Fun Lunch Series Sponsors - ya yah design

During the Fun Lunch Series we have had businesses donate product for giveaways.  I thought it was time to share with you all a little bit about the people behind the businesses and also why they are passionate about fun lunches!

Helen lives and works on the shaky Port Hills of Christchurch NZ with her Very Supportive Partner, Beautiful Teenage Daughter, Cheeky Preschooler and a Mad Little dog called Zoe.

Helen started making Ya Yah Giraffes to sell, about 2 and a Half Years ago and in the last six months started making  re-useable Sandwich and Snack Bags mostly because Preschool banned Glad wrap and Helen just couldn't fit all the little plastic boxes in her daughters lunch box.  Helen decided there had to be a better way and started experimenting with different types of bags. 

Most of the ones she tried her daughter was unable to open on her own or too complicated to redo if putting stuff back in. So Helen made a reusable version of what she had growing up - the plastic sandwich envelope.
It worked well  so she made some for friends and tested them out. Helen made a few small changes along the way and now there are a great range of designs to choose from!  Check more out here at yayahdesign.

Sandwich and Snack bags are:

• Great for kids lunch boxes or putting food in your bag.
• Can be used to carry all sort of things from biscuits to baby pacifiers, popcorn to spare cloths.
• 100 % cotton exterior and sewn in nylon lining so you can trust they are food-safe for your kids.
• Just shake out the crumbs or chuck it in the wash.
• Funky design kids love.

Fun Lunch Series : Part 3 - Putting it all together

In Part 1 and Part 2 we looked at Hamming up Sandwiches and Fun with Fruit.  In Part 3 we are going to look at Putting it all together to make an all round Fun Lunch.
There are a variety of ways to do this - start by hamming up a sandwich, making some fun fruit and then adding a few other things to make it an all round Fun Lunch.  These 'few other' things can be crackers, biscuits or fruit gummies themed to your kids fave character.  Egg molds are another way to get some wow factor into your kids lunchboxes.

These  Bento boxes, Muffin Tin Meals, Food face plates and Making a scene ideas  will inspire you and the kids to have fun.  It doesn't have to happen everyday, these ideas are a great go to guide when you need a little inspiration!

What is “bento”? I hear you ask.  A bento lunch is a compact, balanced, visually appealing meal packed in a box.  In Japanese, “bento” or “obento” refers to the packed meal, and “bento-bako” refers to the bento box itself. See the Wikipedia entry on bento for more details.

Muffin Tin meals are another great way to mix it up for kids.  It’s something a little different, breaking up the usual meal-making routine. It encourages the meal-maker (that’s you!) to offer a variety of foods, in small portions, which is a technique that generally appeals to children.  You can tailor your Muffin Tin Meal to a theme, fave story or different types of muffin tins.  

Or if a muffin tin is too big how about an ice cube tray??

Making faces with food is an oldie but a goody and with the addition of the food face plate the creative process becomes even more fun with Mr and Ms Food Face.

However if you want the kids imagination to run crazy wild here is some inspiration on other types of food faces from pizza to pancake faces.

Making a scene with food is another creative way for kids to make lunches their own and we all know when you make something yourself you have to eat it - right?

Thanks to Not Socks Gifts I have a Ms Food Face plate and from Remember When I Used To Be A Rascal I have a Car Egg mold to give away!  

Giveaway Details :
- to enter, leave a comment about your favourite fun lunch idea from the Putting Fun Lunches Together Pinterest board.  You can leave your comment either here or on the Facebook page.  My fave is the April Showers Bring May Flowers Muffin Tin Meal - see if you can find it. 
- one comment per person
- you must live in New Zealand
- giveaway closes on Friday 13th September. 

Good to know:
- if you like our Fun Lunch sponsors on Facebook you can stay up-to-date on all their goings-on and know about any deals or promotions that pop up, including giveaways. Check them out up there on the sidebar- 
- if you like justalittlebitcute and our sponsors on Facebook you will be the coolest kid in town. Or something like that. 
- these things will not earn you a second entry, but it will make me and my sponsors appreciate the love
- you can get discount at Yayah Design on Sandwich bags using the coupon code "FunLunch" during the Fun Lunch Series
-you can also get discount from bubbalooz (discount is 15% off on purchases over $25) during the Fun Lunch series.

IMPORTANT 

- make sure there is some way for me to contact you! Leave an email, or have your name clickable to a profile or something.  If there is no way for me to reach you then I'll have to draw another entry!! This has happened previously, so I wouldn't like to do this and disappoint someone!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Fun Lunch Series Sponsors - Keeping it Kawaii

During the Fun Lunch Series we have had businesses donate product for giveaways.  I thought it was time to share with you all a little bit about the people behind the businesses and also why they are passionate about fun lunches!

Rebecca from Keeping it Kawaii is excited about fun lunches so it wasn't hard to convince her to be part of the Fun Lunch Series.  I asked Rebecca a few questions about her fun lunch tips and how to make it exciting.........

What is your favourite accessory that you sell that would make a great go to item for making fun lunches?

My favourite accessory for making fun lunches would be our Bear Sandwich Cutter. I love how it seals the sandwich and the filling all stays in the middle! Cute for boys or girls and toddlers seem to especially like it encouraging them to eat a healthily filled sandwich!

Do you have any fun lunch tips yourself? Hmmm, fun lunch tips...... My boys love fruit so we always have lots of fruit in their lunches. I use sandwich cutters to make things a little different and exciting for them and they also love a boiled egg using one of our egg molds (fave being the car!)

Why did you decide to be a part of the Fun Lunch Series? I love to make my boys lunches different every day so they have some surprises in their lunch boxes.

And with loads of cute fun lunch accessories online at Keeping it Kawaii we can see how exciting their lunchboxes must be!  I'm in love with the Strawberry Bento Boxes *sigh*

Also a little secret....(well maybe not a well kept secret!)  Rebecca is the Becky behind Liked. by Becky

Becky had this BIG idea swimming around in her head for a couple of months. There were so many gorgeous and talented and amazing businesses out there and Becky loved the whole concept of new business ideas and getting alongside business owners to promote and encourage their ideas.  So Liked. by Becky was born.  Make sure you head on over to the blog and check it out!

Fun Lunch Series Sponsors - Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal

During the Fun Lunch Series we have had businesses donate product for giveaways.  I thought it was time to share with you all a little bit about the people behind the businesses and also why they are passionate about fun lunches!

Jane from Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal is passionate about fun lunches so it wasn't hard to convince her to be part of the Fun Lunch Series.  As you can see there are plenty of fun lunches happening at her house.

I asked Jane a few questions about her fun lunch tips and how to make it exciting.........

What is your favourite accessory that you sell that would make a great go to item for making fun lunches?

Love the egg molds, they are great for kids of all ages.

Do you have any fun lunch tips yourself? My fun lunch tips would be to keep it exciting and try new things, lots of little things make a lunch fun to eat. I often go to Kosko Asian supermarkets cause they have lots of great biscuits, crackers and treats that come in all shapes and characters.

Why did you decide to be a part of the Fun Lunch Series? I am passionate about making my daughter fun, healthy packed lunches that she will love opening up and eating. 

You can find Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal at Elements Market or on Facebook

Also spotted from Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal, these cute Angel Wing Denim Jackets now available at Hapa in Restart Mall, too cute *sigh*

The Fun Lunch Series : Part 2 - Fun with Fruit

If we were living in an ideal world, our kids would be eating fruit at all meals. But, let's face it, kids can be fussy little characters and as much as we may want to, we can't force them to eat fruit. But there are ways you can make fruit more exciting to kids and it's all about the presentation (and a little imagination). These fun fruit ideas are a simple way to make it not only fun for you and the kids to whip up a fruit snack but to enjoy it at the same time.

Fun Fruit Shapes

It's amazing what a cookie cutter can do ( we have already seen how they can transform sandwiches!) Check out these fruit shapes cut out with cookie cutters to create some fun ways to eat fruit - kebabs, platters, fruit pops and apples with heart. Another way to cut fruit shapes is with the Funbites cutter which we saw in Part 1 : Hamming up Sandwiches. The Funbites cutter comes in a cube, heart and triangle version.

Bananarama!

Turn a boring old banana into a special treat with these cool ideas. From Banana Sushi to Banana Dogs with peanut butter and jelly the possibilities actually are endless!  With a bit more time the Banana Minions look like a lot of fun to make while the banana Dolphin looks a bit easier to create.

Cute Critters

Turn mealtimes into fun times with cute  critters like these strawberry mice and hedgehogs made from pears and grapes.  Sometime a simple idea is the way to get the kids gobbling it down before they realise it's good for them!

Jolly Jelly 

Create a colourful splash at snack time with these eye-catching fruit and jelly combinations.  Just cut up your child's favourite fruit, add the jelly, pop in the fridge to set and you have yourself a fruit-filled snack that the kids will love. 

Frozen Fruit

Kids will eat almost anything off a stick. It's strange, but true. These frozen snacks are  super easy and a healthy alternative to ice blocks. Get the kids to help you assemble their own creations and combos.

Delicious Dipping 

There's just something fun about dipping and I didn't realise how many dips you can make to go with fruit!   While some dips are healthier than others it doesn't hurt to try the naughtier ones from time to time. I am definitely going to try the donut and fruit skewers for a Sunday brunch idea.

Fruit Salad (Yummy Yummy)

Mix up ways to serve fruit salad so it's not all same same.  It's also a great way not to waste any fruit as usually the outside is serving the inside like the watermelon, orange, apple and strawberry fruit cups.  The cones will also encourage picky fruit eaters to try some fruit salad.

And finally, let them eat a little cake…

I have always been a fan of the Watermelon cake and can't wait until Summer when it is in season to try making one.  I think it would be a great Xmas or  BBQ dessert idea.

Now you have seen fun ideas to serve fruit and entice even the fussiest fruit eater the kid's will be wanting you to make fruit a part of every meal.  To check out more ideas and all image sources head to my Pinterest board  – Fun with Fruit.  And now for another............

Giveaway Details :
- to enter, and win the Fun Bites Luv it Cutter, leave a comment describing something you love about me. Just kidding. You can leave a comment about your favourite fruit snack idea, recipe or tip either here or on the Facebook page. Sharing is caring.
- one comment per person
- you must live in New Zealand
- giveaway closes on Monday 5th August. 

Good to know:
- if you like our Fun Lunch sponsors on Facebook you can stay up-to-date on all their goings-on and know about any deals or promotions that pop up, including giveaways. Check them out up there on the sidebar- 
- if you like justalittlebitcute and our sponsors on Facebook you will be the coolest kid in town. (Or something like that). 
- these things will not earn you a second entry, but it will make me and my sponsors appreciate the love
- you can get discount at Yayah Design on Sandwich bags using the coupon code "FunLunch" during the Fun Lunch Series
-you can also get discount from bubbalooz (discount is 15% off on purchases over $25) during the Fun Lunch series.

IMPORTANT 

- make sure there is some way for me to contact you! Leave an email, or have your name clickable to a profile or something.  If there is no way for me to reach you then I'll have to draw another entry!! This has happened previously, so I wouldn't like to do this and disappoint someone!

The Fun Lunch Series : Part 1 - Hamming up Sandwiches

The humble sandwich in my day was pretty humble.  And by humble I mean Peanut Butter or Marmite.  On a good day it was ham and chicken paste (the thought of this still makes me shudder to this day). Things have gotten slightly better in the sandwich department now that I am an adult but having a toddler has definitely got me thinking on the go about different ways to make the sandwich a little more enticing.

With Sandwiches as an easy go-to lunch item for many parents, it's important to mix it up so the kids don't pull the plug on your easy fix when you need to prepare something quick, simple and healthy for lunch.
Try turning an ordinary sandwich into something cool by experimenting with these fun lunch accessories -cookie cutters, sandwich cutters,  funbites cutters, sandwich bags and a little imagination with a sprinkling of creativity. 

Cookie Cutters

Use cookie cutters to cut the bread into fun shapes, add a touch of colour with spread like the stained glass window or create some cute characters with vegie detail like the teddies.  The possibilities are endless........(no really... they are, just check out my Hamming up Sandwiches board on Pinterest!)

Sandwich Cutters

Sandwich Cutters are a great way to spruce up a sandwich, turning it from average to AWESOME. There are a few variations - Sandwich Cutters. Lunch Punches or Funbites Cutters.  They basically do all the work for you creating something magical and you look like a superstar in front of the kids - it's a win win!

Funbites

Funbites is a  a high performance curved blade cutter that quickly creates small bites and a matching popper top that pops out food instantly so hands are clean, food is untouched.  Check out the demo here of how it all works.  These girls are the daughters of the Funbites creator Bobbie Rhoads - way to help out in the family business girls (and super enthusiastic too!)

Sandwich bags

Sandwich bags are a great way to package the kids lunches as well as being an eco-friendly option at the same time. Helen from Yayah Design started making re-useable sandwich and snack bags when her daughters Preschool banned Gladwrap and it was hard work to get all the little plastic boxes in her lunchbox. Helen decided there had to be a better way and started experimenting with different types of bags and came up with a version of a plastic sandwich envelope.  We are so glad she did, as you can see there are some pretty cool designs to brighten up anyone's lunchbox.

  

 Using your Imagination

With a little imagination and help from Pinterest you can make all sorts with a couple of slices of bread and spread.  You can also disguise veges as being the super cool details, and the kids won't notice you snuck them in there.  Check out these cool ideas using a little imagination with a sprinkling of creativity.

Now you can see that the humble sandwich can be anything you want it to be and with a little imagination and a few handy tools it can be AMAZING!  To check out more ideas and all images sources head to my Pinterest board  – Hamming up Sandwiches

If you would like to win the fun lunch accessories below enter the giveaway and you can win all of these items to get you started on the road to Fun Lunches....

Bear Sandwich Cutter from Keeping it Kawaii , Sandwich and Snack bags from ya-yah design, Puzzle Sandwich Cutter from Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal, Cookies Cutters from justalittlebitcute.

Giveaway Details :
- to enter, leave a comment describing something you love about me. Just kidding. You can leave a comment about your favourite go to lunch trick or tip either here or on the Facebook page. Sharing is caring.
- one comment per person
- you must live in New Zealand
- giveaway closes on Wednesday 24th July. 

Good to know:
- if you like our Fun Lunch sponsors on Facebook you can stay up-to-date on all their goings-on and know about any deals or promotions that pop up, including giveaways. Check them out up there on the sidebar- 
- if you like justalittlebitcute and our sponsors on Facebook you will be the coolest kid in town. Or something like that. 
- these things will not earn you a second entry, but it will make me and my sponsors appreciate the love
- you can get discount at Yayah Design on Sandwich bags using the coupon code "FunLunch" during the Fun Lunch Series
-you can also get discount from bubbalooz (discount is 15% off on purchases over $25) during the Fun Lunch series.

IMPORTANT 

- make sure there is some way for me to contact you! Leave an email, or have your name clickable to a profile or something.  If there is no way for me to reach you then I'll have to draw another entry!! This has happened previously, so I wouldn't like to do this and disappoint someone!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Announcing The Fun Lunch Series!

I am currently experiencing the trials and tribulations of the fussy Toddler, who will eat like a sparrow one minute and then like a complete monster the next. While I accept that sometimes Lily just isn't hungry due to teething, feeling a bit off or just not hungry, I have learnt that variety is the key. Although giving her the impression that Mummy will do anything to get her to eat is not really the impression I want to be giving. On the other hand I just don't have the time to make Lily a fancy lunch every day and I think she would have something to say if I took longer than 2 minutes (well maybe 5 she's not that much of a terror!) to get it sorted.

So with these things in mind I headed to the big wide internet world.  And I came across lots of ideas to make kids lunches – healthy, simple and fun.  And I thought to myself ‘I’m sure there are other Mums out there who are scratching their heads looking for kids lunch ideas so why not share?’
So I have created the Fun Lunch Series! A series of posts that will hopefully definitely inspire you or at least give you a few simple lunch ideas to make lunchtime a little fun for your kids while keeping it realistic.

Firstly some general things to consider when making lunches for kids:

Colour!

You can take advantage of kids' love of colours and make lunchtime a rainbow. Try new fruits and veggies that pop with colour, like yellow peppers, green grapes, strawberries, oranges and blueberries. When grocery shopping, let your child choose their own items in the produce section, kids are more likely to eat the healthy items they've selected themselves.  More on this in Part 2 - Fun with Fruit.

Dipping delight

Kids love to dip, and if they have a favourite dip or sauce, they will be more inclined (in theory!)  to eat all their fruit and veggies. Try packing a favourite dip or hummus for veggies like celery or carrots.

Sandwich fun

Sandwiches are the go-to lunch item for many parents. Try turning an ordinary sandwich into something special by experimenting with exciting shapes. Use cookie cutters to cut the bread into fun shapes and add a touch of colour with fresh fruits and veggies - more on this in Part 1 - Hamming up Sandwiches.

A little bit of creativity goes a long way

Kids can get bored eating the same food day after day, so don't hesitate to shake things up. Try Muffin Tin Meals and Bento lunchboxes with a bit of everything - more on this in Part 3 - Putting it all together.

Presentation counts

Kids love to open their lunchbox to brightly-wrapped treats. Whether you turn to Eco Sandwich bags or Bento lunch boxes, this fun packaging makes unwrapping lunch like unwrapping presents (and who doesn't love that!). Adding stickers and special notes can make eating even more fun.

Realistic Portions
Remember for kids and in particular toddlers don’t need a full adult serving, nor do they even need a half-adult sized serving in most cases. They have little tummies that fill up quickly! Start small and serve more if they are still hungry.

Fun Lunch Accessories

The other exciting thing about this series is that there are some giveaways of fun lunch accessories that will definitely add some fun to your kids lunches from these like-minded retailers who want to make lunch a little more fun too.  

So keep an eye out for Part 1 – Hamming up Sandwiches coming VERY soon……………..

*The Fun Lunch Series Image Sources 

Mandarin Snail

Heart Kebabs

Donut Sandwich

Bert & Ernie

Sheep Sammies

Very Hungry Caterpillar Bento

Sandwich Sushi