Mama's Birthday Bento

Wednesday, 5/16/12 - My birthday! But still a day full of mommy duties. Kids still need to be taken to school, and fed and such, despite Mama having a birthday. Darnit. I did manage to weasel out of any morning activities, so we had a leisurely start to the day. But Little Z would need at least a snack for between school and swim class. And I actually eat eat healthier when I have a packed lunch. So I packed EasyLunchboxes for the both of us.

Spring-y Mish-Mash

Trader Joe's yogurt tube, dye-free cookie, ham and mozzarella mini pita pocket,
dye-free gummy vitamins (in the bunny,) broccoli and carrot, strawberries

If I had been planning this lunch in advance, I would have put the Trader Joe's yogurt tube into the EasyLunchBox and put them in the freezer, to mold it to the right shape. Then it not only helps to keep the lunch cold (and itself fresh after several hours at room temperature in a classroom,) but it thaws by lunchtime. Or else makes a nice semi-frozen smoothie tube, which is also fun to eat! But as I was basically tossing these together to eat in the car on the way to preschool, and keep them in my EasyLunchboxes cooler bag with an ice pack, I wasn't going to sweat it.
Yogurt tube, dye-free sugar cookie, and mini pita pockets all came from Trader Joe's. The ham is all-natural, no-nitrates added (I forget what brand.) The little bunny box came in a dozen with other assorted animal shapes and colors as Easter eggs. I got them on clearance at Target after. What fun!

If I recall correctly, she ate most everything. Sometimes she leaves the "crusts" from bread (the parts she holds onto when eating.) And she may have left a carrot or two. But I know she ate the broccoli (to earn the cookie,) and the yogurt, cookie, strawberries, and most or all of the sandwich.

Mama's Birthday Bento

Spinach salad w/strawberries, kumquats, almonds, and raspberry vinaigrette.
Dark chocolate PB cup, Masa Crisps, apples w/chunky PB

Since I was chopping up the last of the strawberries with my salad, I decided to go ahead and try some of the kumquats left over from my teacher appreciation bouquets. Meh. They were okay on my salad, but not awesome.
The Masa Crisps came with my May NatureBox. They are sooo gooood. Just the right mix of salt and crunch and oil and yum! Kind of like Fritos, but without making me feel ill. And no greasy fingers after.
The dark chocolate peanut butter cups are from Trader Joe's. Sooooo yummy, and better for me than Reese's. At least, that's my excuse!

As I was making the lunches, there was a knock on the door. UPS! With a package! What a surprise! It turned out to be a perfectly-timed birthday present from my mom and sister - they timed my mom's Amazon Prime shipping to arrive on my actual birthday! Aww!

Tovolo Bug Pop Molds, NordicWare Hungry Animals Mini Cake Pan, and Yum-Yum Bento Box book, all from my wishlist. Yes. Essentially stuff for my kids. But since I enjoy doing this, they're also for me! And using those bug pops with watered-down juice, or juice with fruit chunks will make a great dye-free alternative to the pesky ice cream truck this Summer!