Bento Box Cookbooks – A Healthy and Fun Lunch for Kids

Did you ever hear of Bento Box lunches? I’ve heard the term bento box, but just figured it was a take away Japanese boxed lunch comprised of some sort of prepared food like sushi. I never really gave bento boxes another thought until I stumbled upon these seriously cute cookbooks at Sam’s Club in Hawaii.

Hawaii's Bento Box Cookbook: 2nd Course

Hawaii's Bento Box Cookbook: Fun Lunches for Kids

After a few minutes of flipping through the colorful pages, these cookbooks instantly appealed to me because they combine my love of making healthy food for kids with my creative crafty side.  The easy step-by-step instructions offer tons of creative ideas on how to pack a very special lunch for little ones. Bento box lunches would also be a fun, creative way to get kids to try new foods including a variety of healthy veggies...love that!  Here are a few of the cute ideas:  sliced carrots turn into plumeria flowers, scrambled eggs become little chicks, and a vegetable croquette is transformed into a puppy dog!

I was even more excited to discover that the cookbook author, Susan Yuen, has a blog http://susanyuen.wordpress.com/ where she shares all sorts of fun bento box creations! She mentions on her blog that she shops at a store in Hawaii called Marukai. Hopefully we’ll have time to stop in and check it out. I love finding new blogs and fun new activities for the family.  I bet my son would love a surprise lunch filled with some of these creative, whimsical bento box creations!

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