Crafternoon with Bento Mommas

Thank you April, Monet, and Kaye for putting together such a lovely workshop for The Southern Belles.

Tisha De Veyra, Marketing Director from GLAD  introduced some of the products on the market that we can use in our Bento packing. I was most impressed with the Press ‘N Seal wrap. It’s perfect for just using that one piece of ham or that one piece of cheese which you might cut for decorating. You put the item in the middle of the Press ‘N Seal item and literally press around the item to seal it. SO EASY. 

Kaye and Monet explain some of the tools that we can use in creating bento lunches for our kids.

Kaye makes it look so easy! She showed us how to shape the Japonica white rice using a GLAD plastic bag. Can you guess what we are making?

If you guessed a rabbit, you were correct! We used bamboo picks to skewer our popcorn chicken from Marky’s, ham for the little bow, and we made apple rabbits under the guidance of Monet.

Thank you Mitz and Marky’s Chicken for sponsoring our popcorn chicken for the bentos, and the delicious fried chicken for our afternoon snack! My favorite flavor was Soy Garlic! We are so lucky that you are such good friends with Pat Cuyugan 🙂

Kaye also taught us how to make the checkerboard apple that is common in many bento snacks I see. She taught us how to keep the apples from turning brown by soaking them in Sprite.

The Bento Mommas come prepared. You can use all of their tools that they bring along for the workshop. I didn’t have to prepare anything except tables and chairs!

Inclusive of the fee that every participant paid came a kit. This kit is full of fantastic tools you would want to get started with your Bento Making.

Our second bento was a sandwich. We used a combination of rolled out whole wheat and white bread for the contrasting colors in the sandwich.

Diego would pop in every now and then from playing with his new found friends to try and help me. Some of their moms brought their kids, and it made for an automatic play date. Say hi to Mrs. P. Cuyugan’s son in the background!

In Bento-you can really put anything your child will like into his sandwich. The basic principle is that you want your kid to eat well and have fun at the same time. (Plus it’s a creative outlet for the Moms who enjoy getting crafty in the kitchen.)

We didn’t just have Moms in attendance! This little girl joined the workshop because her Mom knows that the only way to get kids to explore more foods and try new things is to have them help you make it! Congratulations Nica on making your Bento Box Lunches!

While we were all hard at work, making our delicious and artistic creations, the boys were having fun playing together. When I was younger, before I had children…this was what I imagined my house would be like on the weekends…very similar to the house I grew up in. My mom would always have visitors that she would prepare for and entertain…it’s a little bit different then what I was used to growing up…yet it’s still the same-a full house, with happy people. I’m so lucky I can provide the same kinds of experiences for my children as I had growing up.

Thank you Tabasco, Smuckers, and Tree Top for supplying treats for our goody bags! Gia LOVES Tabasco (We actually call her the Tabasco Queen.) and I LOVE peanut butter…the boys don’t get to drink soda so apple juice is something they know they can drink when it’s in the fridge and they don’t have to ask permission.

After packing our lunches, and while some of the Moms had a snack, others were able to take advantage of the Bento Mommas set up for their online store! Ok, I will admit that I spent just enough to satisfy my Bento Fix. Plus…I scored an awesome FROZEN themed little bento for Gellibean. Can’t wait to pack it!

Pictured T-B L-R: Arlene, Lolet, Patty, Giselle, Belle, Becky, Me. Penny, Nica, Mika, Leslie, Mel, and Kaye.