Healthy and Hearty: Bento Box Tips from School Moms

I didn’t anticipate how much work it takes to be a school parent. It’s only my daughter’s third week in school and I’m still getting used to her, or rather our, new routine.

One of the things that’s part of the new routine is preparing her baon. Admittedly, I mostly rely on packaged food for her school snacks. But recently her teacher reminded us that since this month is Nutrition Month, we should cut down on biscuits and sweet drinks and focus instead on serving fruits and veggies.

I realized that one way to really motivate me is to try making bento boxes, since the whole concept of the bento box is that what’s served is not only eye-catching, but also healthy and tasty.

Luckily there are a lot of moms out there who have been school parents for much longer and are experts at making bento boxes for their kids. I’m sharing some of their tips here so that other overwhelmed school parents can benefit and prepare the best bento boxes for their kids.

If you’re Filipino, at some point you must have heard of the “Go, Glow, and Grow” concept. It’s certainly a core memory of mine from kindergarten.

Mommy Bea, the mom behind Crafty Bento, makes sure to follow this guide when preparing for her kids’ meals. “I include Go foods like rice or pasta for energy, Grow foods like meat, eggs, or homemade nuggets for protein, and Glow foods like fruits and vegetables for vitamins and fiber.”

A three-compartment bento box is a reminder to include Go, Grow, and Glow food! | Photo courtesy of Crafty Bento

Crafty and healthy? Yes for our kids’ bento baons, please! | Photo courtesy of Crafty Bento

One of her favorite school meals to prepare for her two kids is homemade chicken nuggets, scrambled eggs, a bit of sautéed luncheon meat, steamed rice, and fruits like apples or grapes. Mommy Bea also shares this tip to maximize nutrition: “Since kids nowadays are not always fond of eating vegetables, I sometimes get creative and sneak them in. For example, I grind carrots and mix them with rice or add vegetables into homemade nuggets or patties.”

Going on a bear hunt? The bear’s in Mommy Bea’s bento! | Photo courtesy of Crafty Bento

A bento baon for a healthy and happy tummy! | Photo courtesy of Crafty Bento

The red, green, and yellow colors of a stoplight are a great reference on the right foods to serve in a bento box as most processed food don’t really have these vibrant hues.

My friend Mommy Gayle, who lives in Japan and has been doing obentos for more than 2 years, follows this. “My kid’s kindergarten has a list of food that cannot be included like chocolates, sweets, chips.” By following the stoplight colors, she is always reminded to instead include green, red, and yellow vegetables.

Spot the colors of the stoplight in this cute bento baon! | Photo courtesy of Mommy Gayle

If your child is not a fan of vegetables, opt for fruits instead. Mommy Giselle, mom to 9-year-old Rylee, does this. “I love to include fruits in my son’s baon since he is not a fan of veggies. Fruits are naturally sweet, packed with vitamins, and easy to prepare. They also add vibrant colors to the bento, making it more appealing.”

A thing I learned over the years is that food is not only a source of nutrition, but also a source of joy. By including a few small treats and as long as the school allows it, it teaches kids what balanced meals look like and that sweets are not really enemies.

Mommy Judy, mom to 6th grader Jada, shares: “I make sure my daughter’s baon has vegetables and protein each week. But of course I also include some sweets as my ‘thank you’ for finishing her baon.”

Sweets can serve as your thank you treats for your kids! | Photo courtesy of Mommy Judy

Treats don’t also necessarily have to be chocolates or candies. They can be gummy vitamins, a small sweet drink, dried fruits, or whatever food item that makes your child happy.

While reading up about bento boxes, I realized that they’re not required to be heavily designed. Don’t sweat it if you’re struggling with being creative.

“For parents who want to give it a try but feel scared, it’s just in the beginning. As the saying goes, ‘practice makes perfect’! Just start with the basic, keep it simple, and do what you can,” Mommy Giselle says.

Let your plates and bento boxes be your canvas! | Photo courtesy of Mommy Giselle

You can just prepare the food as you usually would and then place them in their own compartments in the bento lunchbox. Don’t hesitate to also involve your child and ask for their help, even if it just means getting their buy in on the food or design they want.

Whenever I see bento boxes, I always think of the amount of time and dedication parents have while preparing them. The moms I asked for this article prepare their kids’ baon for almost an hour up to two hours!

“Parents should make their kids’ baon out of LOVE! Sometimes it requires a lot of patience and effort to wake up earlier than usual to prep for the bento baon and making the designs,” Mommy Judy shares.

Every baon we prepare sends a message of love and care. | Photo courtesy of Mommy Judy

Despite the early morning wake up calls to make bento boxes, there must be a high payoff for these moms. Mommy Giselle says, “The joy I witness when my 9 year old tells me stories about how he showed his lunch to his teachers and classmates. It’s true that it can be a stressful and exhausting process, but at the end of the day, knowing that you brought happiness to your child and made him feel your presence while he was in school is definitely worth it!”

No bento baon is too stressful for a loving mom. | Photo courtesy of Mommy Giselle

Mommy Gayle also shares, “My son looks forward to seeing the decorations on his obento. He proudly shows them to his friends. He tells me, ‘Thank you mommy for my obento. I rab (love) it.’ ”