Thanks to everyone that participated. I plan to have another giveaway soon!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Grand Plans bento
Yippee for cookie cutters.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Win a Shinzi Katoh Stainless Steel Water Bottle!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Hawking My Wares
Blurb below:
Funny Face bento (Toddler)
left: 1/2 bagel with blueberries, cheese eyes, veggie-straw eyebrows, cherry tomato nose
right: turkey on lion pick, veggie-straws, blueberries in cup, and 2 animal crackers
Monday, December 8, 2008
Hello bento (Toddler)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wise Owl bento (Toddler)
left: fox cookie, cheese stick, veggie straws, maple glazed carrots with a shiitake mushroom sliced on top
right: cherries with blueberries, cheese and dried dragonfruit owl, snap pea, and sweet potato, broccoli, sunbutter sandwich (sounds yucky, but its actually good!)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Silly Monster bento (Toddler)
left: cheese & fruit leather scary monster on top of sun butter and jelly sandwich
right: blueberries, pear slices, babybel cheese, yellow pepper slices, sesame sticks
Friday, November 14, 2008
Happy Day bento (Toddler)
Today is a rainy day.
top: previously frozen mini blueberry cornmeal muffin, veggie straws, blackberries, ketchup in bear case
bottom: sweet potato "fries", walnut-oatmeal burger in whole wheat pita, pickle, and cheese smiley face
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Pre-School Snack Day #2
contents: corn muffin, cheese heart, honeyed carrot with blueberry center, 2 sugar snap peas, a veggie straw, orange, blueberries and blackberries
Monday, November 10, 2008
Cow Jumped Over the Moon bento (Toddler)
Yesterday the Monkey and I went out on a date to see the Alliance Theaters production of Goodnight Moon. We started off with some playtime at Piedmont Park with a friend and then headed over for the show. I must admit I was a bit worried that he would not be able to sit still for the one hour show without an intermission. But my worries were entirely for naught! He was entralled during the entire show. He laughed out loud, he danced, he oooh and ahhhed, he clapped enthusiastically after each song. There is only one weekend left and I would recommend the show for kids of all ages. On the way home we stopped at the original Krispy Creme for a doughnut! (hey, you gotta live a little!)
top: cubed peach, dill pickles wrapped around shredded carrot, cherry tomato, animal cracker, broccoli sundried tomato pizza pieces
bottom: celery with sun butter and dried blueberries, jam sandwich with cheese cow and moon
PS. If you do buy tickets on-line enter in code "TARGET" to get 1/2 off of the ticket price.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Helicopter Bento (Toddler)
I was not pleased with how this turned out, it is a good example of something that does not translate well from idea to lunch creation.
top: sweet potato, star fruit & grapes & pomegranate, frozen mini blueberry muffin and ketchup in container
bottom: broccoli trees, sweet potato helicopter, ground turkey stuffed pita mountains, and cheese giraffe on hummus spread bread
Monday, November 3, 2008
Hearts & Stars bento (Toddler)
top: avocado, heart & star shaped cheese quesadilla, cherry tomatoes wrapped in prosciutto, and a small side of chick pea carrot salad
bottom: frozen edamame, frozen pumpkin chocolate chip mini muffin, banana, raspberries
Friday, October 31, 2008
Buried Treasure Pirate bento (Toddler)
top: grape tomatoes, orange pepper strips, snap pea chips, orange & strawberry, parrot cracker
bottom: sandwich with pirate ship and island scene (cheese & fruit leather)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday Morning bento (Toddler)
Friday, October 24, 2008
Jack-O-Lantern bento (Toddler)
top: sunbutter & bread bites, Gruyère cheese, raspberries, edamame
bottom: forbidden rice with sweet potato pumpkin (fruit leather accents)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Scooby Doo bento (Toddler)
top: homemade apple sauce (the Monkey and I made this last night!), roasted sweet potato pumpkins, ketchup in the blue container
bottom: roasted sweet potato, fruit leather Scooby, cheese ghost, with sun butter & jam sandwich
Friday, October 17, 2008
Bats Bento (Toddler)
left: plum, avocado, sesame sticks
right turkey, jam sandwich with cheddar bats (light brushing of food coloring)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Along Came a Spider Bento (Toddler)
Friday, October 10, 2008
T-Rex Bento (Toddler)
top: avocado, strawberries, mini blueberry muffin, cheese, and animal cracker
bottom: tortilla and cheese T-Rex, multi grain bread, smoked salmon roll ups, broccoli, and red cabbage
Monday, October 6, 2008
Hay Ride Bento
top: apple bunny, blueberries, cheddar bunnies, sugar snap peas, cherry tomato, and chocolate bunnies
bottom: cheese tractor with fruit leather accents, snap peas, sun butter & jam sandwich
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friendly Skies Bento (Toddler)
Guess what, he LOVED it! So for today's lunch we are giving it another go. It would make a nice dip too.
top: chicken apple sausage, manchego cheese plane, whole wheat corn cake with broccoli & sweet potato mash (hee hee), raspberries, blueberries, and green beans
bottom: yogurt with orange and blueberry
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Why I Bento
It wasn’t until after I began the lunches that I realized the additional benefits of lunch bento style.
- Environment and Health. I find that I create a lot less waste when I bento. When making a bento lunch I rarely pack anything that needs to be tossed into the trash. I also use more fresh vegetables and fruit rather than prepackaged foods.
- Portion Control. When I got my first bento box in the mail, I almost returned it. I thought to myself, “This is way too small, how can I get an adequate lunch in here for my son, much less myself”? Well, trust me, you can. Our entire family eats bento lunches, you can find examples of both child and adult lunches I have made for my family on the website.
- Convenience. Most of us don’t have much time to spend making lunch; frankly you shouldn’t have to spend much time. Aside from some of the more elaborate meals I make for my little Monkey, I typically spend 5-8 minutes throwing together bentos for school, work, the park, or wherever we might be going.
- Fun. This is my favorite part. I love taking my bento out at the park and opening it to reveal the yummy goodness inside! I know my son feels the same way, at such times he grabs his bento box and opens it while saying, “Ooooohhh, what’s in heeeere.”
Bento lunches resume tomorrow!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
In the Spotlight at The Trendy Mommy

Other Site Recognitions:
Thanks to Alex at Neatorama
Thanks to Michelle at Kidhaus
Thanks to Katie at WeHeartBooks
Thanks to Emily at Slashfood
Thanks to Tamara at DecaturMom
Thanks to Sam & Bellie at Sam & Bellie
Thanks to Kaori at Koala Brains
And thanks to the countless other people that have posted about the blog or that have sent e-mails that make me smile!
The Elusive Forest Dragon Bento (Toddler)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Broad River Trail Hike & Bento Picnic
top: babybel gouda cheese, edamame,sweet & salty nut mix, raspberries and mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffin
bottom: bacon, avocado, and heirloom tomato sandwich on whole wheat
Monday, September 15, 2008
Snack Day
My Very First Trunk Show
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Bento Picnic & Hike at Lullwater Park
top: baked polenta with corn, basil, tomato, and aged gouda alongside caramelized onion & walnut chicken meatballs with peach chutney, cheddar cheese (recipes soon)
bottom: edamame, cherry muffin, alongside peach, blueberry, and kiwi
The adventurer in all of us enjoyed our short trek into the wilderness, if it weren't for the occasional siren heard from the road beyond the tree line it would have been difficul
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Trunk Show at Hoopla -September 14th from 4-6pm!!!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Toddler Bento for the Plane Ride Home
I love packing bento's for plane trips, it is a fun treat to break out mid flight.
top: veggie straws, grapes, blackberries, and a cheese stick
bottom: pb & banana sandwich (and yes, its a whole one, for those who have asked if this is possible) with grape tomatoes
Monday, August 25, 2008
Toddler Donkey Bento
top: watermelon with blueberries & cheddar bunnies, tomato, turkey roll
bottom: oven roasted sweet potato, pb & banana sandwich with donkey tortilla
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Our Almost Visit to The Bronx Zoo
Wednesday. We had been planning to visit the Bronx Zoo since early in the week because the weather is/was cool today. (Did I mention we are out of town....) For anyone travelling to New York and planning a visit to the Bronx Zoo, let me tell you NOT to do so on a Wednesday! Or I guess I should say if you don't mind an INSANE amount of people and impossible parking/traffic, perhaps it IS the right day to go. The trade off is that on Wednesday you pretty much get into the zoo for free, donations are accepted of course.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Newest Shipment of Shinzi Katoh Has Arrived!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Jungle Safari Birthday Party Success!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wildlife Camp Birthday Celebration
Today is the Monkeys 3rd Birthday!!! I made yellow cake cupcakes with chocolate frosting for his camp mates. He will celebrate again on Sunday with friends at Leapin Lizards!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Breaking News Alert!!!
For any of you who have not experienced the simple and addictive yummy-ness that is Pocky, now is your chance to do so in Decatur.
Garden bento (toddler)
top: strawberries and blueberries, roasted yam, veggie booty
bottom: bulgur-beef bake, peas, couscous with cheese flowers , bugs and fruit leather accents (also a graham bunny)
Monday, August 4, 2008
Bi-Plane bento (toddler)
top: cherries, blueberries, peach with cheddar alongside baked chicken with ketchup and airplane cracker
bottom: hummus sandwich with cucumber and carrot plane and broccoli
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Update on Bento Boxes from Shinzi Katoh
P.S. More bento lunches this week!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Feeling Famous and Other News
I have officially placed yet another order for bento boxes with Shinzi Katoh. I anticipate the order will be here by the end of the week. Drop me an e-mail with any requests at pam@cookingformonkeys.com .
Lastly, I am planning to do a trunk show at Hoopla in September. I will post more details soon.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Curious George bento (or perhaps a mouse)
left: veggie booty, "jumpy" squirrel cracker, asian pear "ma" bunny, blueberries & raspberries, and mini blueberry cornmeal muffin
right: fruit leather "george" with edamame and bell pepper balloons, 1/2 pb & j sandwich, cheese stick, and more edamame.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Construction Truck bento
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wild Things Work Late
An image from the book was chosen and discussed. A trip to the grocery store was made. At six that evening we sat down with some wine and dinner and finalized the elements of the box. It took about a half an hour to get the first monster just right, but then it was a breeze to put the remaining 15 together. The final boxes turned out great and were a HUGE hit at the party!
party box: cheese quesadilla monster with sea vegetable "hair" , slivered almond horns & claws, and fruit leather stripes, cheese crown, carrot & red pepper trees, asian pear moon, and edamame. (warning: monster claws hidden under trees)