This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Shaw’s and Star Market. As always, all opinions are strictly my own!
Hi friends!
If you were following along on Instagram recently, you might have noticed I was at a fun event hosted by Shaw’s and Star Market! They held a workshop on how to snack better - and let me tell you, I was all about it. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good snack. It’s very possible I did my happy food dance in front of complete strangers. I’m not even sorry.
A handful of other bloggers and I headed to a place in the Boston area where various stations were lined with O Organics® products. O Organics (which is exclusively available in the New England area at Shaw’s and Star Market) consists of USDA certified organic products that are perfect for creating delicious and healthy snacks (that are also affordable).
I was so excited about this event, I arrived there 30 minutes early (yeah, I was that guy). I was in awe seeing all the snacks and products that were on display and it was awesome to see that the hosts of the workshop were genuinely excited to be there. Because I was the first blogger to show up, I got to have my own little mini tour.
My first stop was at the coffee and beverage station. I usually drink my coffee black; I ended up adding a touch of vanilla extract and sprinkle of cinnamon. *chef's kiss*
I walked by what was a quick preview of the event's demonstration (making healthy and tasty snacks)!
There were displays upon displays of green tea, kettle cooked chips, pho broth (I might be the most excited to try this broth, to be honest) and hummus.
By this point, other bloggers started trickling in and everyone began to partake in some smoothie action!
Photo credit: Kim Baile
Once we were all settled, the event officially began! The team from Shaw’s and Star Market were very excited to have us there and teach us more about the O Organics line. They believe that organic food should not only taste great, but also be available to everyone at a great value. I wholeheartedly agree.
Photo credit: Kim Baile
After learning a bit about Shaw's and Star Market's mission for healthy snacking, the next part was to see the snack-making in action! Annessa Chumbley (registered dietitian and spokesperson for O Organics) lead the workshop on how to snack better using O Organics products. She made these tasty chocolate bites with dates.
She also made avocado deviled eggs. I would eat those all day any day.
As Annessa continued to quickly create snacks, she emphasized the importance of eating healthy food (without sacrificing taste) throughout the day, which is what makes the option to snack even better. It allows you to have various food items without having to put too much time into your planning, which is especially great for on-the-go lunch ideas.
And speaking of lunch, the next part of the event involved a bit of bento box fun! We all got to create our own bento boxes using the O Organics snacks that were provided. I was in heaven. I was also too excited to figure out where I should start because I wanted to eat, um, everything.
But once I figured it out, I went to town. Below is my serious bento box making face. 🙂
Photo credit: Kim Baile
It was a lot of fun creating my own little bento box. I always enjoy playing with food. I opted for some sliced Cheddar and Colby Jack Cheeses, Cheddar Lions, Baby Carrots, Grape Tomatoes, a Hummus Snack Cup, Pea Snacks, Banana Chips, Grapes, and a Boiled Egg. All from the O Organics line. The quality is top-notch.
Photo credit: Kim Baile
We all received gift bags for attending the live workshop. It was such a fun event. It was my first time going to a workshop like that and I walked away learning a few great things. It got me to think about other foods I'd want to include in my own bento box!
Photo credit: Kim Baile
Photo credit: Kim Baile
Three Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas
Whether you are commuting to work (like me), have a side hustle that keeps you busy (also like me!), have kids to keep fed (not like me), or are just generally too busy to plan out your lunches, these bento box ideas will help! They take little time to prepare because most of these snacks don't need preparation at all. Win-win.
This means you could plan out a few boxes on Sunday to stay ahead of your food prep. Or you can prep your bento box the night before work/school. No matter which option you go with, you will still have time to binge on your favorite Netflix show after you're done.
Okay! Let's get to it.
The Egg and Cheese Bento Box (Vegetarian)
A simple lunch box that reminds me a bit of being a kid again. 🙂 Here's what you need to make it:
- O Organics Cage Free Boiled Egg
- O Organics Colby Jack Cheese
- O Organics Baby Carrots
- O Organics Red Seedless Grapes
- O Organics Pea Snacks with Sea Salt
- O Organics Crème Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate!)
Quick Tip: Keep some cupcake liners handy to keep your snacks separate (I own a set of reusable silicone cups).
The Pita & Hummus Bento Box (Vegan)
A classic snack box. Here's what you need to make it:
- O Organics Hummus Snack Pack
- O Organics Grape Tomatoes
- O Organics Sea Salt Pita Crackers
- O Organics Red Bell Pepper
- O Organics Celery Hearts
- O Organics Fresh Blueberries
- O Organics French Vanilla Almond Granola
Quick Tip: Sprinkle some cumin onto your hummus! These snack cups fit nicely inside a bento box and can be placed on top of another food for easy tucking.
The Hot Sausage Bite Bento Box
These Italian chicken sausages are fully cooked; I like to sear them in the skillet to add a little crispness. Here's what you need to make it:
- O Organics Hot Italian Chicken Sausages
- O Organics Mini Twist Pretzels
- O Organics Baby Carrots
- O Organics Celery Hearts
- O Organics Apple Slices
- O Organics Crème Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla!)
Quick Tip: Multitask and save some time by assembling the rest of your bento box while the sausages cook.
And there you have it, folks! I hope these bento box ideas will help you on your journey towards snacking better. As I was preparing these, I thought of other snacks I'd like to incorporate too. Always thinking about food over here.
Shaw’s and Star Market offer a personalized savings tool called "Just for U" which is available through their Shaw's and Star Market apps. There are coupons, rewards, and you can even use it to make a grocery list. You can find it in your smartphone's app stores. Alternately, you can do the following:
- To download the Shaw’s app: text JOIN to 46359
- To download the Star Market app: text ENROLL to 46359
Do you have your own bento box ideas and go-tos? I'd love to know about them!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Shaw’s and Star Market. As always, all opinions are strictly my own!
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