Kennedy & Payton

Like most parents, I want my children to eat well and be healthy, so when my daughter Kennedy began eating solid food, I fed her lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. When she was ready for preschool, I wanted those healthy habits to continue. My plan was to excite her with a colorful plate of yummy options. So began my love affair with bento-inspired lunches.

Get Inspired
My fridge is my daily inspiration. I keep a bento journal to stay organized. I begin by listing the options I have on hand (leftover chicken, strawberries, broccoli, rice, etc.). I draw a rough sketch of how I want to arrange the bento the night before. This makes assembling easier. 

Easier Than It Looks
Keep it simple, keep it nutritious and keep it fast. With a little planning, a simple bento should only take 10 to 15 minutes. Start by incorporating lots of color (fruits and vegetables) into your bento. If you don’t have time to cut up your own produce, visit a salad bar. You can find every color of the rainbow at most salad bars. I love the salad bar at Whole Foods; it has a wide assortment of fruits, vegetables and proteins. Use these items throughout the week to add color and nutrition to each bento meal.

Quick Tips for Parents:

1. Bento Box: For beginners, purchase a “bento-style” box with
compartments or dividers. This will make packing easier and
prevent different food flavors from mingling.

2. Tools: Start with some colorful toothpicks, small cookie cutters, rice molds and small sauce containers.

3. Balanced Nutrition (Color): A bento has to be colorful and
appetizing to the eyes. Use an assortment of fruits, veggies and protein. As a guideline, strive for one part grain, one part protein, one part fruit or vegetables.

4. Leftovers: It is sometimes fun to make a bento from scratch, but, for daily practicality, leftovers help keep it simple.

Sweet Kennedy Bento • Rice with pink sushi rice mix • Hot dog flowers with corn centers • Green bean stems and leaves • Cheddar cheese (KENNEDY letters) • Green peas • Cubed Fuji apples • Cherry tomatoes • Steamed broccoli • Flower-cut carrots • Creamy dressing with black sesame seeds
	Leftover BBQ Bento • Baby back ribs • Musubi with furikake • Mini chocolate    chip cookies • Diced white peaches • Steamed broccoli
Flower-garden Bento • Cubed soft tofu • Carrot flowers with    green-onion leaves • Bear shoyu bottle • Steamed broccoli • Sweet cherries with    blueberries • Roasted almonds • Chewy brownie dessert
	Happy Bento • Smiling musubi • Octopus-cut hot dogs with sesame-seed eyes • Steamed broccoli • Pistachios • Black plums • Oatmeal raisin cookie
Ham & Cheese Heart Bento • Ham and cheese on    whole-wheat bread • Celery sticks • Red seedless grapes • Cherry-blossom-cut carrots • Cherry tomatoes • Creamy dressing with    black sesame seeds
	Bento Tool Kit It’s all about presentation. Invest in a handful of key tools and you will be on your way to making cute shapes, organized portions and eye-popping, tasty morsels. Look for food dividers, shape cutters, nori punchers, small containers, colored and shaped toothpicks, surprise boxes, etc. Visit a Marukai store near you and you will find most of the tools you will need to get started, including a nice selection of bento boxes.