Get Bento.

My daughter and I decided that a new school year in a new school building should also come with a new style of school lunch.

I found her a nice bento box with a bottom that freezes so it keeps the contents nice and cool for the day.  I've been thinking of neat things to include in the box but nothing too cutesy for my middle school tomboy.  I won't be cutting apples into the shape of stars or anything like that.

Going through our stash of healthy snacks tonight I realized I have some great starters. We have a dried fruit medley of cranberries, blueberries and cherries, flavored rice crackers, whole wheat and blueberry newton type snack bars, dried plantains, ranch flavored sunflower seeds, sundried tomato flavored almonds and our other more standard house fare of seasonal fresh fruits and veggies (right now we have grapes, apples, nectarines, kiwi and strawberries as well as carrots, mini colored peppers and celery).  I also make my own hummus, always have cheese sticks or slices or some kind, peanut butter is a favorite here along with pretzels.

Having never done the bento "thing" before, it should be a fun way to explore new things and there's built-in portion control.  I will have to pick and choose just the right things for my no-at-all-picky eater that still has a list of things she doesn't like (including the mini peppers and celery I mentioned earlier) and they also have to be braces friendly.

I hope I'm creative enough to make it work without making it boring.  I might have to jump deeper into the produce department, get a grip on some lesser known fruits and veggies though we are pretty well acquainted with that department since taking on the task of vegetarian dinners in June of 2012.

Wish us luck with our new endeavor!