How to make a Letter N lunch? Simple.
Pick a food from each category. Assemble in a lunchbox.
Remember to keep wetter foods away from dry foods. There are two ways that you can accomplish this:
(1) Place the foods in different containers or compartments. Fit n Fresh boxes enable you to separate the foods into numerous, appropriate size containers. Easy Lunchboxes has 3 distinct sections that allow foods to be separate, yet still in the same lunch box.
(2) Use silicone baking cups in whatever lunchbox you use. They are perfect for dividing up large spaces, as well as containing delicate cookies or juicy fruit salad.
I highlighted the foods that I used in my lunch. What foods will you choose to create a Letter N Lunch?
Breads/Grains:
Naan
Noodles
Dairy:
Neufchatel cheese
Desserts:
Nilla wafers
Nougat
Nutella spread
Nutter Butter cookie
Fruits:
Nectarine
Meats/Protein:
Nuggets
Nuts
Vegetables:
Napa cabbage
Navy beans
Nicoise salad
Northern beans
Combos:
Nachos
New England clam chowder
The star of today's bento lunch is the Letter N. I believe this to be one of the most beautiful lunches that I have ever created. The colors are so vibrant. The food is scrumptious. All in all, it is a feast for the eyes AND tastebuds.
In the back corner of the Easy Lunchbox, I placed wedges of Naan (an Indian flat bread), as well as a small chunk of Neufchatel cheese, which may be spread on the Naan. In the USA, we commonly think of Neufchatel as a low-fat cream cheese, when in fact, it bears more likeness to a Brie cheese.
In the compartment in front of the Naan and Neufchatel cheese is a juicy salad of chopped Nectarines and Nuts.
However, the main delight of this lunch is the Napa Cabbage Slaw. Absolutely delicious and refreshing. A reminder to my tastebuds that perhaps Spring just might be around the corner. (At least, I hope it is!) I based my tasty concoction upon Napa Cabbage Salad found at Food & Wine, and then I tweaked it to fit my family's preferences. You simply MUST try it!
Lastly, I wrapped up the lunch by placing Nilla wafers in a silicone baking cup.
I pack my kids' and husband's lunches (and sometimes one for me too!) the night before, and I learned 2 things to pass along to you.
(1) In case you didn't know, it is SO much easier to pack the lunches the night before! Either enlist older children to help with making sandwiches and tossing veggies into baggies, OR wait until the kiddos are all in bed, turn up some music, and make some lunches happen.
(2) Here is the thing that I learned from packing and then eating this particular lunch. Pack the lunch the night before, but put the Nilla wafers into the lunchbox in the morning. The aromas from the Napa cabbage slaw slightly permeated the delicate, crumbly cookies, giving the Nilla wafers a mild taste of soy sauce and rice vinegar. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't exactly the taste that I was expecting. Lesson learned. And now you won't make the same mistake. You're welcome! :)
