Dec 30 2008
Bento For Kids #50 - Gingerbread Boy and More
Front Tier: “Ants on a log” (celery sticks topped with peanut butter & cranberries), cheese sticks, rolled-up fried eggs
Back Tier: Cheese Sandwich Gingerbread Boy and Applesauce topped with granola bits
Bento #50!!! Woohoo!! It has taken me a long time to get here. I can’t believe that I am still making bentos more than a year later. This was my first bento on Sep 17, 2007.
I started making bentos for my little girl who was a picky eater, in a attempt to get her to eat more. Surprisingly she loved the idea of “cute” food and it really did increase her appetite. So as an indulging mom for my only baby, I continue or at least try to make her food as cute as possible. Besides the cuteness, bento also helps me to try to make a well-balanced lunch since I usually try to pack at least some fruits and vegetables along with the main dish.
I have to admit I am probably breaking all the bento rules with my bento boxes. The traditional bentos follow the 4-3-2-1 rule: 4 parts rice, 3 parts protein, 2 parts vegetable, & 1 part “treat” (Usually pickled vegetables or something sweet.) Somehow my bentos always end up with more treats!! 
Oh well, as long as my girl loves her lunch, I guess I’ll continue doing it my way. 
If you have never tried making bento before, do give it a try. For the kids, it will be a fun lunch and for the grown-ups, bento is a great tool for portion control.
This will be my last bento post for the year. I am looking forward to another year of bento lunches next year. Next year I will be including some really overdue bento how-to’s and hopefully some new ideas. : P
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6 responses so far
I bet every kid in your neighborhood wants to have lunch at your house. You are so creative!
Martha
Bento rules…bah! You are making balanced and healthy meals for your daughter that she loves and that are beautiful. Well done.
Wow, you’re such a cool mom. Why can’t I be that kind of mom? I feel sorry for my own kids. LOL.
yeah i agree, doesnt matter how ur bento looks like, as long as ur child loves it and eats it, its fine.
I think the bento rules is applicable to adults only. The kids will adopt the opposite of the 4:3:2:1 and that is how they get 1:2:3:4. haha!
Bentos will save western children from nasty school lunches.
I really do believe this! <3 good job on yours!