Goat Cheese & Raisin Mini Sandwiches - 293 calorie Bento

The bread I used for these mini sandwiches were Cocktail Whole Grain. The filling is Goat cheese with Raisins. These sandwiches tasted like dessert!

I'm glad I packed the marinated mushrooms and the blistered grape tomatoes - the seasonings on those cut the sweet taste from the sandwiches.

Turned out to be a great combination!

Bento Content:

• Mini Whole Grain Bread Sandwiches filled with Raisin Goat Cheese (213)
• Marinated Mushrooms (52)
• Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (28)

Total Bento : 293 calories

Mini Penne with Italian Chicken Sausage, Zuchinni, Peppers & Sundried Tomatoes - 230 calorie Bento

This was an easy-throw-everything-together bento. We have been using the smaller pasta (to fool the eye!) and expanding the pasta meal with lean meat and veggies. We have been religiously just cooking 2 oz. of pasta per person - and usually we have left over for bentos the following day.

Bento Content:

• Mini Penne with Lite Italian Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Sundried Tomatoes and Zuchinni

Total Bento: 230 calories

Roast Beef w/Horseradish & Roasted Flat Beans - 223 calorie Bento

Well, I find this to be a non-photogenic bento...but very, very tasty!

I can't get enough of roasted green beans. These beans happen to be flat beans. This recipe transforms green beans into carmelized pieces of heavenly veggie-ness (you know what I mean). It will not work with French Beans (Haricot Vert - the skinny ones). You will need a meatier veggie because the flavor really comes out once they start to shrivel a little and get a bit brown. If you use the skinny ones, there will be no substance to nibble on!

Bento Content:

• Roasted Flat Beans (15)
• Mushroom Barley (14)
• Roast Beef & Horseradish Sandwich (194)

Total Bento : 223 calories