| y"> | | | | own lid and they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. |
| Take a minute to reflect back... Remember when | | | | She absolutely loves it! |
| you were kid? Now, try to conjure up this specific | | | | Packing A Bento |
| childhood memory - your wonderful lunch box! | | | | No matter how old my kids get, they still love |
| You were cool, fun, and felt confident sporting | | | | helping to pack their lunches with fun foods. When |
| this brand new piece of gear. This box and what | | | | we go hunting for bento box fun we frequent the |
| it was filled with often reflected who you were. It | | | | Japanese dollar store in downtown in San Mateo. |
| was your first independent introduction into | | | | They have a great variety of kid friendly lunch |
| society. After all, didn't your very own lunch box | | | | packing items. One of my favorites are the food |
| mean you were finally a big kid! | | | | molds. With absolutely no major artistic kitchen |
| Boys often carried western or space themed | | | | skills you can shape foods into simple animals, |
| lunch boxes, girls went with Barbie, and younger | | | | cars, trucks, trains, plants, or people shapes. Try |
| children with a wide variety of Disney characters. | | | | them out with brown rice and veggies for an |
| All I remember is that I was stuck carrying the | | | | Asian flair, tuna or chicken salad, eggs, or even |
| plaid design and the girl across the street, Cheryl | | | | make must-have-meatballs with them! |
| Shelmadine, had a Lassie the Wonder Dog lunch | | | | Just like the use of the Japanese containers - use |
| box. I didn't. What were my parents thinking? | | | | fusion when packing them. California nouvelle |
| Regardless of the style, lunch boxes have | | | | cuisine is a blend of cultures, using fresh local |
| represented, as well as reflected, a major part of | | | | ingredients and new fun presentation style on any |
| American cultural history. | | | | classic meal. These tiny treasure chests are great |
| Luckily for our children, we live in a dynamic area. | | | | for serving up leftovers in a fresh new way that |
| We can gain access to the wonderful traditions of | | | | will have your children eager to see last night's |
| so many cultures. Once incorporated with our | | | | meal again. Remember to be creative and artistic |
| fresh local foods, and given a twist on | | | | when packing a bento and to involve your child. |
| presentation... POOF! The new American lunch box | | | | Use cookie cutters to make uniquely shaped "tea |
| - the bento box. | | | | sandwiches", layer foods for presentation, and |
| Bento boxes surfaced in Japan about 900 years | | | | include little containers of their favorite dips. The |
| ago with the creation of hoshi-ii. Hoshi-ii means | | | | better it looks and the more input they have the |
| "dried meal" - it is rice that has been cooked and | | | | more likely they are to eat it! |
| then dried. Bento boxes were once simple | | | | Use these fun lunch packs and fuse some of your |
| containers housing individually packaged portions of | | | | own cultural sensations inside. Here are some |
| rice, meat or fish, and pickled or cooked | | | | ideas to get you going. Incorporating a variety of |
| vegetables. Through the ages, they have | | | | foods your child enjoys will make them much less |
| progressed from oak or bamboo leaf wrapped | | | | likely to succumb when they hear "I'll trade you!" |
| portions into lacquered wooden boxes, shiny | | | | in the cafeteria. |
| aluminum, and modern day plastics. | | | | Mac 'n Cheese - Left over macaroni and cheese, |
| There are contests held where people compete | | | | fresh sliced tomatoes, steamed veggies, and |
| to win prizes and prestige for designing the most | | | | fresh finger fruits (grapes, berries, cherries, cubed |
| elaborate bento boxes. This type of artistic bento | | | | melons, sliced kiwi, etc.). They'll be sure to devour |
| is called a kyaraben. They aesthetically arrange | | | | this child friendly favorite. All housed in the |
| the foods to resemble people, flowers, plants, or | | | | separate containers or pressed into fun shapes. |
| animals. Some are so beautiful they look too good | | | | Snack Attack - Diced fresh finger fruits and |
| to eat... well almost! | | | | veggies, sliced cheeses, cubed turkey breast or |
| Of course, bento boxes are still available today in | | | | ham, and multi-grain crackers make for a |
| many locations throughout Japan, but now bento | | | | delightful blend of flavors and nutrition. Don't |
| boxes are taking America by storm! Traditional | | | | forget to add crackers and your favorite |
| Japanese bento boxes are quickly becoming the | | | | vinaigrette in a small fun sized bento squeeze |
| must have lunch box for otherwise brown paper | | | | bottle. |
| baggers. A visit to today's school cafeterias might | | | | Dinner for lunch- -Your favorite shaped meatballs, |
| have some parents thinking they've stepped into | | | | brown rice, sliced fresh veggies, and low-fat |
| a new culture when they see these trendy new | | | | yogurt to dip. This bento is also great with |
| lunch containers. It's not all about appearances | | | | leftover spaghetti! |
| though - bento boxes are fun to fill, pleasing to | | | | Pot Roast Personified - Diced left over pot roast, |
| the palette, prevent foods from getting smashed, | | | | roasted root veggies, fresh finger fruits, and a |
| and make packing a lunch both cost and time | | | | garden salad. Served cold, with a piece of |
| effective. | | | | buttered whole grained pita bread. |
| Lunch boxes today are still the ultimate in personal | | | | Super Salads - Molded tuna, chicken, or seafood |
| style and expression. Even not carrying one is | | | | salad, whole grain crackers, fresh fruits and |
| often for the sake of fashion. Whatever your | | | | veggies, and cute baby cheese. Don't forget to |
| taste, lunch boxes continue to be a reflection of | | | | add sliced red bell peppers. They are really sweet |
| American culture. The bento box is simply a | | | | to eat - especially with cream cheese to dip them |
| plastic container housing other various shaped | | | | in. |
| containers for your foods stuffs. Sometimes they | | | | Now, with some bento experience under my belt |
| are stacked, square round, flat, or whatever your | | | | I can honestly say that not only do kids love |
| desire. There are designer bento boxes are | | | | these crafty containers - but I do too. They are |
| available featuring popular cartoon characters and | | | | also great for picnics, travel lunches, or any time |
| fun designs - hopefully not plaid. You can even | | | | you'll be away from home. They just make |
| accessorize your bento with fun flatware to | | | | sense! One more important thing... bento boxes do |
| match, and miniature bottles no larger than your | | | | require some washing after the box arrives home. |
| thumb for salad dressings, soy sauces or other | | | | This is another great opportunity though to get |
| flavorings of your choice. | | | | the kids involved and teach some early childhood |
| I recently purchased a "laptop bento" for my | | | | responsibility as they help wash up their lunch box |
| daughter, Danielle. It came in a thermal cooled | | | | and get it ready for the next day. |
| case that resembles a notebook computer - and | | | | Looking for some more creative lunch suggestions |
| of course, it was almost the same price. It is a | | | | or ways to fuel your child's passion for cooking? |
| typical bento for a "Middle Schooler" - not too | | | | Check out the fun filled classes and summer |
| flashy. Once opened, the case reveals spaces for | | | | camps at Kids Culinary Adventures. We'll even |
| all different kinds of goodies. Each space has its | | | | teach them about the importance of clean up! |