Bento Boxes!

Geminidream
on 3/6/09 5:45 am - Spokane, WA
So, do you read the 'World According to Eggface' blog?  (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/)

Shelly has posted some  really neat photos for ideas of how she packs her new cool Bento box lunch box.  I actually have two small Japanese Bento boxes in Hello Kitty and never really did much with them beyond packing a single serving of something in them for lunch.  But for fun I kicked around the internet looking at some neat Bento websites and blogs and it really got me excited.  A whole new food obsession!  LOL

The whole concept is simple: preparing your lunch in a single small container that often has sub-compartments in it and adhering to portion control.  The Japanese even have a very clever chart for how much you should be eating by volume.  NOT dieting but just eating right.  How easy and blame-free is that?  And some of the photos on the web of the all-out artistic efforts produced by people are amazing.  Or you can just do simple old leftovers in nice, balanced, small amounts.

This seems tailor-made for us post-ops who are trying to control our portions.  I've started gathering my Bento supplies as well as ordering a few sets like Shelly uses and will begin working at mastering my Bento skills. 

I'm definitely worth the effort.  I figure to start out, I'll pack a week's worth on Sunday night and see how it goes.  The goal will be to increase the variety of foods I eat, keep the portions small and make my lunches at work feel like pampering. 

I bet most of us are already doing something along these lines anyway...haven't we always?  This is defining the process more and making it feel very special, I think.  Maybe it is just what I need to get me excited abou****ching my food intake more closely.  I'll let you know how it goes.   Maybe even with a few Bento photos of my own.

Molly

here are a few fun links:

http://community.livejournal.com/bentolunch/

http://lunchinabox.net/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/dietbento/

http://www.laptoplunches.com/




Highest weight 268, Pre-consultation weight: 255, surgery day weight 230
Beatriz A.
on 3/7/09 10:30 am - Sunny Miami, FL
I love Eggface's blog....she rock's!!!!!!I just wish I lived next door to her b/c I would offer my "kitchen cleaning" services for her cooking.........
Beatriz
Geminidream
on 3/8/09 8:35 am - Spokane, WA

That WOULD be fun!  I'd like to go to the farmers market with her too.  The ones we have here in the summer are a lot of crafts, home baked breads and less about food from what I've seen.  I'm guessing when you live someplace warm (like you) the produce is amazing. 




Highest weight 268, Pre-consultation weight: 255, surgery day weight 230
Heather M.
on 3/8/09 1:42 am - Modesto, CA
I don't have the Bento box, but I have the "lips" bag.   The girls at work joke that if there is ever an earthquake (since we live in CA) they are raiding my bag, because it has everything but the kitchen sink in it.  It's just an old nylon washable bag with hot pink lips printed on it, but I have every size imaginable container that gets stuffed in there.  On a typical week, it's packed with:

FF Cream cheese
LF cheese (for sandwiches/snacking)
Yogurt
Cottage cheese
Deli meat
Couple of mini-bagels (for sandwiches)
Fruit (fresh and usually a can of SF peaches or fruit ****tail)
Tomatoes
Salad (packed in bottom in a BIG container)
Baby carrots
Homemade soup (loaded with veggies and chicken or lean beef)
FF salad dressing in a small container for dipping or putting on salad
SF/FF pudding
1 Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine/Weigh****chers for those days I'm feeling "blech/icky" and don't want to mess with prepping lunch at work

Then the outside pocket usually has oatmeal packets or Honey Nut Cheerios (takes me about 2 months to eat a small box.. hehe.. but I so love them).

My bag probably weighs a good 2-4lbs when it's packed, but it goes the whole week, and takes up the space of a normal size lunch box/bag in the fridge.  It's all about knowing how to pack!

The Bento boxes are neat though.
Heather + Caitlin Marie
Caitlin's Vitals: Born 5/22/09, at 9:22 AM, 7 lbs, 20 3/4 inches long.  Looks like her daddy!
Geminidream
on 3/8/09 8:33 am - Spokane, WA
I love the idea of your lips bag!  Are you able to take it to work on Monday and use it all week or do you take it home each day?  If I were to leave a bag at work in the breakroom fridge the contents would disappear.  Usually, sneak-eating goes on but the bags are left behind.   

You pack some great food choices in there, too.  Lately I've been adding too many carbs to my diet.  They're whole grain and healthy but still, I should be getting more veggies.  It will be a lifelong learning process.  My inner child has a lot of food tantrums.  LOL

Have a great week!



Highest weight 268, Pre-consultation weight: 255, surgery day weight 230
Heather M.
on 3/8/09 9:56 am - Modesto, CA
It gets left at work, and for the most part, I think if it's ever been opened, they see FF/SF on everything and run the other way.  

Then on a side note, I keep beef jerky, trail mix, 100 calorie bags of chocolate covered pretzels/popcorn/cheese nips, at my desk for the carbs.  I did it before the pregnancy, and the only difference now, is I take the BIG Box of cheese nips, and just use the 100 calorie bags for the chocolate covered pretzels and popcorn.

Gained like 28-31 lbs for the pregnancy so far, and OB is pleased.  I didn't really start gaining until about my 6th month too.  First 5 months was a whole whopping 13 lbs.
Heather + Caitlin Marie
Caitlin's Vitals: Born 5/22/09, at 9:22 AM, 7 lbs, 20 3/4 inches long.  Looks like her daddy!
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