This is a guest post from Susan Yuna author of Hawai’i’s Bento Box Cook Book

What is Bento?

Bento simply put is the Japanese term for a meal in a box.  Bentos are typically made and packed so that, not only is the food delicious, it is aesthetically pleasing as well.  The best part is anyone can make a bento and can tailor it to their child’s own individual needs or tastes.  For instance, bentos for children can transform an ordinary school lunch into an extraordinary culinary experience that will have your child looking forward to lunch time.  Strategically placed food or cheese and vegetable cutouts can transform a school lunch into a form of art.  Chances are you are already sending a healthy and nutritious lunch with your child, so why not make it fun too?
 

Create Your Bento Box Kit

To make a fun bento check around your kitchen to see what you might already have.  Things like fun bags, cute picks, or brightly colored muffin cups will add some excitement to your lunch with minimal effort.  Don’t forget to look though all of your cookie cutters (both large and small) because they make great tools for cutting sandwich bread, deli meats, cheese, fruit and vegetables too.

Another way to brighten a lunch up is to make faces on them!  What child wouldn’t want to open up their lunch box and be greeted by their lunch, smiling or making funny faces at them?  Use things like fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, chocolate chips, cake decorations, fruit strips, cereals, cheese, and deli meats to suggest a few.  

Now Make A Bento Box!

Here is an easy sandwich bento to start you on your way and the best part is that all you’ll need is one cookie cutter! (see images 7-9)  A bear cutter is shown, but you can use whatever animal or fun shaped cookie cutter that you have on hand!  Cut your bread and assemble your sandwich, we used good old peanut butter and jelly here.

Then decorate your sandwiches with cute faces.  We used chocolate chips for the eyes, a raisin for the nose, and a star and heart shape for each sandwich.  “Glue” the decorations onto your sandwich using a very tiny dab or peanut butter or jelly, even a bit of icing will do the trick.  Place the sandwiches in the box and fill the empty spaces with fruits, veggies, and other snacks.  Make sure to fill all of the empty spaces because it will keep your child’s food from shifting around on its way to school.   There you have it, a fun and simple back to school bento that your child is sure to love.

More about Susan Yuna

I am married to my outrageous and funny husband, Mark, and the mommy of two wonderful children, Paige and Sean.  For many years I worked in the food industry, and was the sous chef for Palomino Euro Bistro and later Kincaid’s.  With the birth of my first child, Paige, I became a full time stay at home mom. 
When Paige started preschool, I began making fun bentos for her home lunches.  Bentos were not only fun for her but served as a great creative outlet for me.  In 2008 I wrote Hawai`i’s Bento Box Cookbook, Fun Lunches for Kids and in April 2010 came out with my second book, Hawai`i’s Bento Box Cookbook, 2nd Course.

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