So his lunch tomato-based soups were mostly veggies and shredded meats to satisfy his proteins, carbs, and enough calorie to get by the day.  I will blog them, so you get the idea what he had on those days.

Now that he's over the transition stage, we're back to be eating normally.
Also, he has asked to eat cafeteria meals with his friends on some days, which I allowed.
So he wouldn't feel that he's missing out so much.

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!

Introducing: ELB Brights! A Giveaway

If you have been following my blog, you already know that I am fond of EasyLunchboxes. I am not just fond of it. I'm a HUGE fan! And I am so proud to be a part of its growth from Classic to Mini Dippers, and now the BRIGHTS!  It just went so great with all the lunches I sent, BIG and SMALL.

There are 4 NEW colors to brag:

YELLOW and PURPLE,

PINK and TEAL

These new colors have grown to be our favorite lids when packing lunches for kids.  The classic becomes more for grown ups.  What's even more awesome, is that they mix and match.  They fit in our old EasyLunchboxes.  So  I get to save the boxes as replacements when the older ones break, stain, or whatever.  But the bad news is, I think EasyLunchboxes are made to be stain-resistant and indestructible.  So it might take a while before a replacement happens.  More reason why we should invest on these inexpensive and extraordinary set of lunch boxes.  That is not meant to exaggerate.  But that's just how I feel about these pretty boxes.

They are pretty darn irresistible!  The only lunchbox that I trust to use daily without any visible signs of wear and tear.  I have very few hand-picked selections of bento gears because I am simply that picky.  No matter how cute and lovely they look, I try not to cave in, when it doesn't suit our daily needs.  I don't own a "money tree" that bears dollar bills, so I try to conserve our reserves when it's not necessary at all. Though at times I wish I could handle bento indulgence. They get to be pretty-addicting and stress-reliever, if you know what I mean. Well, I'm just saying that you won't go wrong with the EasyLunchboxes...that's all! 

I always feel good about giving away EasyLunchboxes to my awesome readers and blog followers.  It's one bento product that I promote shamelessly.... over and over again.

If you're just like me, who can't get enough of a set of EasyLunchboxes, please dive in to this chance to win more. It is time for another (1) set of four (4) Brights Collection of EasyLunchboxes with your color choice of one (1) lunchbag. 

It's easy to enter.  All you need to do is to visit EasyLunchboxes and come back to me, leave me a comment to answer either one of these questions:

• Why do you want to win a set of Easy Lunchboxes? 
• What Easter/Spring treat will you pack in which ELB lid color?

Please do all mandatory entries for EasyLunchboxes, or entries will forfeit, if drawn for that specific entry. For example, if you were asked to subscribe to EasyLunchboxesTV, and that entry number were drawn, but you failed to subscribe, or have unsubscribed, that calls for a default.  A new winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is offered to US residents only. 

Please do not enter this giveaway if you have won or received free product from 

EasyLunchboxes within the past 3 months.

EasyLunchboxes are the #1 best-selling lunchboxes on Amazon.com!! 
You can get FREE shipping for EasyLunchboxes products (USA only) through
EasyLunchboxes' Amazon Store (http://amzn.to/BuyLunch)

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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!

Christmas 2012 and a Winner

One of our most favorite holidays is Christmas.  Perhaps because of its festivity and the month long celebration filled with love, joy and peace for all of us.  It was indeed a long process to prepare for the event, but worthwhile to enjoy with the rest of your loved-ones. It has always been magical for us each year.  Things always turn out pretty well even when the tide gets tough.  God always find a way to make each puzzle piece fits into our not-so-ordinary lives.  That's one of the major things we are mostly grateful for.  The birth of Jesus is a symbol of unity, forgiveness and happiness.

This year I am also thankful for Goodbyn, a lunch gear that has given me the opportunity to know and truly love through my kids' school lunches. It was a pleasure reviewing their awesome product, and a real treat to give away a set to YOU in time for Christmas.

I have drawn my winner and it is my greatest honor to congratulate:

Kendra Peterson!

for winning a set of Goodbyn Mix and Match Set.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An email has been sent to you!

Please respond within 48 hours to claim your price.

Have the merriest Christmas to each one of you!

Thank you for all your love and support.

*Disclaimer: I have been provided a set of the said lunch gear to facilitate my review, and another set for a giveaway to my readers.  All reviews found herein are solely expressed by myself and my daughter's, as our own opinions based on my experience packing meals on the lunchbox, and hers using it.