Today's post is on bento boxes and jazzing up a packed lunch.
"O-bento' is what the Japanese call a packed meal, usually lunch. Bento
boxes have internal dividers, and sometimes several stacked layers, so
different kinds of food sit in their own little compartments. The goal is to make the whole package as attractive as
possible - from considering the colour combinations of the food and
presenting and garnishing it as neatly and artfully as you can, to
co-ordinating the box, chopsticks and wrapper, and any other items like
paper napkins, knife and fork or spoon, drink flask or thermos." (http://www.airandangels.com)
Bentos are great for using up odds and ends of leftovers. They are meant to be visually appealing so as to encourage healthy eating. I've attempted making such lunches for my son, but it turns out looking sad and it gets all messed up when he dumps his backpack upside down. I read that if the container is packed full enough, it helps to keep it from mixing up. I've included some inspiration of relatively simple boxes and some resources for finding bento supplies and an interesting article on "Genders, Obentos and the State of Japan".
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| fish, bears, phineas, flower, simple, bunny, cow |
You can start by using supplies you might have on hand; cookie cutters, cupcake/muffin liners, cocktail picks or paper scrapbook embellishments to add some interest. If you think bento might be your thing, here are some links to some great bento sites. Many have links to suppliers.
If you make bentos or plan on trying it, send pictures to info(at)quintefamily(dot)com!!
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