Bento Box lunching - please help a novice!

[ThreeofUs]

Okay, we were at a store that sold laptop lunches bento boxes and carriers. DS1 fell in love with them and I ended up spending (aaaggghhh) almost $40 on it because I had told him if we ever saw a "safe plastic", well made bento we'd buy it. Who'd a thunk he'd remember that for a year, lol?

So please, please help me with a few questions.
-How do you manage your bento'ing?
-Do you put together the meals the night before?
-Do you have a special list or site that helps you think of what to include?
-How do you plan for the week of lunches and shop for them?

I'm groveling here. I have no idea how to manage this.

[infomama]

My 2 favorite sites are www.amekobento.com (check his Flicker page on the right sidebar for ideas) and www.lunchinabox.net
I am going to start bento style lunches a few times a week at home since Dd1 is in K and doesn't need to pack a lunch yet.

[deannanb]

you will find that you LOVE it! (we have 3 laptop lunchboxes!) I find making lunches so much easier than opening a plastic baggie for each item.... a little bit of this and a little bit of that. you can use cupcake holders to put two items into one container. (not sure if you have the LTL 2.0 or the older version)
String cheese fits nicely where the fork would go - some crackers (cheese-it like) in one container, fruit, teddy grams, dry cereal, granola bar, drinkable - 1/2 a bagel and cream cheese

here is a site with a great picture of using cupcake holders: http://worldofwhimm.blogspot.com/2009/05/fun-in-sun.html

I make the lunch the night before - much easier to grab and go in the morning!

check out the laptop lunchbox website for good ideas too. I also like the lunchinabox site! http://www.laptoplunches.com/newsletters.html