Bento Superstars

It's Thursday, so that means that a Thursday Thirteen list is in order. Check out my thirteen favorite food creations to tuck into a bento lunchbox, in absolutely no significant order. These thirteen items made the list because they are a) tasty, b) easy to prepare and pack, or c) both a and b.

1. Hummus (especially curried hummus).
2. Yogurt (fat-free, of various fun flavors -- some favorites are banana cream pie, lemon meringue, and peach).
3. Cottage cheese (fat-free).
4. Sauteed veggies (especially broccoli, green beans, and bell peppers), mixed with some combination of soy sauce, balsamic, or rice vinegar.
5. Crackers (especially wheat Melba Toast, Pretzel Thins, Wasa or Ryvita crispbread, and rice cakes).
   
6. Turkey or ham and cream cheese roll-ups with romaine or spinach.
7. Fruit and veggies (including dried fruit).
   
8. Instant pudding (fat-free, and especially of the butterscotch persuasion).
9. Black bean salad varieties, topped with mango-peach salsa and fat-free quark.
   
10. Roasted beets.
    
11. Salad of all shapes and sizes (especially marinated tomatoes, cucumbers and quark, spinach or romaine with other veggies, cabbage and apple, and so forth).
12. Applesauce with cinnamon and raisins or dates.
    
13. Turkey wraps with sprouts and romaine, and either balsamic, farmhouse chutney (think apples and grapes and other autumn-y tastes), or BBQ sauce.