beginner bento lunches

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Rubbermaid, Jif, and Smucker’s, but all my opinions are my own. #aBetterLunch #pmedia http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO  As always, thanks for reading!

As you probably already know, my 6 year old started first grade last week.
Full days of school.
He's thrilled.
I'm curled up in the fetal position.

An alone trip to Target...school supplies and lunch supplies.

Such is the life of mamas.

Eyeball candies from Target, too!

One thing that I can almost look forward to {aside from picking him up every afternoon!} is sending him with a fun bento lunch I made each day.

I smile when I catch him sneaking a peek into his lunchbox on the way to school so he can see what combination I put together.

And even though I am a beginner with packing school lunches, we've managed to play with our food plenty....again and again and again and again.
So I've had some practice. ;)

My husband is also a little weird about food touching on his plate, so I've been separating things for years!

The two things I try to remember when I'm making school lunches is to keep them {relatively!} simple and keep them {relatively!} healthy.
There are some super elaborate bento lunches out there...just spend a few minutes on pinterest and you'll be in awe!

My oldest has always been on the picky side of eating, so we stick to classics like pb&j and fruits/veggies.

I use Rubbermaid Lunchblox boxes {found at Target}, divided by silicone cupcake cups {found at a craft store...word on instagram is that they're also available at the $1 store}.

I use the tiny animal picks/forks for function, but also as cute decoration! :)
I found these at a local Asian market, but rumor has it they're also available on Amazon.
{The egg shaper/molds a few photos up are also from the same store...but I've never tried them!}

I use tiny cookie cutters and fondant cutters {abc set from above pic, too!} to make shapes and spell words from cheese and fruit leather.
I've had good luck finding those at craft and fabric stores.

And if you're looking for a little bento inspiration to get started, here you go!

cucumbers, apples, blueberries, goldfish, tomatoes, pb&j topped with fruit leather

strawberries, grapes, cookies, pretzels, sugar snap peas, turkey dog

multi-grain crackers, cheese, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, sugar snap peas

cantaloupe, grapes, pretzel goldfish, chocolate chip cookies, cucumbers, pb&j

strawberries, cookies, apples, grapes, cheese, multi-grain crackers

raspberries, baby carrots, s'more trail mix, pretzels, raisins, pb&j topped with fruit leather

strawberries, blueberries, pretzels, mini marshmallows, grapes, peanut butter sandwich

And in case you'd prefer to see them in a collage for easy inspiration...

For more help getting started with bento lunches, visit the Build a Better Lunch site.
And for coupons to use on Rubbermaid Lunchblox, click here {and they don't expire until Dec. 31st!}

Happy lunch making!

xoxo

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