Do You Bento?

Do you bento? Do you know what bento or obento is? As we finish up our second week of homeschool I have realized that I really miss making lunches for my boys. Zane loved taking his lunch, while the other two boys would take theirs occasionally. When I sent Zane's lunch, I packed him a bento box. I truly miss this fun, creative way of preparing food for my children and have thought maybe I could still pack them these great little boxes full of goodies even while being homeschooled. Why not? They need to eat lunch anyway!

So, what is a bento box? A bento box is a complete, balanced and visually appealing meal packed into a small reusable box.
Why pack a bento box? There are several reasons why packing a bento box is a great idea: 1) this is a great way to exercise portion control. Great for adults! 2) This is a great way to pack a variety of foods in a small space. 3) When you have picky eaters, the attractive way food is displayed might encourage them to try it! Visually appealing food is always more interesting than something flopped onto a cafeteria tray. Pack some things your picky eater likes and sneak a few new items in there. 4) It saves money. Once you buy a bento box or similar container simply use leftovers as the base and add in some great items for a great look.
How do you pack a bento lunch? Packing 'rules' are pretty simple. Just 3 parts carbohydrates, such as rice or pasta, 1 part protein and 2 parts fruits and vegetables. Not only are you looking for nutrition, you are looking to add colors and textures. Pack the box and use 'fillers' to fill in the gaps. Good items include grapes, cherry tomatoes, and cheese cubes. Use silicone baking cups, small plastic lidded containers, etc. to keep everything in its place.
What do you pack in a bento? Almost anything can be used. We use leftovers, we make roll-ups with flavored tortilla wraps. Be creative! Obviously some foods work better than others. Foods that are rather wet should be packed in a separate lidded container. Some great things to do are just add a simple twist to a child's favorite food. Slice it, cut it into shapes, can it be made a different, fun color? We just do a few fun things like add some food coloring to the water when we make rice. Presto! Blue rice or green rice... Freeze individual sized portions in the shape of patties, balls or little mounds, and they are ready to add to a box.

So, that is just a little info. on bento boxes. There are so many great sites on the web for more information on bentos. Check them out. In the meantime, fix a bento lunch for yourself or your children and see how much fun eating this way can be.
Bon appetit! Or perhaps "Douzo meshiagare" (Japanese for 'enjoy your meal')