I have realized that a child is more likely to finish his meal, if the food is presented to him in a fun and appealing way. So this year, while shopping for my son's lunchbox, I have become quite smitten with another breed of food container, the bento box.
A bento box has internal subdived compartments and sometimes stackable layers that hold food separately in their own sections. Many varieties of bento boxes exist, including some made of elaborately carved elm wood. The kind that are made for children are fantastic. They come in all shapes and colors and are often decorated with whimsical cartoons and endearing phrases.
Bento boxes are appealing for a number of reasons. They make packing a well balanced meal simple. They are organized with little compartments for the things I would like my child to eat: a fruit space, a grain space, a protein space, etc... By eliminating the need for disposable plastic bags and containers, they create less waste. They protect food during transport. Bento boxes are a cinch to clean, and they fit easily into my son's backpack.
Japanese restaurants often serve bento lunches that include fish, tofu, beef or pork, a serving of rice, and a vegetable side order. You can find a myriad of traditional Japanese recipes for bento boxes online. Many of the kid-friendly meals include unique food sculptures, enhanced by food coloring, food molds and cutters, which offer your child the pleasure of munching on edible images of animals and comic scenes. You don't have to get so complicated making your little one a satisfying meal that they can bring to school. Here are some easy ideas for filing your child's bento:
Quick Bento Box Menus
1.
guacamole * quartered tortilla * cheddar cheese cubes * melon wedges
2.
chicken breast on focaccia with provolone cheese * sliced cherry tomatoes * raisins
3.
cold pasta shells with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cubes * cannellini beans * orange wedges
4.
bean burrito * cheddar cheese chunks * sliced peaches
5.
hummus * pita * cucumber slices * grapes
6.
roasted peppers * mozzarella sticks * salami slices * bread sticks * apple
7.
baked tofu cubes with sesame and soy sauce * sliced beets * strawberries
8.
rice cakes * cottage cheese * peaches
9.
granola * yogurt * dates
10.
smoked salmon * bagel * fruit salad
11.
tuna or egg salad sandwich * sliced carrots * pineapple
12.
peanut or almond butter and honey sandwich on whole wheat bread *
pear
13.
cous cous with chick peas * celery sticks * figs
14.
hard boiled egg * toast * sliced zucchini sticks * plum
15.
almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc... * bran muffin * apple sauce
16.
Asian dumplings * edamame * tangerine wedges
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