11/14/17 blog post
the newest craze in packing your lunch
Have you gone bento?
Bento boxes are a new and fun rage out there for packing lunches. Have you seen them?
Bento is the Japanese art form of packed lunches. The Japanese form includes a foods rich in protein with rice (think Japanese Sushi), low calorie vegetables (think carrots and cucumber) and fruit. Bento box meals are often forms of decorative art!
Bento has gone americanized! Check out on Amazon the various bento boxes which are often BPA free and offers compartments to help with meal preparation. The boxes are the new lunch box style – plastic, wood, or stainless steel.
5 benefits to using a bento box:
- Allow your child to choose their bento box. Ensure your child can open it.
- Engage your child in meal preparation by filling your bento box with healthy and a variety of foods.
- Use leftovers in your bento. Fill the spaces with a variety of colorful foods.
- Use bento preparation time to educate on healthy fare!
- Pair your bento with water and/or low fat milk.
Choose 1-2 from each list to make a fun bento box with your child:
|
Protein |
Whole Grains |
Fruit |
Veggies |
|
Hard boiled egg Peanut butter Nuts Ham Turkey Taco meat Hummus Beans Low fat shredded cheese |
Brown rice Triscuits Wheat thins Popcorn 100% whole wheat bread, pita, tortilla sanwich round |
Grapes Raisins Berries Bananas Pineapple Watermelon Kiwi Pears Oranges |
Shredded carrot/sliced celery Cucumber slices Pickles Olives Avocado Fresh spinach or dark greens Cabbage Asparagus |
