Our lunch for the Bunny Train

This lunch was inspired by Keeley McGuire. In one of her blog posts she used a strawberry container as a bento box. Since then, I have been saving all of mine for those out of the house trips. This was my first chance to put it to the test! We decided to have a picnic before we boarded the train.

On the bottom (you can barely see them) there are pretzels. On top of that I have carrot sticks, peanut

The Elder and Pork

butter sandwich trains, strawberries, string cheese, and a brownie made with applesauce. On top of all of this I placed a juice packet (Kool Aid). It kept everything in place. I made this up early in the morning and the pretzels were still crisp at lunch (12:30pm). I was impressed. I wan even more impressed with how the juice box kept the carrot sticks and everything else from moving about. I let the boys carry their boxes. We all know how 2, 3, and 4 year olds can me!


The train was very fun. It is run by volunteers. They had the Easter Bunny and her helpers come around to see everyone and they gave all the kids a small gift. They even gave Colonel Sanders a small stuffed rabbit. The boys all picked out cars. The whole thing lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.


I would also recommend the Coopersville & Marne train to everyone. Two members of our family have disabilities. One is physical (Cerebral Palsy) and one is not (high functioning Autistic). They were kind and offered us help. We were not rushed as we tried to get on and off the train.

C is for Coconut and Cat

Yes, I know I have done C several times now. Last night I had an older kitten come up to us and was crying. It was a skinny little thing. I am willing to bet she was from an unwanted litter. So we brought it inside the garage and fed it. This morning I gave it a flea bath and some wormer.

Anyway, in honor of our guest (and because the empanada reminded me of a cat head) the letter today is C again.

The cat's head is a chicken, bacon, ranch empanada made by Tyson I believe. I drew the face on with one of my food safe markers. Below that are some mini dill pickles, coconut pieces, and cheddar cheese cubes.

In the compartment next to that are some strawberries, grape tomatoes, black seedless grapes, and carrots cut into sticks. On top of that is a C cut out of wheat bread.

D is for Dolphin

I know it has been a bit. I am sorry. I have had some personal problems recently.

Anyway, I chose to use the longer bento today because of the dolphin. I found a new bread cutter in the store with 2 dolphins and a heart in the center.

On the top I have sliced carrots, strawberries, and Colby cheese. To the right of that is pasta salad. Hidden from view there are some cucumber bits, black olives, and tomato mixed in with the tri colored pasta and Italian dressing. This was a bigger hit than I thought it would be. The number 15 is made out of a whole wheat tortilla and colored with food safe markers.

On the bottom is some folded deli turkey, a peanut butter dolphin and heart, and some baby dill pickles. The D is also cut out of a tortilla.

Unexpected Breakfast Bento.

This morning Clark woke up extra early and requested a box. I thought he meant a box to play in. It was only after  he started to roll his eyes back and do that odd head tilt he does that I realized that I was missing something. I asked him to show me the box he wanted. Clark opened up the bento drawer. So I let him pick out what box he wanted so I could fill it.

Clark

I made the minions several silver dollar sized whole wheat pancakes. I added a little honey into the batter so there was no need for sticky syrup. While I made those, I boiled some water for the eggs. I used my molds and made a car and fish. Each minion received half an egg which I decorated with food safe markers. To the right of the egg I have a piece of ham.

On the left side of the box I have some plain yogurt which I mixed with some strawberry jam. I did not realize I was out of normal yogurt until it was to late.  It tasted pretty good with the jam mixed in. I also cut up some strawberries and kiwi fruit for their morning fruit.

The box is my Sassy brand box which you can find at Meijer and Toys R Us. It has 3 removable dividers with tight fitting lids. I believe mine only cost me $5.99 and it comes in blue and pink.

Simple puppy (Dog)

 I like these little boxes when I want to make something a little more simple. They are small and a toddler or preschooler sized meal fits perfectly in these. This one was purchased from All Things For Sale.  There are some items hidden under the sandwich today. I was going to take them out for the picture, but I have 3 little voices demanding food.

On top I have a round peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I used some apple slices to make the puppy's ears, two Cheerios make up the eyes, and the tip of the strawberry makes the nose. I uses a piece of cheddar cheese for the mouth. To the right of the sandwich are some cucumber and carrot slices.

Under the puppy face are a few slices of cheese and a few more apple wedges.

O is for Ocean

I realized I needed to use up my Goldfish bread before it went bad.  So we have another fish lunch.  Today's sandwich is yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  That seems to be the sandwich of choice anymore. Or as the minions call it, a "peanut butter jelly time". It has a candy eye and I used a food safe marker to color in the mouth. On top of the fish is a cucumber and a carrot making the "O".  I also have a pretzel rod with a piece of angel hair pasta wrapped around it to make a fishing pole. Above that are some more of the grape tomato and cheese boats. At the very bottom are some green olives (and a piece of cheddar that fell in there).

The bottom deeper side of the bento has a bed of spring greens. I have a sausage Octopus, crab and jellyfish. At the bottom I have strawberries, cheese, almond slivers, carrots, and green olives making up the ocean floor.

O is for Octopod

I did not do the best job. Still, it is better than some things I have tried... Like the ravioli kites. The minions have been fascinated with the Octonauts. So I decided to attempt the Octopod. The main part of the Octopod is made of cheese. The arms, eyes, and other dark parts are nori. And the extra little pods (I know there are 4, but the 4th would not fit) are made from red pepper.Underneath that is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Can you tell the cookie is suppose to be an O? I put a piece of nori in the center to try to make it look more like one. The minions could tell. Then again, they know to expect a letter. We also have match stick carrots, strawberries, blueberries, celery, and colby jack cheese.



Apparently it looked just enough like the Octopod for the minions to recognize it. Tyke started to sing "creature report". Beware, it gets stuck in your head!

Today's lunch is in a container I picked up from Old Navy. Sadly, they no longer carry them.