B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Bento!)
By: Barbie Flores

One of the most challenging jobs I have as a chef has nothing to with catering or entertaining large groups. It is actually the challenge of fixing my children quick, healthy meals and the successful routine of packing healthy lunches as the school year begins. Most parents of school-age children are grateful for the summer break from the weekly routine of washing school clothes, pressing uniforms, remembering milk money, helping with homework and packing lunches; however, summer does go by quickly and before we know it, we’re back to figuring it out again.

In this issue, let me share a great idea with you. One of the greatest ideas to me for packing lunches is a “bento” box. The bento (“to go”)box comes from the Japanese culture.  What goes inside this box will amaze you. In Japan, a typical bento box meal might consist of miso soup, sushi, soba noodles and kare (curry or rice). It is beautifully assembled. Since the appreciation for beauty is the apex of Japanese culture, it makes sense that the cuisine we find in Japan is often prepared with a special attention to its beautiful appearance as well as to taste. The bento box is no exception. You will find many restaurants here now offer these as a wonderful way to get ‘carry out”, with a variety of menus. Let’s take a look at what our own bento box might look like, if we were creating it at home.

First, do you remember your old “Barbie” or “Batman” character lunchbox? The things mother used to stuff in those boxes! Lunchboxes have not changed much but the bento boxes have evolved from their original wood beginnings to very cool “Hello Kitty” boxes as well as sleek, well thought-out containers for packing good-looking food. Imagine our child having their meal look as nice as the lunches, we often have at work! Why not make it pretty? Why not make it colorful? Why not make it very tasty? We could start by putting in an amazing sandwich or wrap, a thermos of pasta or soup, teamed up with colorful veggies and something crunchy, crispy or naturally sweet like grapes or yogurt! Now, just imagine yourself building Legos or painting when making a bento box. The aesthetic arrangement of the food and its placement in the box is as important as the food choices we make. I believe a child notices the attention paid to his/her favorite foods, as well!

Second, the bento boxes currently available on the market have functional compartments to keep food nicely separated and your presentation nice. They come in all sizes with lids and can be very attractive. These attractive boxes are often microwave and dishwasher safe, as well as equipped with a compartment to store an ice pack, so that your child will be sure to get the freshest meal, possible. It makes it kind of fun for them to open up something each day, that resembles a present. As this school years starts I encourage you to use your imagination and be thinking of giving a child a new, healthy and interesting present each day! Take a look at some of the bento ideas here. Be creative and until next time, make sure nobody goes hungry!

BARBIE'S FABULOUS RECIPES

Hummus Arugula Wrap

Ingredients:
1 multigrain or whole-wheat flour tortilla or wrap
½ cup of your favorite hummus
½ ripe avocado, sliced
½ ripe tomato, sliced
Freshly ground black pepper t/t
Sea salt t/t
½ cup organic baby arugula, washed, patted dry

Directions:

1. Spread hummus on tortilla or wrap.
2. Add a layer of avocado slices, followed by tomato slices.
3. Sprinkle with a pinch of freshly ground pepper and sea salt to taste.
4. Add baby arugula.
5. Fold part of tortilla closest to you over.
6. Fold sides of tortilla into the middle.
7. Fold remaining side up, so that it resembles a burrito.
8. Wrap in parchment paper and cut in half.
9. Teach your child to eat wrap, peeling down sides of parchment as they go.

 

Chicken Jalapeno Club Wrap

Ingredients:

1 Jalapeno wrap or whole-wheat tortilla
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
2 slices cooked bacon
½ cup of your favorite salad greens
½ tomato, sliced
½ avocado, sliced
½ Jalapeno pepper, finely minced (optional)
4 T. Ranch dressing

Directions:

1. Spread wrap with Ranch dressing.
2. Layer with shredded chicken, salad greens, tomato slices and avocado slices.
3. Sprinkle with Jalapeno peppers.
4. Fold up wrap.
5. Wrap in parchment paper, cut in half.

 

Vietnamese Style Rice Paper Rolls

Ingredients:

1-2 rice paper sheets
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
2 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
½ red bell pepper, julienne (cut into match sticks)
2 T. chives, finely minced
1 T. fresh mint, finely minced
1/3-cup mayonnaise or vegan spread
2 T. soy sauce or teriyaki sauce
Fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Whisk together the mayonnaise or vegan spread with the soy sauce and fresh ground black pepper until it has a smooth consistency of dressing.
2. Toss the vegetables together in the dressing. Set aside.
3. Set up an assembly line system to work with the rice paper and filling.
4. In a shallow bowl of boiling water, dip the rice paper in to soften, laying it down carefully.
5. Working quickly with the rice paper, add 1 tablespoons of cooked chicken, followed by 2 tablespoons of slaw in the center of the rice paper.
6. Fold the side closest to you over the top of the mixture.
7. Fold the 2 sides in tightly.
8. Roll the remaining wrap away from you.
9. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
10. Remove when ready to serve. 
    
    
    

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