Back-to-School Bento

At the start of this school year, both of my kids faced numerous unknowns. Since we moved over the summer, my daughter was beginning third grade at a new school. My son began kindergarten. Neither child knew any friends or teachers at their school; plus, they were riding the bus, which was a new experience. Although I could not walk through these new experiences with them, I wanted to send a special dose of reassurance from home. Hence, this cute back-to-school lunch.

The 'notebook paper' consists a ham sandwich, made with white whole-wheat bread. I drew the lines on the bread with food markers. (You can find them at Michael's.) The base of the pencil is a cheese stick. With an apple corer, I cut a pink Starburst to make the eraser. For the tip of the pencil, I used a black food marker to color the tip of a Bugle. Both the Starburst & the Bugle were attached with toothpicks.

To round out the meal, I added the produce that I happened to have on hand. broccoli florets, baby carrots, cut-up peaches & raspberries.

My kindergartener told his teacher that the best part of the day was "eating the pencil". I had to interject with an explanation. I guess it was a hit!

How I Began 'Bento-ing'

During our daughter's first grade school year, I was packing pbj sandwiches for her lunch. She didn't complain, but I knew that I wanted to pack something more substantial for her noon-time meal. Something that would be satisfying, delicious, nutritious and fun!

Also during that year, I made a discovery. If I gave her a more well-rounded meal for breakfast, it kept her satisfied & more focused until lunchtime. Instead of simply cereal for breakfast, I began giving both of our kiddos a three-part meal consisting of a grain, a fruit & a protein. Sounds like a lot of work? It really isn't, especially when you see the results (i.e. content, satisfied, attentive kids).

That got me thinking ... how could I improve the nutrition in her school lunch? I began by trying to include all of the food groups - grain, protein, fruit, veggie, dairy and sometimes dessert. As I contemplated HOW to do accomplish this task, I discovered bentos. Wikipedia describes bento boxes as "single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine." (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bento) Basically, a bento box is a convenient, boxed lunch that focuses on nutrition & portion size. Check out Biggie (an expert bento-packer) at www.lunchinabox.net for her awesome chart on bento sizes for each person.

Recognizing that I did indeed have to make lunch every day, why not enjoy making it! Hence the "cuteness" factor. Additionally, I believe that my kiddos are more eager to eat fun-looking foods, rather than another blah baggie of veggies or a basic pbj sandwich. And honestly, I too also
look forward to lunchtime when I remember that I have a delicious & delightful lunch packed for myself!

So that's my goal. Nutritious lunches packaged in a fun, eye-appealing manner.

Last year, with my daughter in second grade, the lunch aides would daily anticipate and inquire about my daughter's creative lunch for that day. (P.S. I don't do this every day. At most, once a week.)

Please feel free to use my ideas to inspire what YOU can create for your kids' lunches, or even for your own lunchbox! Lunch doesn't have to be boring, tasteless or challenging to make.
Join my lunch revolution.