How to do Bento Lunchboxes for Kids (and Husbands, too!)

I have worked with a fabulous single mom in the Operating Room before, when I was still working in a hospital as a Nurse. One thing I never forget about what she said as a single parent is to be able teach her kid how to appreciate food by presenting it nicely. She believed in the idea that a dish doesn't always have to be expensive and luxurious to merit a good garnishing and presentation. There's one chef who also said, "You have to eat with your eyes first". They're both right. I swear  thank God for learning so much things from people like them.

I imbibed the practice of preparing and serving food with style in our home, or even when I prepare for myself only. My dogma now as a person or as someone who intends to marry and have  kids in the future is that a sumptuous food is satisfaction in taste, smell, sound, and sight put together as one. 

Battles over food

With my 7 and 4 year- old nieces, whom I usually write about here in my blog, the battle over food is not a new challenge. They are picky- eaters like most kids are. With them, I know what it's like to battle with a child over eating. I have long since considered the way I deal with them when it happens and one thing I realized is that what they constantly refuse to eat are not the types of food parents would always dream their child to be eating, but those food that don't quite look edible (read: poorly presented). I think even adults do the same skepticism on food somehow or other. 

With all these things in mind, I want to get off something healthy but well- presented meals for my nieces. Something that will be appealing to their eyes and palate. And a bento lunchbox is one excellent way to do it. It's also high time to talk about it  now that it's nutrition month. 

How Bento Solves Food Battles

Bento originates from the home- packed meals that are common with the Japanese. Traditional bento includes rice, fish or meat, with pickled vegetables placed in box- shaped container. It is elaborately styled into "kyaraben", the ones decorated to look like the characters in Japanese anime, or "oekakiben" or "picture bento", those styled to look like people, structures, art, and flowers. My preference on bento style is the latter.

Many countries have locally adapted the idea on bento-- the Philippines included. The time and efforts invested in making bento lunchboxes are equalled with the fact that your family gets the nutrition they need at the same time appreciate creative food plating and presentation. Other benefits I see with bento is that it can create a fun and positive mood, and will turn out as a great way to bond with every member of the family, as well. 

Kids, like my nieces, with tiny appetites will also be encouraged to eat enough since the concept of bento doesn't make the food look excessive to eat.

Ways to Bento Making

One prerequisite of bento making is to do it with fun and love. Don't worry! You don't need expensive stuffs to get started with it. 

You'll only basically need to have:

1. A box to put your food in. Choose those that don't look too small or large, about 4 x 6 inches, and can be packed tightly. 

2. Baking cups, preferably silicon baking cups which are great for keeping wet things and add color to the presentation.

3. A regular kitchen knife for cutting food items into strips or shapes.

4. Cookie cutters those that cuts food into basic shapes like circle, star, crescent, and heart. Investing on a few of these will add variety to your style.

You'll need to make it:

I like this neat and cute Phineas and Ferb bento

1. Colorful, take advantage of the natural colors of the vegetables, fruits, and other food items you include in the box. The silicon baking cups will also add details to it.

2. Neat and tidy, segregate or line up food items and stash it in the lunchbox in order. Plan your style  and gather your ingredients ahead so you can easily go about the process. Wipe off excess food or spills of liquid sauce, if any. Remember that you have to appeal the eyes first!

3. Play on different shapEs and texture, it's what the cookie cutters are for. You can also add small items like nip candies, or healthier ones like raisins which can be used to make for eyes, buttons, and the likes. Play with the palate by including food of different textures like oranges, wheat bread, and salmon fish.

4. Do roll- ups, slice meat or chicken meat in thin strips that are as wide as your bento box is deep, layer it with a slice of cheese, and roll them up the way you make cordon bleu or monte cristo rolls.

5. For side dish, use food items that are excellent source of protein such as meat, eggs, fish, and chicken which you can cook in variety-- fried, steamed, or breaded. 

6. Pack food tightly to avoid them from shifting inside the box. Use fillers like cucumber, apples, or lettuce leaves.

7. Maintain a healthy amount, to balance weight and nutrition.

8. Insert thoughtful notes, which you can either stick outside the lunchbox or wrap around toothpicks like when you make custom- made flags to send your kids a sweet message. 

Pretty bento lunchbox printable notes!

How about this bento for your movie date with your husband? [smiles*]

I hope this post inspired you to prepare meals for your kids and family as healthy and creative as possible. God bless!

Reference:

Meaning of bento- wikipedia (dot) org

Photo Credits:

pineterest (dot) com

thislunchrox (dot) com

wendolonia (dot) com

Parenting Stint: 5 Sibling Rivalry Fix

Tots who are supported and praised when starting to learn their early childhood skills grow with autonomy and positive self-esteem. But teaching them a little less of autonomy and confidence, and more of appreciation and coöperation may also be as important.

Living in a house with two little nieces of almost the same age got me into episodes of tiny feuds. The 6-year-old miss would not usually put up with her soon-to-be 4-year-old sister.   The “She started it.” and “Why can’t she just use her own crayons?!” lines sometimes distract me from my reading. My hopeful attempts to make my own short vacations at home mostly end up into a bundle of disaster.

These siblings quibbling are not necessarily trivial since they begin at large in the formative years or the first 7 years of life. How my nieces learn to handle brannigan will influence the way they will handle disagreements when they become adults. The role of parents and guardians goes without saying.

As their tita (Aunt) I feel like having to apply what I learned from college, books, and parenting dialogues with the experts. My degree in Nursing has always been a help to a not-yet-mom like me.

Behavior Variations

Toddler and pre-school are the years when children first learn to have enough vocabularies to express their feelings. It is also the stage when they start to learn how responsibilities are shared in the home.

My 6-year-old niece’s familiar lines however prove that there are emotions and responsibilities she cannot fully understand. She is not absolved by the explanation, “Your sister is just a baby. She doesn’t really know what she’s doing”. She often thinks there are privileges and behaviors allowed to her sister that are not tolerated in her.

It is not at all easy since what you think as temperate solution to perils might result into behavior confusion.

See it in general

Approach both lightly and ask without provoking. Provoking promotes defensive reasons as do my nieces. Detecting what’s really going on might help both children; and help parents or guardians learn just how to deal with the kids individually.

Feelings, Oh, Oh, Oh feelings

Bottom-line is, feelings of jealousy occur in some way when there is more than one kid in the house. The key is to help them recognize their feelings by observing them and encouraging them when they do something favorable “I like the way you let your sister borrow your crayons” or “It’s good that you helped her fix her things”.

It’s always not advisable to use the word “bad” when pointing out that something wrong was done. It rather confuses them what they are actually feeling.

For very young children like my nieces, doing some prompting is a big help, “I can see that you feel sad that your sister doesn’t feel like sharing her toys with you now” or pointing specifically to the act, “I see that you took your sister’s drawing book without her permission” and asking follow-up questions like, “Why did you do it?”. Allowing so helps both parents and the kids see the bigger picture.

It’s true that when kids know their feelings are respected, they become more empathetic to others. The rule of the thumb is-- acknowledgement.

Help them communicate

Allowing the kids to express how they feel gives them the idea that their opinion matters. Using words like “she feels”, “she looks”, “you seem” “I think” and avoiding definitive phrase like “It’s bad” will let them distinguish bad behaviors of the person over the person herself.

Set up rules

Kids understand rules more than you think. Rules also help diminish conflicts and help them follow and stick to their responsibilities.

But one important thing to remember is to always be consistent with your rules. Sticking with TV schedules, taking turns, or providing them space will help instill in them discipline, patience, concern, and respect for privacy.

Play is key

Doing activities that foster coöperation like board games, or for Filipino families, bahay-bahayan will encourage coöperation and family bonding.

For more cooperative children games you may refer to Child Care Lounge and Family Pastimes. 

Unfit situations like sibling rivalry can be used as time to teach kids good lessons. How kids are taught will say a lot about who they will most likely become in the future. You might as well do them a favor. I am beginning to.






Photo Credits:
weheartit (dot) com