I'm Biggie: avid cook, speedy lunch packer, mom in San Francisco, & former expat fluent in Japanese. 
Blog Event: Organizing Your Lunch Gear
Anyone who’s accumulated more than one or two bento accessories or lunch containers has probably faced the challenge of organizing their growing collection to keep things accessible without taking over the kitchen. I’ve written previously about my efforts to bring my accessories under control using Ikea organizers, but there are many truly creative ways to organize gear using craft boxes, wall shelves, tool boxes, etc. Will you share your clever ideas? The author of the most ingenious solution will receive my review copy of the upcoming bento book Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes (to be released March 15, 2008). (EDIT: The event has concluded; read the full round-up with the contest winner and all entries here.)
This is my first blog event to gather lunch gear organization tips and methods. I’ve browsed around some of your packed lunch blogs and seen some great ideas; let’s gather them together in one place! Here’s how to enter:
- Post an organization entry on your own blog by Friday, March 14, 2008 including a link back to this post: http://lunchinabox.net/2008/02/28/blog-event-organizing-your-lunch-gear/
- Either leave a comment here with a link to your submission, or e-mail me at lunchinabox (AT) gmail (DOT) com. If you don’t have your own blog, e-mail me a summary of your organization method with one or two small photos so that I can include it in a round-up post on Monday, March 17th announcing the winner of the contest.
I’ll also accept blog posts written prior to this event. Just add a link back to this post and shoot me an e-mail with the URL.
FURTHER READING:
- Get accessories under control with Ikea organizers
- Make magnets to track freezer inventory
- How to choose the right size bento box
- How to care for your bento gear
- Biggie’s list of top speed tips, tutorials and equipment reviews
February 28th, 2008 | Categories: admin, equipment, organize, tips | 
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February 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
This sounds like a great idea for a contest. I don’t think I’ll be participating directly though, as I’m dreadfully unorganised! I’ll be scouring the entries for tips though, lol.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
@1 from Modified mummy: I’m looking forward to seeing the entries, too — I know my readers are clever and inventive, so we can learn from each other!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:07 am
I’ve been meaning to take pictures of my own organization for my blog, so this gives me an excuse to light a fire under my bum.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:18 am
That Laptop Lunchbox post is up on Cool Tools now:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002663.php
February 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
@3 from Sile: Great, looking forward to seeing your setup, Sile!
February 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
@4 from Kitt: Thanks for the link that we discussed earlier, Kitt! I should pack another lunch in our Laptop Lunchbox soon…
February 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Hey Biggie.
I love your site/blog. I’ve always been into Japanese culture. I’ve been meaning to start taking a bento box to school for lunch, because honestly, school pizza is getting old and quick! But now that I’m on a acting/sppech team and we do alot of out of town mets which serve food, but without a job, ten dollars is hard to get out of my mother. I know how to make onigiri with smoked tuna. But I don’t know where to find cute little boxes at or what to fill them with. So do you think you could give me a few tips on where to find a box and what to fill it with other than onigiri.
Virginia Michelle
March 1st, 2008 at 1:04 am
What a wonderful mommy you are. Your bento box meals look so appetizing. Anytime you feel like adopting an “older child”, please let me know;)
March 1st, 2008 at 2:03 am
Good idea this event ! I’m not sure i’m gonna participate, because i can’t keep order in my stuff with only few things, i just reserve a messy drawer for them, but i think i will learn a lot with the other participations !
March 1st, 2008 at 8:40 am
@7 from Virginia Michelle: Thanks for reading! To find a box, I’d recommend checking out the links on my Shop page.
For what to put in it, have a look at my Recipe page.
For how to pack it quickly and intelligently, check out my Top Speed Tips page.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
@8 from Adornments by Milani: Thanks! I guess you’re older than preschool, though, right? I’m going to have to pass on the adoption!
March 1st, 2008 at 8:46 am
@9 from Agathe: I’m looking forward to seeing the entries myself! I need to do something with my larger accessories (like rice ball molds and egg molds) at the moment — they’re starting to get out of control.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:01 am
This looks like fun, it’s too bad all my few bento boxes and supplies are stuffed in a cupboard. =)
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:34 am
I posted about this box I had found at Target on Wednesday of this last week…then you announced this so I expanded my post to cover everything I do organization wise so far.
http://tinyurl.com/295bmm
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
@13 from Amber in Portland: I don’t know, I’ve seen some well organized cupboards that hold bento gear — I think Flickr user Yurippe (tama chan) will be submitting an entry with her huge bento box cupboard that holds hundreds… Stay tuned!
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
@14 from Karmatir: This is great, Karmatir, thanks!
March 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I was planning on explaining my setup already when I saw this, so I did!
I don’t think it’s overly original, but mainly practical. My kitchen is TINY and loaded with stuff, so I had to organize real quick!
Here’s what I did:
http://willowsbentobox.blogspot.com/2008/03/bento-gear-organization.html
I just got lucky that my boss (or ex boss I should say) gave me all those empty spice boxes!
Let me know what you think!
Will~
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
@17 from Willow: I like how you use those Indian spice tins, Willow! Very imaginative.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I don’t have a ton of supplies, but they are somewhat organized…
http://thislittlebento.blogspot.com/2008/03/bento-supplies-organization.html
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 am
@19 from Tenae: Thanks for the entry, Tenae! So that’s the 3-drawer Sterilite box you were talking about earlier… Nice!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I added to my spice boxes!
http://willowsbentobox.blogspot.com/2008/03/adding-to-my-organization-spree.html
I’m having way too much fun with this. ;o)
Will~
March 8th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Great event. I’m looking forward to getting some good ideas about organising my bento stash. Btw, have you considered plugging your event at Is My Blog Burning? (http://www.ismyblogburning.com/) Lots of people keep an eye on it for food blog events.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
@21 from Willow: Looks great, Willow — thanks! My husband is getting antsy for me to reorganize our kitchen; bento gear is leaking out of the cracks again…
March 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
@22 from Nilmandra: You know, I tried submitting my event info to Is My Blog Burning last week, and for some reason their form rejected the info. I sent it to them via e-mail last week, but it hasn’t been included. I guess I’ll try again from a different browser and hope I can use their submission form (maybe the humans are too busy).
March 10th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Hiya! I uploaded pictures and a short YouTube video on my LJ along with a detailed entry on my bento shelf. Here: http://rubymulligan.livejournal.com/94048.html
March 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
@25 from Rhiannon: Okay, I’m officially dazzled not only by your organization, but also by your cool YouTube video. NICE!!! I may go get a bigger bookshelf for the kitchen as a result of this post of yours…
March 10th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
very interesting event biggie..though I have a series on lunch boxes, I don’t as such have any on gears. Can you check and let me know!
http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2008/02/lunch-box-series-lbs27.html
March 11th, 2008 at 10:28 am
@27 from Srivalli: I love your tiffin lunches! They’re not a good match for this particular event, but I’d like to add you to my Lunch Links page. Does your “Lunch Box Recipes” category encompass all of your tiffin lunches? Please feel free to leave a comment on my entry about packed lunch blogs with any other descriptive info you’d like me to include, and spread the word to other Indian tiffin bloggers if you like!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I am a huge fan of “over the door shoe organizers”. The flat pannel kind with all the pockets you can get at any mega store or home center. I love the ones with clear vinal pockets. We have one on the inside of the pantry that holds granola bars, raisins, cookies and the like.. and one down the side of the fridge that holds most of my smaller bento boxes, my cupcake cups, cookie cutters, and food picks. I even cut one up into smaller parts and tacked the pockets inside cabinet doors to keep track of sippy cup lids, bottle parts and many other small misc. items. It really maximizes verticle space! We use them in the hall and bathroom closets too!(Sorry I can’t up load any photos at the moment due to issues with the digi cam.)
March 11th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I posted a brief post on my organization - nothing spectacular, just some plastic bins from Daiso, but they’ve made my morning rush a lot more bearable, and my husband doesn’t complain nearly as much when he has to put away the dishes.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Er, link. Sorry. http://tokaidonotebook.blogspot.com/
March 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
@30 from nakji: Thanks for this, nakji. I’m all for something that will encourage my husband to put away the dishes!
March 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
@29 from Melissa: Your over-the-door shoe organizers sound really interesting! If you’re able to fix your digital camera issues I’d love to see pictures.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Ok, this is my official submission to the event. Ahem *clearing my throat*.
I made two post about my organization (cause I went shopping twice, so I had to add on some…)
Here’s the first post:
http://willowsbentobox.blogspot.com/2008/03/bento-gear-organization.html
Here’s the second one (just added some spice boxes actually):
http://willowsbentobox.blogspot.com/2008/03/adding-to-my-organization-spree.html
So there, I also linked to this in both.
*clear throat again* I feel all official n stuff..
heheheh
will~
March 14th, 2008 at 11:05 am
@34 from Willow: Madame Willow, consider your entries received!
Thanks for the entries; I’ll include them in the round-up on Monday with links.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Funny story Biggie!
I went to Japan town last week sometime, and I’m at Ichiban Kan and I’m looking at stuff, and I hear those two people talking, they are talking about your blog.
I’m smiling to myself, and walking around, then two different people are in a different part of the store saying “On her blog she said they have bentos and things to go with them.” I directed them to the “bento section”.
Then we went at Sanko, there’s a lady who’s looking for a donburi box “like she saw on the Lunch in a box blog”.
You’re a star lady! First time I went bento shopping I heard someone talking about you too..
March 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
here’s mine!
http://bittersweetutopia.blogspot.com/2008/03/bento-organization.html
March 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
@36 from Willow: How funny that you heard shoppers talking about Lunch in a Box! I’ve never overheard anyone talking about the blog and have only been recognized once that I know of (by reader Miss Mary on vacation with her family — in Moritaya).
March 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
@37 from Hope: Thanks for the entry! I actually have that same hanging organizer from Ikea — got it for Bug’s room but we took it down (he wasn’t using it). Too bad there’s not a good space for it in my kitchen or I’d put it up in there. Nice cheap organizing solution!
March 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
http://pleasegivepeasachance.blogspot.com/search/label/organize
hi there thanks! this is an oldie i didn’t get to take more pictures
March 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
@40 from natesgirl: Thanks for the post, natesgirl. Like your 3-drawer organizers!
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
wow, very neat ideas from everyone!!!
October 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
[...] at Lunch in a Box Biggie has asked about how everyone organizes their bento goodies. I have very few items and [...]