After several months of nagging from my two older children, I finally caved in and started making them packed lunches for school. I figured if I was going to have to make them packed lunches every day I was going to have a bit of fun with it and I started making them Bento lunches. Nothing particularly elaborate, mind, as I am quite a lazy person, but it doesn’t make much effort to cut a peanut butter and jam sandwich into novelty shapes, or cut vegetables with miniature flower cutters to form a little veggie flower garden as can cheese and fruit. Sushi rice or a boiled egg can be moulded into shapes using fairly inexpensive plastic moulds.
In June Yumbox sent me one of their fantastic bento-style lunch boxes to try out. More correctly, they sent it to DD who was so delighted when the parcel arrived she wrote out a list of exactly what she wanted to be included in her box for the next day. She even got up early in the morning and packed it herself!
Invented in America by two entrepreneur Mums Maia Neumann and Daniele Devitt to help children develop healthy eating habits, Yumbox is now available in the UK via Bouncy Jam, run by London mumtrepreneur Sarah Kerr.
The Yumbox is a stylish, award winning, sturdy BPA-Free, phthalates-free lunch box with an illustrated food tray divided into half-cup portions for the five key food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. It also has a little cup with room for a small sweet or dip. I really like the illustrations on the food tray; what a great way to teach young children the food groups. It does bug me when I see images of filled Yumboxes with the wrong food groups in the labelled compartments! Fruit does not ever belong in the dairy section!
The portion size is ideal for children from baby weaning age up to around the age of 10. Older children may not find the small size sufficient for their hungry growing appetites, but for my 7 year old it’s just perfect. For the first time since she started getting packed lunches her lunch box has consistently been returned empty. Win!
One of her favourite lunches includes these quick toasted sesame noodles. When it comes to feeding children simple is often best. This is an easy peasy recipe and any leftovers keep well for lunch the following day.
Toasted Sesame Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 nest medium egg noodles I used Sharwood
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds toasted lightly
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 spring onion finely sliced
- 25 grams carrot grated
Instructions
- Bring a small pan of water to the boil and cook noodles according to the packet instructions.
- If using for a lunch box, drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. If serving warm skip the cold water step.
- Toss with the remaining ingredients and serve.
Notes
Key Yumbox features:
• measures 22 x 15 x 5 cm and weighs 490 grams
• leak-proof! Pack your apple sauce next to your sandwich with no worries!
• child-friendly latch on the attached lid
• easy to clean
• encourages portion control and healthy eating
• fits neatly into standard thermal lunch totes
• eco-friendly: eliminates need for cling-film or plastic bags
• fun to pack!
Retailing at £24-99 plus P&P, it is rather on the dear side, but I think it’s worth every penny. It’s a very sturdy good quality lunch box and I will be buying one for our five year old who is due to start school at the end of the summer holidays.
The Yumbox is available in Framboise Pink (pictured above) and Pomme Green. New colours will be rolled out in September. The Yumbox will be available on Amazon very shortly, or you could visit them over at www.yumbox-uk.co.uk
Yumbox have offered one of my UK readers the opportunity to win a Yumbox of their very own, just scroll down to the bottom of this post and fill out the Rafflecopter form.
For more children’s lunch box inspiration see:
Bento Sushi Rice Shapes by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Baby Egg Pies by Tinned Tomatoes
Spicy Tattie Puffs by Tinned Tomatoes
Gruyere and Caramelised Shallot Nests by Fab Food 4 All
Mini Quiches by Franglais Kitchen
Alternatively you could follow YumBoxUK on Twitter or Instagram where they regularly share Yumbox filling ideas.
Yumbox Giveaway
How to Enter
For your chance to win one Yumbox RRP £24-99 in the colour of your choice (subject to availability) enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
Terms & Conditions
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 48 hours of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by YumboxUK. The prize is one Yumbox in your colour choice (subject to availability). There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!
Closing date is midnight on Monday 1 September 2014 and the winner will be announced that day.
If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a Yumbox for review. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Gul Choudhury says
Chocolate sandwiches!!
mrs sharron page says
chicken goujons or sausage rolls, bread sticks and blueberries
kay S says
anything savoury but mostly cheese
Leanne Bell says
Fairly boring but my Daughter loves ham sandwiches with a side of grapes.
Mummy Whiskers says
Cheese, just cheese 🙂
Mummy Whiskers says
Cheese, he just loves cheese 🙂
Susan Pringle says
Cheesy pasta
helen booth says
Any left over pasta is a hit! Or chicken and lettuce rolls!
soneailiami says
Mini cheese and onion pasties
Dominique Ralf says
Ham and cream cheese wraps.
Claire toplis says
Great idea little pockets of surprises
claire little says
sandwiches 🙂
Jamie says
Cucumber sandwiches 🙂
SARAH JONES says
My son eats pretty much anything but his faves are grapes and broccoli x
kelly says
Tuna and sweetcorn pasta!
Caroline says
fruit salad!!
NATALIE BRADLEY says
pasta salad
Dawn Totton says
A healthy fruit salad.
makila wheatley says
my boy will eat just about anything…he aint fussy
Chris Fletcher says
Spicy chicken sandwiches!
Qian says
My daughter loves pasta
Nancy Bradford says
Ham sandwiches with faces (I know, we aren’t nearly as creative as the rest of you :).
Kristy Brown says
Tuna sweetcorn or pasta salad
liz ferguson says
tuna sarnies
olivia Kirby says
My little girl loves cheese sandwiches and salad pots
janine atkin says
My son loves a fruit salad
Kerry Brown says
he loves his hummus dips and vege sticks, they have to be in his lunchbox or i will get told off!
Clare S says
my daughter likes cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, with cucumber sticks and strawberries in her lunch box
sam mcginty says
banana and soft cheese wrap
Pam Francis Gregory says
Chicken & Rice
Irene Gilmour says
loves boiled eggs and veg sticks
joanne liddement says
Mini cheese and onion pasties
Jade says
Cheese sandwiches
caroline kelly says
Simple sandwiches
Stephanie Whitehouse says
peanut butter honey and banana wraps – I straighten the banana as I roll, and it always intrigues them
Helen Atkins says
My son loves crackers and cheese, with fruit salad as a pudding
emma hunt says
peperoni is my girls fav 🙂
Andrea Williams says
She likes little strips of ham, cucumber, cheese and carrot in a mix.
Vera Bahounkova says
sandwiches with cheese and ham
jodie yorke says
tuna salad.
Carroll Marsh says
My Little angels love to take cold sweetcorn and spring onion Fritters with a sweet chilli sauce and mayonnaise Dip!!other times they love Onion Bhajis and Chutney!!They have a very good Palatte and love spicy food!!(carroll marsh)
Caroline Blaza says
Corned beef sandwiches
katherine b says
My son loves cheese and avocado sandwich and fruit salad x
kate says
cheese and marmite!!
Carolin says
She’s a big fan of pesto rolls x
Emma Ellison says
Tomato and cheese pasta
Mark Chamberlin says
Duck, hoisin sauce and spring onions! He also loves sushi!
Jen says
It’s got to be mini quiches in this house – quick, simple and you can use up things in the fridge! (and they freeze well!)
Julia says
chorizo sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, cous cous salad and fruit cut up always goes down well. And crisps and chocolate of course!
EJ Dunn says
Tuna and sweetcorn pasta
rebecca says
cheese pinwheels
Amanda Beamish says
my sons would be lemon curd sandwiches, but I’m a mean mum and make him take something healthier!
Helen G says
My son is a fan of the basics. He loves ham sandwiches with a side of fruit, specially dried apricot, raisins and oranges.
rachel richardson says
Cucumber sandwiches! Sounds posh but my daughter has a sensory disorder so it’s quite a triumph!
Rachel Bustin says
plain dry cheese sandwiches!
gemma clark says
Once a week I let my daughter have cold homemade pizza in her lunchbox. She also particularly loves Raw pepper sticks, cucumber and carrot sticks to munch on xx
michelle banks says
anything with tuna and sweetcorn! lol
Kerry Manners says
My daughter loves building her own crackers, so I cut ham, cheese and cucumber into flower shapes so she can choose whichever combo she fancies 🙂
Susan Race says
Mine are obsessed with fruit at the moment (as long as its in little pieces so they can pick it up and eat it) , sorry I know that’s not very exciting but its super healthy so I’m happy! 🙂
kirsty john says
I don’t have a child, but my niece starts school soon and this would be useful
kaz says
Humous and carrot sticks
Rachel McMillan says
Chicken Wrap
Ola says
My little girl is just over 10 months and already eats pretty much anything! Looking at ideas now so we can hopefully keep her interest through the ‘fussy’ stage.
dannielle says
the coolest lunch box ever – for all those tasty small healthy foods. grapes, coconut, dried mango and carob coated raisons.
Andy Kadir-Buxton says
Peanut butter
aideen p says
Grapes & cheese wheat sandwich
Stacey Haines says
Strawberries and blueberries 🙂
Amanda Walsh says
My boys love pasta salad and cous cous
Sarah @ Let them be small says
My son loves hummus, so that with some pitta bread always goes down a treat. i like to pop in a couple of cubes of cheese and some berries too
Helen M says
Bento eggs in animal shapes
Spencer Broadley says
Chicken and tomato sandwiches
Sharon Powell says
Noodles 🙂
Jess Howliston says
My little boy loves turkey and tomato spin wheels! (A wrap with slices of turkey and tomato in then wrapped into a spiral then sliced so you get swirls!) x
janet humphrey says
‘dippy things’ – translates as hummus, with cut up veg and slices of cold toast… 🙂
Harley says
Mini scotch eggs
rebecca nisbet says
sandwiches, raisons and babybel
Crystal @ Crystal's Tiny Treasures says
My kids love cheesy falafels with pitta pockets, cucumber, tomato, and cheese in their bento boxes.
Sarah Archibald says
salami and cheese sandwiches.. maybe not the healthiest, but definitely her favourite!
Jane Frampton says
Tuna mayonnaise sandwiches
Linda Thorn says
Raw organic Coconut oil is a taste to embrace.
ESME MCCRUBB says
BREADSTICKS AND CHEESE DIP
Lucy Bishop says
cheese and marmite pinwheels
andrea lloyd says
cheese sandwiches
maria blythin says
a fruit salad
Laura Pritchard says
My son will start school next September so doesn’t yet have a favourite but I suspect he’ll love anything made of cheese!
jazz says
sandwich, yoghurt, crepe, dip, fruit juice.
sandra newman says
Quorn meat with tomato sandwiches healthy and very tasty!
fiona mcbride says
Hummus spelt breadsticks,ewes feta cheese, olives, mixed salad with carrots, beetroot, spinach etc dressed in balsamic vinegar
Andrea Fletcher says
Salad with the usual lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and add grapes and sultanas and a fruit salad and homemade scone or flapjack.
Pat Stubbs says
cheese sandwiches
Sharon says
My wee one loves jam sandwiches best.
Karen Whittaker says
Marmite pinwheels and green olives
lara davis says
My Son is fussy so just likes plan food like crackers
Rachel @ Parenthood Highs and Lows says
Wraps!
Joanne Blunt says
Mine love a fruit salad, as long as it contains strawberries and red grapes.
Becca Staples says
My twin boys love a fruit salad, but this page has given me quite a few more idea’s thank you x
Jennie Hubbard says
I love the look of these lunchboxes! My little ones given the choice always go for cheese sandwiches. I’d love to get them into more adventurous stuff for their packed lunches
Hana says
My daughter and I love celery filled with cream cheese and raisins!
laura stewart says
chicken pasta easy to make
Diane Jackson says
Ham, tomato and mayo sandwiches
Hekna says
Spanish omelette with lots of veg in.
Terrie-Ann Wright says
chicken and sweetcorn pasta
Georgina Jacobs says
My son’s favourite is tuna, pasta with cherry tomatoes and sweetcorn! it’s amazing they will eat some combinations.
Paddy Dennison says
Banana loaf is a favourite in our house. Uses up the brown bananas!
Elizabeth says
That’s always a favourite here too – I make it about a million different ways too depending on what ingredients are on hand.
Kathy Cakebread says
boiled eggs
KIRSTY THOMPSON says
my son loves boiled eggs, my daughters favourite is a chicken wrap and blueberrys
Corinne Peat says
Tuna pasta salad
olga carpenter says
cheese straws
joanne darnell says
chicken pasta
emma falvi says
cheesy pasta with chicken and peas
Hayley says
Amazing, really useful!!
Sandra Lane says
The usual sandwiches but i also usually pack a small fruit muffin or a slice of wholemeal home made banana bread.
They also like dried fruit but because of the high sugar content I restrict it to a small handful of raisins or dried apricots.
Chas Gilbert says
My grandsons haven’t started school yet but the oldest is very fussy and the youngest will eat anything
laura jayne bates says
mini chicken salad
elaine dale says
tuna pasta salad
Julie Ward says
Tuna mayo sandwiches, nothing fancy
claire woods says
cheese and cucumber on crackers
MichelleD says
Ham sandwiches and sausage rolls!
Liam Bishop says
Ham and salad cream sandwich!
Galina V says
My older son loves pain tuna sandwiches in his lunchbox. The little man is only starting school this September, so I don’t know yet what his favourite lunchbox food will be, we’ll find out soon
Gina M says
My daughter loves falafel
charlotte aldridge says
Pesto and pasta!! Kids love it 🙂
tracey bowden says
Tuna mayo pasta
Paul Scotland says
My son, aged 5, loves a three bean salad with some tiger loaf
nicola clarkson says
tuna pasta salad
clair downham says
pasta suasage rolls crisps well anything!
Melanie McNair says
Cheese and onion sandwiches
iain says
ham and cheese
justine meyer says
They like salad wraps
Hester McQueen says
Message saying I have already commented! I’m sure I haven’t
Elizabeth says
You have! 🙂
Hester McQueen says
Likes everything! Usually tuna sandwiches, fruit, yoplait and juice.
sarah pearce says
crisp roll,which i am not too happy about,lol x
Sarah Tyau says
My daughter loves spicy sausages with rice!
Wendy Finn says
Sweetcorn muffins.
Michelle Austin says
Cheese and mayo sandwiches usually.
Victoria Mylittlel says
ham and cheese sarnie
Kiran Parry says
fruit salad and pasta salad
Lisa Wilkinson says
My little girl’s favourite at the minute is pilau rice with passata on 🙂
IZZY says
ham and cheese sandwiches 🙂
Nicola Bishop says
My son is coeliac so lunches can be very boring for him. His favourite is tuna & sweet corn pasta. This lunch box would be a step in the right direction to making lunch more interesting for him
Colette B says
Cocktail sausages are always a big hit!
Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested this week
melanie stirling says
Pasta salad and cheese
Elizabeth says
Yum!
leigh boyle says
sausage rolls
Elizabeth says
These are so kid-friendly, aren’t they!
Barbara Handley says
Samosas
Elizabeth says
I samosas – they’d so fiddly to make but it’s so worth it. Must make some again soon!
KIRSTY THOMPSON says
mmmm i love samosas so do my kids. chicken tikka 1s are the best
Solange says
Fruit salad
Elizabeth says
Very healthy and sensible!
Emma Baker says
tuna lettuce and cucumber wraps
Elizabeth says
Mmm that sounds like a nice lunch too 🙂
Amy Beckett says
Has to be chilli dogs
Elizabeth says
Loving the sound of that!
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One says
would have to be a cheese and tomato pasta mix here #TriedTested
Elizabeth says
My youngest would be happy with that every day too!
Selina Jefferies says
pasta in a Mediterranean sauce – tomatoes/corguette/pepper/mushrooms
Delish!
Elizabeth says
Yum! My kinds of lunch 🙂 Throw a few olives in there too? 🙂
Amy Ripley says
Cheese sandwiches!
Elizabeth says
Classics are classics for a reason 🙂
Jeanette Chalmers says
My sons favourite is a mini wrap with Tuna and sweetcorn 🙂
Elizabeth says
Mmm! Love tuna 🙂
Johanna GGG says
funnily enough I have been looking out for a bento box for sylvia but meanwhile I have been just putting little tubs in her lunchbox – I was once told that to give children the right portion half what you think they need and then halve again. your noodles look great – wish sylvia would eat this sort of thing but it is sandwiches or sushi or crackers and dip. Do you put a fork in for DD? And are there lids for the boxes – my concern about them is that kids might not get them back in properly – every now and again I find sylvia’s tubs escape her lunchbox and float around in her bag.
Elizabeth says
I’ve been making these noodles for the last year and putting them in DD’s old bento lunch box which came with a fork and spoon. The Yumbox doesn’t, which I didn’t care for at first, but they recommend putting the box in a thermal lunch bag so a fork could get popped into there. There is one big lid with a very easy child-friendly clasp, so there’s nothing to misplace. 🙂 That reminds me – need to order some thermal lunch bags for the new school year!
Poppy says
Cheesy pasta salad with green pesto!
Elizabeth says
DD loves pesto but I’ve never thought to put it in her lunch! Thanks for the great idea 🙂
Kate says
If my daughter had her way it would be ‘butter samwitches with nothing else’ but marmite is always a winner and it has vitamins in it!
Elizabeth says
Sometimes simple is just what’s needed 🙂
Richard says
Little snacks like grapes and raisins.
Elizabeth says
I think kids the world over are all raisin fans – mine can’t get enough of them and I have to ration them out!
Rebecca beesley says
Humous and carrot sticks
Elizabeth says
A lovely lunch idea 🙂
The Mummy Diary says
No so much a recipe but my son loves roquefort or chorizo in his lunchbox 🙂
Elizabeth says
Fantastic! Lovely flavours there!
Stephanie Tsang says
My daughter loves homemade pizza slices.
Elizabeth says
I love cold home made pizza and I do occasionally pop it in their lunch boxes. 🙂
Angela Sandhu says
Mini Pizzas
Elizabeth says
Those would work really well in this lunch box – teeny tiny pizzas, awesome!
Kirsty Grace says
Houmous
Elizabeth says
I love hummus, me, but unfortunately my children aren’t that enamoured with it.
Kelly Koya says
Little ‘pizzas’ made with mini pittas and topped with vegetables, cheese and tomato puree
Elizabeth says
fantastic!
kris says
falafel and hummous
Elizabeth says
That’s my kind of lunch 🙂
Felicity Kelly says
My son will only eat ham and marmite rolls! Easy recipie!
Elizabeth says
Hhrrm… not sure about the marmite, but glad he likes it! 🙂 Easy work for you too!
Jenna says
My bubba’s too young to have a favourite lunch time snack but would love to win a Yumbox as it’ll be great for carrying weaning snacks when we’re out and about! x
Elizabeth says
This would be ideal for weaning while out and about, for sure!
EMMA WALTERS says
oatcakes & cheese 🙂
Elizabeth says
Yum! Throw an apple in there and I’d be a happy bunny!
Christina Brown says
Kale crisps 🙂
Elizabeth says
Love kale crisps! What a great idea!
julie laing says
Tuna bagel
Elizabeth says
Mmm! With cheese?
gabyL says
tuna wrap!
Rebecca Phillips says
jam sandwiches!
Natasha Mairs says
my kids love fruit in their lunch boxes, mainly satsumas
Val Swift says
Fruit salad
H Smith says
Roast chicken, crackers, cheese, carrots, cucumber, hummous, cherries!
Elizabeth says
Ooh I’m liking the sound of that lunch!
Helen Grayson says
Cheese and ham sandwiches 🙂
Sally Semple says
Pasta, pesto & chicken
Helen B says
Pasta! My son will eat pretty Much anything as long as it’s with pasta!
Lorraine Tinsley says
What doesn’t she like!?! She’s never turned her nose up at anything, but she does seem to love tuna and sweetcorn pasta
Samantha Wheeler says
Cheese sandwiches!
She likes to push the boat out!!!
Elizabeth says
Haha! 😀 That’s my youngest’s favourite too 🙂
Ashleigh Allan says
Tomato soup!
Elizabeth says
Cold? How does that work! This yumbox would keep it in its separate compartment at least 🙂
Sally - My Custard Pie says
It’s like opening a box of presents every day – great idea
Elizabeth says
Totally!
Holly Nelson says
That’s fab! I need something similar in a grown up size for my oh – I never have energy to mak sandwiches in the morning, I must start to make things like this!
Elizabeth says
While writing up this review I found out they do have adult ones! I want one too!
Leanne Lunn says
Pasta salad
Elizabeth says
I love pasta salad, especially with some feta and olives 🙂
Rosalind Blight says
My daughter likes her lunchbox to be consistent so its always a sandwich and will rarely try anything else
Elizabeth says
The yumbox might help change her mind about that. The bite sized pieces are quite fun and if they’re in shapes it makes it more tempting, I think.
Sarahann Tonner says
Homemade sweet potato crisps.
Elizabeth says
Oh that sounds lovely!
Kerry gray says
Home made Egg fried rice
Elizabeth says
Mmm yum!
Gillian Holmes says
Scrambled Egg
Elizabeth says
What a great idea!
Liana Stevens says
Classic ham and cheese sandwiches!
Elizabeth says
Can’t beat the classics 🙂
Kim Neville says
Cheese roll or cheese and crackers
Elizabeth says
That’s my son’s favourite too.
Lynsey Buchanan says
Ham sandwiches and sausage rolls
Elizabeth says
Love a ham sandwich, me, especially with some wholegrain mustard.
Jeanne Horak-Druiff says
Whoa – gone are the days when a packed lunch meant peanut butter sarnies and an apple ;o) Or am I showing my age?! Adorable lunchboxes and great sounding sesame noodles!
Elizabeth says
I grew up with peanut butter sandwiches in my lunchbox. I hated them! It took me well into my adulthood before I would eat peanut butter again, but every now and again I get a craving for PB & jam 🙂
frances hopkins says
Corned beef sandwiches
Elizabeth says
I remember those from my childhood!
Richard Randall says
Fruit Salad.
Elizabeth says
Love fruit salad 🙂 So do my children.
catherine plant says
plain old sandwiches such as cheese, ham, tuna
Elizabeth says
Nothing wrong with that! 🙂
Camilla @FabFood4All says
I’m sure my kids would love your noodles in their lunch boxes I do have to admit to hating making packed lunches though!
Elizabeth says
It is a bit of extra work, true, but these noodlesw are so easy to make.
KIRSTY THOMPSON says
i hate making packed lunches too, seems i always give my kids the same thing, this is great for new ideas
winnie says
tofu hamburger
Elizabeth says
Well that sounds intriguing! How do you make them?
Sally V says
Sushi as it’s easy to store, pick up and eat without being messy and it’s also tasty and filling.
Elizabeth says
I plan on experimenting with veggie sushi for their lunch boxes when they go back to school after the holidays.
kazza ham says
Pasta and pesto with sprinkled extra pine nuts for me 🙂
Kathryn Davies says
Pasta with pesto and chicken and peas
Eleanor says
Peanut butter sandwiches!
Natasha M says
My Children just love pesto & pasta. Sometimes i grill some pine nuts to add to it! yum
Alison says
My son will eat everything, he doesn’t have a particular favourite
Elizabeth says
Lucky you! Sometimes I wish my children were like that (ok, a lot of the time I wish they were like that! They seem to be getting pickier the older they get!)
Maxine says
spinach pops (tiny balls of puff pastry filled with spinach and sweetcorn)
Elizabeth says
Ooh I like the sound of those!