If you google “Bento”, chances are you’ll be overwhelmed by
what pops up. Seriously, I’ll wait
while you peruse the Bento images. If you
do a search on YouTube, the results are even more complicated.
The things some people do with their kids’ lunches are amazing.
Mermaids with hair made of ramen and tails made of shrimp. Perfect replicas of SpongeBob made of
cheese. Teddy bears made of rice. It’s fascinating—so I totally get it when
people say that Bento packing is overwhelming and they’ll stick with plastic
bags, thank you.
I get it. But you
know what? There are bentos for the rest of us.
Those of us who aren’t able to recreate Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night
with pasta can still make visually appealing meals that nourish our kids.
Long ago, after watching my father-in-law scarf down some
treat that I’d taken my time with, I swore, NEVER AGAIN. Never again would the “making” of one
individual item take more time it takes to consume said item. And more or less, I stick to this
principle. I am still learning to keep things
simple (and surprisingly, the simple things are usually more pleasing).
Ultimately, the bento boxes that I pack are a means to an
end. Elliott has to go to school. She
needs to eat. Her school does not have
school lunches, so I have to pack a lunch.
Thanks to bento boxes, rather than having to shop specifically for lunch
items, I can just shop like normal and incorporate whatever’s in the fridge
into a cute, portable box. This makes
Momma happy—and somehow, the process becomes enjoyable for me.
Box. Food. Transport.
See? That’s how simple it is. That’s essentially all a bento is. Guilt is optional.
No need to get swept up in thinking you have to be an
artist. No need to hate on the ones who do it
well. A lot of comments I hear about
Bento is that “those people have too much time on their hands”, or “I could never do
that, so why try?” Sure, some folks are
awesome bento-packers, but that doesn’t make you less awesome—and it certainly doesn’t
mean you can’t try the concept. I have a
few boxes and few fun accessories to keep visual appeal; ultimately the main
point of lunch-packing for every parent is nourishment for their kids.
I’m a firm believer that perfectionism impedes progress. In fact, I hear those words cross my lips
frequently. Don’t let the Olaf-replicas
formed out of rice hold you back.
At the end of the day, you can buy a fun box and fill it with food that nourishes your family. Bam.
Mission accomplished.
Box.
Food.
Transport.
(You've got this!)
(You've got this!)
For inspiration for fun yet SIMPLE bentos, check out some of these sites:
