YumSugar

Bento of the Week: Twitterpated

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:01:18 -0700

This week's bento box comes from blogger Akinoichigo. Her adorable Miss Bunny - from Bambi - bento has me in awe. I guess you could say I'm "twitterpated!"

Healthy Gadget: Bento Stainless Lunch Jar

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Lunchtime at work (or school) can be a dieter's hell. While you're sticking to your healthy turkey sandwich and yogurt, your coworkers are brining in yummy Mexican food that makes your mouth water at first sight.

You too can have yummy, but only healthy, dishes for lunch. You just may need to update the brown sack look. I am loving this Zojirushi Ms Bento Stainless Lunch Jar ($42.99). The stainless steel construction and vacuum insulation ensures foods remain hot or cold. This set includes two microwavable containers and an easy carry tote bag (which is kind of cute too). This way you'll have your coworkers mouth watering at the smell of your own reheated lentil tomato soup. Buy it from VeryAsia.com.

10 Healthy Ways to Jazz Up the Lunch Box

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:06 -0700

Banish cafeteria meals with some creative ideas that will have school kids looking forward to mom's lunchtime surprises. Now that your lil one has a lunch box that helps reduce waste throughout the year, fill it with food that he will want to gobble down, rather than toss. With a little forethought and a few tools, those lunch sacks will be filled with healthy meals that are the envy of everyone at the table.

Do you have a healthy lunch recipe that your tots love? Share it with other lunch making mamas in The Children's Table group on the LilSugar Community!

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What's the Deal With: The Lunch Box Diet?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

If you're one of those people who feels the need to munch on something all day long, the Lunch Box Diet plan was made with you in mind. Fitness trainer Simon Lovell came up with the idea which began in the UK, but is catching on in the US. Even celebs like Cameron Diaz gave it a try.

Basically, you eat whatever you want for breakfast and dinner, and graze on a lunch box filled with 60 percent veggies, 30 percent protein, and 10 percent dressing in between those meals. Carbs like whole grains are limited unless you're exercising at some point during the day. This eating plan is meant to balance your blood sugar so you're less likely to ~~pig out~~ snack on unhealthy foods.

Want to see a video clip about the Lunch Box Diet and hear what critics have to say? Then read more.

Some critics think this diet doesn't supply adequate nutrition. There are also loose parameters when it comes to what and how much you should eat for breakfast and dinner, so it's great if you like flexibility, but not great if you have issues with proper portion sizes.

I'm all for a plan that encourages snacking on small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day, but this seems like a glorified Atkins diet, focusing on protein, veggies, and limited carbs. This diet may help someone lose weight and keep hunger at bay, but like most diets, this doesn't seem like a lifestyle you could sustain forever. I'd stick to eating healthy foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, monitor your portion sizes, and if you get hungry in between, munch on a nutritious snack.

What's the Deal With the Lunch Box Diet?

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:30:00 -0800

Have you heard all the fuss about this new diet, the Lunch Box Diet, which everyone is crazy about? Here are the basics, and it's probably a lot more realistic than you might think.
The Lunch Box Diet, an online diet plan, is a new diet based on buying a large plastic lunch box and filing it with a mix of 60 percent wholesome natural vegetables, 30 percent protein and 10 percent fat. Dieters are then encouraged to slowly graze on the lunch box contents through the day so they are not tempted to binge at meal times. The theory behind the diet is to eliminate pig-out sessions and that after a small period of time on the diet your desire for foods high in sugar and salt will reduce naturally as your taste buds change onto the more natural sources of foods that you're encouraged to pack in your lunch box. Basically the diet strikes me as a slightly more gimmicky way at getting us to eat the things we already know we should eat. If it gets folks eating healthy, then I'm all for it. There is nothing that seems unhealthy or unrealistic about the diet so if it sounds like it would work for you then give it a shot - but you must let me know what you think!

One of my favorite things about the diet is that it can be downloaded from the Internet (about 10 pages) for around $19.95, so check it out here.

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Back to School! 7 Awesome Girl-Power Lunch Boxes

TresSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

When I was a kid, right about now was the time my mom would round me up and take me to Target for some good old-fashioned back to school shopping. Out of all the things a kid has to buy before she heads back to the classroom, the lunch box offers a great opportunity for personal expression. Take a look at seven girl-power lunch pails that I would trade my brown bag for even today!

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Food Pyramid Lunch Box: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0800

I'm definitely psyched that the food pyramid I learned about in elementary school was redesigned, but it looks like some people are still into the old horizontal stripes model - hence this Nutritional Pyramid Lunch Box. It's designed to help people make healthier choices when it comes to figuring out how to choose the correct portions of grains, veggies, and protein.

I'm actually surprised no one has thought of this before, but looking at the portions I think I might want more fruits and veggies than rice. Unfortunately, this lunch box is just in the early stages of production and not yet available for sale. I'm curious to know what you think . . .

Lil Treasures: Lunch Box Surprises

LilSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:00:02 -0800

Don't let school lunches become as routine as a line-up of classes, surprise your kids by putting a few fun edible treats in their lunch bags. And, always make sure they are age appropriate.

Shaped Sandwiches - Turn your child's favorite sandwich, be it peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese into an extraordinary one using stainless steel cookie cutters to make them into hearts, stars and animals.
Cereal Chain - String naturally colored fruit loops or Cheerios on a piece of unflavored dental floss to create a necklace or bracelet.
Mini Quiche - There's nothing like a lil brunch for lunch, make the quiche bite-sized using mini muffin pans or the pre-made appetizer pastry cups available at most grocers.
Scoops of Fruit - Rather than having the kids fuss with peels, pits and rinds, use a melon baller to make their favorite fruit medley.

And, for that added touch, tuck a note in wishing them luck on a test or just to say that you're hoping they are having a good day.
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Pack a Lunch: Save $ and Calories

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:15:00 -0700

If you are dieting or trying to save some dough, you should really be brown bagging your lunch. Make it at home and take it with you wherever you may roam. You not only save money (sandwiches can be upwards of $7 around where I work), but you also can control your portions and calorie intake.

Here are some tips and ideas for packing your lunch and taking it on the road.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you have a lunch is to cook extra dinner. Before you sit down to your meal, separate out your lunch portion for the next day. I like to have a half portion of meat and put it in a salad for lunch the next day. Same with side dishes - steamed green beans are great on a salad.
Sandwiches are also an easy lunch item. This way you know you are eating nutritious whole grain bread (that is what you have at home, right?) Keep the avocado and tomato separate until you are about to eat, this way the sandwich doesn't get soggy and the avocado doesn't turn brown. Also, this way you have control over your condiments - use a thin layer of light mayo and go crazy with the mustard (as long as it is not honey mustard which contains sugar) since it is low in calories and fat.

I have plenty to say on the subject, so read more

Pack a cup of yogurt for an afternoon snack or dessert. I recommend a yogurt with live and active cultures. Why not get some probiotics with your daily calcium. Place the yogurt in the freezer overnight, to keep if fresh if you don't have a fridge for storing your lunch.
Apples, bananas and oranges travel well so you can always have a piece of fruit with your lunch. These fruits are great since they don't require an extra plastic baggie, so they are environmentally friendly too.
Keep a bottle of low fat dressing in the fridge at work. On Monday, bring in a bag of pre-washed lettuce and make yourself a side salad.
It is a good idea to invest in some quality Tupperware for transporting your food. It is always a bummer to have food leak all over your bag.

The ideas for foods to pack are endless and here are two great resources for more lunch ideas:
The Daily Tiffin - great internationally flavored lunch boxes

The UK Food Standard - lunch box idea for kids 9 -12 years of age, but great for adults too

In the market for a cute lunch box? Check out these lunch boxes on YumSugar.

A Few of Lil's Favorite Things: September

LilSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Send your kids back to school with a hardy lunch in hand. While your children may be focused on hitting the books, there's no time like the present to make sure they are mindful of the world around them. Help them choose an Eco-friendly lunch box or lunch sack to tote and store their mid-day meal. These reusable options are economical as you won't have to invest in any brown paper bags and environmentally conscious since they make for limited debris. Don't forget to tell your tots to toss their leftovers in the compost bin.

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