Lunch in our house is usually a pretty boring meal. Whilst we are sometimes adventurous with our evening meals, lunchtime is usually a bog standard sandwich affair. The kids take packed lunches, usually consisting of a sandwich (normally chicken or ham), a piece of fruit, a ‘snacky’ item, such as mini sausage rolls, scotch eggs or cocktail sausages, and a treat item. Benjamin pretty much has the same at home but on a plate.
I’ve really wanted to try and make things a little bit more interesting for a while, especially for Benjamin. The other two get to eat their lunches out of their funky Smiggle lunch bags with their friends, whilst poor Ben gets mummy and a plate. So, when Sous Chef asked me if I wanted to review one of their bento boxes and sandwich cutters, I knew this was a chance to up my lunch game.
We were sent one of the classic 5 compartment oblong bento box, worth £28.50 and mini sandwich cutter and stamp worth £7.50. When they came, I was surprised how big the bento box was (the dimensions are listed on the website though!). It’s not one you would send to school or take to work as a lunchbox! It’s also worth noting that the lid just rests on it, rather than clips onto it, so it’s not something you could really take out and about with you, which would have been handy.
All that aside, though, we absolutely love it! Whilst we don’t go full on bento style – I just don’t have the imagination – it’s nice for Ben to have his lunch presented in a more interesting way, and I’ve found that he is eating more. I pop everything in his box, pop it on the table or floor next to him and he picks at it. Sometimes he eats his fruit or his biscuits before he eats his sandwich, but I’ve realised as long as he eats it, I don’t really care what order it happens!
We’re also planning on trying Alex with it for his dinner times – he’s a very fussy eating and we are hoping that he might be a bit more open to trying things if they are presented a bit differently.
I’m afraid I couldn’t get on very well with the sandwich stamps and cutters though. I found that more often than not they mangled the bread a little – but we do use the super thick toastie bread so that may be why – and they didn’t really look like what they were supposed to. However, someone with more finesse and not quite as heavy-handed as me might be more successful.
If you want to have a go at creating a bento box, whether it’s for one of your kids or even yourself, visit the Sous Chef website – they have a huge range of bento boxes in all sorts of designs. You can also try your luck and enter the giveaway below to win a £30 voucher to spend on the website. To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.
Good luck!
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*We were sent these products free of charge for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are our own.
I’d buy the white rabbit bento lunch box
I would get the Authentic Thai Cooking Set
I would love to spend the voucher on Sometsuki Soup & Side Salad Bowls they look so pretty 🙂
The white house onigiri bento box would be my choice
The soup bowls -they look fabulous
Especially as it’s soup season
I like the melamine stuff (good for kids!), the Al Fresco Sage Dinner Plates look great.
Although the Bento Boxes are super I also like the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Sardine Terracotta Bottle. Gorgeous!
I would like the purple Geisha bento box.
I think something from the selection of jams, honeys and syrups would be lovely – especially the wild strawberries x
I would buy three of the lovely Children’s Wooden Kitchen Utensil Sets to accompany the three aprons I have made for three grandchildren who are keen to cook. They would enjoy finding the kits in Santa’s sack!
The Pink Geisha Bento Box.
The deluxe paella set
I love the oyster bowl
The pink geisha box
I would spend it on the Authentic Thai Cooking Set
I love all of it,would be happy to receive anything
I love the Thai Cooking Set
I would love buy the mexican spices and flours and make a yummy dinner for my family x
I’d get lots of little bits but stock up on Black Garlic love it!
My husband would love the Big Chilli Advent Calendar!
I would get the Pink Geisha Bento Box
I would love to get the Pink Geisha Bento Box for my daughter
I’d go for the Authentic Thai Cooking set!
The Big Chilli Advent Calendar would make such a good gift for my partner! But there are so many things I’d love from that website!! I’d enjoy choosing 🙂
Luxury Brussels Sprouts Crackers
I would get some hibana matcha bowls, they are stunning
the thai cooking set looks great
Baked Taco Rack and Set Of 6 Bread Stencils
Oooh the chilli advent calendar x
I would put it towards some silicone trays
The thai cooking set looks amazing, i would get that!
Deluxe Paella Set
I think I would choose The pink geisha box
Id buy the rabbit bento box and some of the cute food cutters.
The fab soup bowls!
I’d choose some of their Nom Nom chocolates as Christmas presents for friends.
I’d spend it on something for my mom xx
ooh lots of extra little treats for my 7 grandchildren
The white house onigiri bento box would be my favourite
we love Thai food so would be great to try the Authentic Thai Cooking Set
iv never cooked it myself but would be fab to give it a try
Bento box would be great.
I’d spend it on some soup bowls.
American Champions BBQ Rub Set – Round 2 sounds good to me. Love American flavours. Thanks fo rthe chance.
I’d put it towards the Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar
I think I would buy the big chill advent calendar. Looks great
The thai cooking set 🙂
I would love to buy the soup bowls, they look awesome!