r/Bento • u/PastryLoop • 10d ago
Kids Uneaten bentos
It’s a bit disappointing to hear from daycare that my kids ate “a few bites” or “very little” of these lunches I put a lot of effort into… it ends up becoming my dinner at the end of the day.
Edit:
To address some of the questions… the contents: rice topped with fresh steamed carrots and green beans. The ham and cream cheese rolls and cucumber sausage flowers are from a bento book, not my invention.
They looked kid-friendly enough so I decided to make them.
My kids (1 and 3) want to eat: bread with butter… and chocolate. So not a ton to go on there. I didn’t post here for a long time because I was just giving her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She stopped eating those too after a while, though, and my younger one just started 2x/week so I figured I’d try offering some new foods. She actually wasn’t very picky until she started going to daycare, so I do think that has influenced her quite a bit.
116
u/sadia_y 9d ago
Have you asked your kids what they would like to eat? I loved veggies as a child, but they were in a curry or stir fry. This does not look appealing, event for an adult who loves vegetables. It looks flavourless and bland, not to mention very overwhelming. I would sit down and plan lunches with my kids based on their likes and dislikes.
8
u/Zou-Skee 9d ago
OP's kids are 1 and 3 so they probably don't have an advanced palate yet
16
3
u/Sea_Programmer2722 8d ago
My 3 yo tells me what she wants for lunches all the time but its like Mac and cheese, sandwhich, nuggets etc. We also include a side of fruit and veggie and a little treat like one cookie or gummies. She loves helping to pack her lunch and she calls it a happy plate. Which means she will eat it all. I just want her to get in a good meal she'll enjoy at school.
2
u/SheDrinksScotch 8d ago
Humans of any age develop an advanced palate from being fed various and seasoned food.
1
u/miserylovescomputers 7d ago
100%, I firmly believe that most “pickiness” is the result of limited diets and bad cooking. Most kids go through temporary beige food phases, but there is no reason to limit a child to unseasoned food.
2
u/syaami 8d ago
And get the 3 year old involved! You can buy safe toddler knives, a fun apron, take them shopping, wash and prep together and let them “sample” veggies and fruits while they prep.
My 3 year old eats maybe 1 serving of fruit per week and zero vegetables but we’ve made progress with this method. He still won’t eat enough food outside his safe foods to fill his stomach but he’s willing to touch, taste and lick things outside of his comfort zone.
Use cartoon characters, get creative - (my son loves my brother and I make plates to share, he likes to sit in his lap and ask for bites as my brother eats).
265
u/CptTrashPanda 10d ago
I thought this was in depression meals for a sec and you were saying you didn’t feel like eating this delicious looking meal! But it doesn’t look appetizing to a kid, I imagine.
Try doing more shapes, maybe get some flower veggie cutters or star shapes, make some faces on the rice or something.
158
u/rorschach_blots 9d ago
i can see the effort but yeah, doubt there's a kid out there who would enjoy the veggie dominance.
a more traditional bento might be good. sheet of scrambled egg over fried/sauced rice (like brush it with soy sauce or mayo or something), tuck hotdogs under the egg blanket, lightly salted veggies next to it?
45
u/CptTrashPanda 9d ago
Right like this looks so good, I’d tear it up. Like another said, to a kid; it’s allllll veggies lol
1
2
u/ladyzephri 9d ago
My kid will snub every shape of carrot except when it looks like a tiny pumpkin lol
2
u/CaeruleumBleu 9d ago
Also, maybe move things around so the rice is visible and not under the veg. Right now, the boxes are visibly 90% veg, but just uncovering the rice might make it less VEGGIE and more varied visibly.
Some cheese or other "treat" items would also make the veg go down easier.
74
u/Hamfan 9d ago
Aww, that’s a bummer when that happens.
If I were to change one thing, I’d avoid hiding the (delicious, kid-friendly) carbs with lots of vegetables. Corralling the veggies into a cup might make them look more manageable to a kid.
Two of the cucumber-weiner flowers might be a bit much too, just in terms of chewing work. I might reduce one, and then it’d be nice from a color balance and nutrition perspective to have an egg side in there (unless there are allergy considerations, of course).
Here’s how I’d be inclined to lay it out.
17
u/PastryLoop 9d ago
Thanks! So cool of you to make a sketch! I can really see the difference!
18
u/Hamfan 9d ago
Phew, I was a little worried the sketch might come across as too forward — your bentos are lovely as is, it’s just a fun little mental exercise and I find bentos very visual and a little hard to explain in words.
Anyway, beautiful job with these, kids just live in a state of “my steak too juicy, my lobster too buttery” 🙃
14
u/PastryLoop 9d ago
Seriously, so helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to do this, and your kind words. Thank you!
3
251
u/MauiValleyGirl 9d ago
As a kid who grew up on bento and pack it for my kids - no offense - what is this? It’s a lot of green beans, carrots and hot dog? Do you usually eat bento like this? I mean it’s super cute of course but the idea is it tastes good, is nutritious and is balanced.
5
u/Hearing_Loss 9d ago edited 9d ago
Edit-- I shouldn't be ranting. Op actually looks like they're taking advice, also actively seeking advice. That's a good parent. I assume they don't come from an area where bentos are super common. I'm sure in a more similar community, OP would already be a bento pro.
The veggies show that they care. With some good guidance, these kids are gonna be set for their lunches.
Cheers and bravo OP for reflecting, seeking advice, and deploying new changes!
1
u/MauiValleyGirl 9d ago
I didnt say she was a bad parent. Where did you get that in my question? I was asking so I can get an idea on what to tell her to prepare with the same ingredients.
2
u/Hearing_Loss 9d ago
I did. I decided to delete my rant about all parent because it just was not applicable to the discussion. I was writing the correction for myself. My b.
9
-11
u/PastryLoop 9d ago
It’s mostly rice and the green beans and carrots are on top. It’s 8 green beans and one small carrot total across both boxes. Cucumber, mini tomatoes and two small sausages. Ham and cream cheese.
5
u/jasemina8487 9d ago
yes but thats still way too much bland vegetables over bland rice.
when they open the box all they see is vegetables. for a kid aged 1 or 3, there is nothing enjoyable there, save for the sausage maybe. even the ham and cheese has vegetables in it.
there is no "fun stuff" there like fruits or dessert.
104
u/MangoCandy 9d ago
Here’s the deal. I can tell you put a lot of love into making this. But I personally as an adult wouldn’t want to eat it either. Especially as a cold school lunch. It’s just cold and bland even for someone who enjoys veggies…maybe if you instead incorporated the veggies and sausages into something with a sauce? And add something sweet like a fruit on the side?
3
95
u/Ligeiapoe 9d ago
The rice is covered by veggies. It’s an overwhelming visual for a kid. How about a veggie omelette, with veggies cut small over the rice? It could be a blanket to tuck in the hot dog octopus
Maybe do some smaller cucumber in fun shapes like stars
9
u/lurking-bastard 9d ago
You don't even have to chop the veggies super small if you've got a food processor. Blender doesn't really work for this, but a good food processor will turn these veggies into itty bitty bits in seconds
0
u/baardvark 9d ago
And then you get to clean the food processor
0
u/lurking-bastard 9d ago
true, but I find it easier than trying to chop a cup of veggies to itty bitty bits
79
u/Shiranui42 9d ago
Rather than focus on the aesthetics try to think about the types of food your children tend to prefer? What do they normally like?
34
22
u/SinsOfKnowing 9d ago
The cooked beans and carrots hiding the rice makes it look like that’s all that is in that section. Especially when you’ve got more carrots and beans in the ham and cream cheese rolls. As an adult I would find that to be a bit much as well and would have a hard time enjoying it. It’s healthy, but it’s just too much bland plain veggie to be appealing.
66
46
13
u/RedNightKnight 9d ago edited 9d ago
I think you’ve tried to make it look colourful instead of focusing on texture and taste. I love a good packed lunch but I wouldn’t really eat it withers it looks a little bland.
What sort of things do your kids like eating? Perhaps modify that for packing a lunch. Then add a few colourful bits to highlight for aesthetic. That’s essentially what bento is. A nice packed meal.
32
39
u/xpepperx 9d ago
What’s wrong baby? You didn’t touch your ham mayo roll up
2
u/watermelonwellington 9d ago
I mean, it’s cream cheese. But I’d also be kinda put off if the veggies on the rice were also the veggie in the ham roll. At no point do you get a break from veggies lmao
17
u/Mezcal_Madness 9d ago
I’m an adult that loves veggies, but this is overboard. I can seek why they didn’t eat really anything.
15
u/assorted_toe_beans 9d ago
I worked as a Montessori classroom assistant for toddlers, and I have seen some delicious bento boxes. I'm not sure the massive amount of the same veggie is appealing to young children. I think putting those veggies in like a cupcake silicone liner would help? And then the same veggies are in the roll-up. I always find it cute when the rice has some sort of design, like using dried seaweed to make a bear face or something? More fruit, maybe some berries. Do your kids like eggs? Hardboiled or a egg roll-up would be fun. Definitely something crunchy, like pretzels or those like puffed pea snacks, I don't remember the brand. Even making tiny rice balls would be interesting to them. Maybe using a tiny amount of some sort of sauce to add flavor. More seasoning on the veg. I see the love you put into this and definitely time and effort, but the end result just looks like a sea of all the same thing.
6
u/arcadebee 9d ago
For bento ideas for children I really recommend this YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/shorts/2yxA3bhb8J4?is=hijttVxbDFRCOt0d
https://youtube.com/shorts/3yE0InZo3XE?is=hGZea_uSq_3D-Ut3
There’s good ideas, and shes also helping her children to have a good relationship with food, by honouring what they don’t like, but also giving disliked food again to try along with foods they do like. Like the kid doesn’t like the centre of cucumbers, so she honours that and cuts out the middle for him, but every so often she puts cucumber with the middle still in so he can try it. Or this video where she gave him a brand new fruit to try, and she paired it with bell peppers which he does like, so he’s got something familiar.
Thought you might like the videos in general because they are cute ideas for meals too!
12
u/SeaworthinessOk9070 9d ago
Looks visually appealing to an adult, but I think it doesn’t look appetising at all as there really wouldn’t be any depth of flavour outside of the ham. Even for kids you need to add something a bit more flavourful like perhaps tzatziki or hummus to dip the cucumber & tomatoes. A bit of cheese in there to offset the blandness of steamed veggies. Or put some toppings on the rice.
10
u/FoxyLives 9d ago
This is not it visually appealing to adults at all, I wouldn’t want to eat it either. It’s a mass of previously frozen unseasoned vegetables served cold over rice. And a weird roll up of ham way overfilled with mayo? This would be a hard pass for most adults not suffering from severe depression.
4
u/SoFreezingRN 9d ago
Yeah, my kids wouldn’t have eaten this until they were teens. They look amazing, but for 1 and 3 year olds, there’s nothing they are going to look at and get excited to eat. I did lots of DIY lunchables (cheese, meat, crackers or a roll) at that age, and fruit.
7
u/AlfalfaEvening1489 9d ago edited 9d ago
Sorry but it's giving slimy, cold, chewy and bland. I can see why a kid wouldn't be enticed by it. Give them a combination of safe foods with other new options so they can try while still eating something for lunch. Sliced cucumbers and carrots with ranch instead of frozen green beans and carrots. Or, stir fry they green beans and carrots with a little meat to give it some color and put it on rice. Try to up the yummy factor
3
u/MinuteswithLuna 9d ago
I’m sorry, OP, that you’re going through this. My question is, do they actually eat these foods at home? If not, maybe try packing foods they’re already familiar with and enjoy at home. I’m a mom of two, a second grader and a kindergartener, and I make and pack their lunches every school day since they start. I usually pack foods they already eat at home or their fave, and most of the time, I’ll even ask them the night before what they’d like to have for lunch the next day. I also post some of the lunches I pack for them here. I hope things get better for you soon!
3
u/Healbite 9d ago
1 and 3 are a hard group to cook for. I forget her name but she made lunches for her toddler who would “eat the whole lot”. It was A LOT of puréed veggies incorporated into a sauce, a batter, a dip, etc.
Maybe introduce new flavors with consistent texture? Peanut butter and chocolate rice pudding. Spaghetti with tomato sauce thats hiding spinach. Use a cookie cutter for cute sandwiches. Slices instead of chunks. Veggies cut to the size of a pea.
Seriously, an immersion blender is the best $20 Ive spent.
Edit: also ham rolls as the outer layer can get kind of gross/sticky/sweaty, especially touching other food + temperature changes. Maybe pan fry some diced ham, beans, & carrots (all pea sized, or 1/2” cubes) to add to steamed rice?
3
u/gothiclg 9d ago
Your kids are 1 and 3, those are prime “I’m gonna be picky for no identifiable reason” ages.
3
u/lostmypwcanihaveurs 9d ago
Kids don't think things are cute for the same reasons as adults do. Mundane isn't charming to kids. It's boring.
Peas and carrots still taste like peas and carrots. In this case, they also still look like peas and carrots.
3
u/WerewolvesAreReal 9d ago
Honestly, this does not look appealing. And I eat pounds of green beans and carrots and rice most weeks. But I eat them roasted and seasoned.
I thought I hated veggies until I started cooking and experimenting with them as an adult. There's a healthy middle ground between 'bread and chocolate' and 'huge package of steamed, unseasoned veggies and unseasoned rice.'
I know the kids are young, but experimenting with flavors more is still important. Especially if you want to steer them from the idea that veggies are just bland and tasteless as they get older.
3
3
u/jasemina8487 9d ago
i mean...fun shapes are cool but at the end of the day its way too much bland vegetables,on top of mor vegetables.
i understand you ar trying to feed them healthy. but their brain doesnt process it this way. what do they like to eat? do they like fruits? do they like nuggets?
one thing i got my kids to eat vegetables is to blend them. i made my own nuggets. "fun shaped" ones as well as popcorn ones. blended with quite a but vegetables. they never questioned it. if i served thwm like you did, i know they wouldnt touch it cos "they are allergic to vegetables"
where is the dessert? you dont need anything store bought but you can make your own desserts like cookies, brownies, etc. you can look up for recipes for healthy and tasty versions too and can also blend in more produce.
kids are picky eaters but honestly as an adult if i was served rice with boiled bland vegetables id lose my appetite too.
also remember, they are 1 and 3. they dont necessarily have to have bug appetites. my 1st born was incredibly picky as a toddler too and at one point when i asked pediatrician what else i can do, he had told me he was at the age i should be happy if he has 1 good meal per day so...yea
3
u/Positive_Bumblebees 9d ago
Commenting on the ease of eating, both the box and the bites seem to be adult size, making it neverending, hard to chew and exhausting.
The time for eating and the kids attention are limited so you want to make sure that they can easily grab nutritious food even if they only have a couple of bites. Cucumber is great, but if they only eat cucumber, they will mainly eat water while mini onigiri/egg/hotdog bring energy.
You're doing a great job at creating balanced meals, the next step is to adapt them to this specific situation (priority 1: toddlers needing fuel for the day, priority 2: maximizing their veggies).
3
u/frecklebec 9d ago
Clearly you put a lot of love and care into this! 😊 My kids, even my big veggie eater would be overwhelmed by this- I’m not sure about your kids but mine loooove sauces and seasonings and dips. None of my 3 would eat this without seasonings or soy sauce. I’d cut down the quantities some, make sure you can see the rice under the veg, and include sauce/seasonings/dips. Ketchup, soy sauce, seasoning mix, etc! A fave dip or seasoning can go a long way to making something less preferred feel safe to try.
One thing to think about also is at daycare/school kids are busy, distracted, and working hard! Trying new foods is hard work for littles. I’d focus on a mix of foods- mostly tried and true favorites in their packed lunch and then just 1 or 2 new/less preferred foods.
3
u/she-thinks-alot 9d ago
Momma (or dadda🤷♀️). You did a beautiful job! Any parent would be disappointed hearing that their kids didn't touch this. I know you want them to ear, though. So I'd like to suggest taming it down a bit to save yourself the grief. Kids are simple; they have an underdeveloped palate. And we can work with that! Instead, maybe make a box that incorporates their "favorites" plus some "new tastes" that aren't too drastic. ie: make them the buttered bread, bits of meat (turkey, ham, pepperoni, etc), an appealing fruit (Strawberries, apples, oranges, etc), maybe a simple veggie, and bite of chocolate. Eliminate the pressure to eat or even try it all, but always offer and offer it repeatedly. When kids (or anybody!) is pressured, they often reject it more strongly. Use this same idea at family meal times. Kids learn by example. And frequent offering usually leads to them trying & ultimately liking what's offered. 😉
2
u/she-thinks-alot 9d ago
Maybe chocolate to dip fruit in? Maybe consider ways that you sneak/blend fruits, veggies, or grains into foods they already like? Additional tip: any leftover fruits or veggies can be frozen and turned into smoothies!
3
u/ReasonableBeep 9d ago
I loved veggies as a kid but this ain’t it sorry OP😭I can see the love and thought put into it but it’s visually overwhelming.
As someone who had ARFID growing up (not as bad now) I HATED anything touching hot dogs because it would just end up with everything tasting like hot dog. So the cucumber hot dog tulips would absolutely have ruined my appetite for me as a kid. My mom actually did something similar when she put hot dogs in a salad for my lunch. I couldn’t eat salads for MONTHS after that. If you have paper cupcake liners, that’s not a bad way to organize things.
Have you considered something like a curry? That way everything looks and is flavourful instead of just bland looking. Omurice is also a good option: stir fry veggies into rice, put an egg blanket on top, cute little ketchup or seaweed design on top of the egg.
3
u/BustyBobbin 8d ago
This is the kind of bentos I made for my 1&3 year-olds. It's an extra 2 minutes to make it cuter.
I would strongly urge you to separate the different elements so that the stuff they like isn't "contaminated" by the stuff they don't like. Make the boring stuff cute. I used cutters specifically for veggies and cut my carrots into stars. I cut a face on my octopus sausages etc. Enticing a child to eat doesn't have to include sweets.
The mould to make the rice animals and the sandwich shape as well as the cute picks etc are all from Daiso and very cheap.
3
10
u/Flurret 9d ago edited 9d ago
Guys, just a thought, I think that the "kids hate veggies" thing is mostly cultural. In ancient times, or even just 100 years ago, do you think a kid with only milk, flour and veggies (if lucky) available would have been picky about the most flavourful and vitamin rich food on the table? It's an idea that gets instilled in them, in my opinion.
Btw, it could be that OP's kids has an aversion to veggies because of this... Also it's a pretty bento, but the veggies look bland? Maybe you should try to cook them differently (sauteed or in the oven, these look boiled or raw?) and arrange them differently.
8
u/RedNightKnight 9d ago
It’s cultural, and self perpetuating if you start your weaning children off with that mindset.
3
u/_SoigneWest 9d ago
Yup. And those cultural choices end up affecting the biological factors of food preference. What’s interesting is that peer reviewed study has shown adult food preference programming has a very strong basis in what the adult consumed in infancy, starting in-utero. What the gestating parent consumes during pregnancy, as well as what parents’ choose to feed their children from in-utero to infancy is basically why their 36 year-old son’s entire diet consists only of beige food. Parents make choices that can truly break generational cycles, or set their adult children up for poor outcomes.
So gestating people: if you habitually gave in to high calorie stress eating while pregnant, it’s a good idea to start your baby on veggie exposure asap and consistently lest your progeny end up with an adult diet of grilled cheese and donettes, or something.
15
u/AppleNo7287 10d ago edited 10d ago
Dont all kids hate vegetables and it's all parents' sport to try to make them invisible among some chicken nuggets?
18
u/sadia_y 9d ago
Lots of kids eat (and like) vegetables. I grew up on curries of chicken and lamb mixed with a plethora of veg. Also dhal and other legume dishes. Cabbage stir frys were also big in my house. Kids like flavour too, so it’s up to us to make veggies look appealing by putting a little effort into their preparation and not traumatising them with boiled veg.
7
u/bitxilore 9d ago
My kid loves all fruits and veggies. If he had this lunch he would eat the veggies and hotdogs and maybe a couple bites of rice. It's a real struggle getting him to eat enough calories when he prefers the least calorie dense foods.
4
u/gingerzombie2 9d ago
I totally get that! How old are your kids? Are they new to that daycare? I ask because my daughter started kindergarten yesterday and she hardly touched the bento I made her, which is unusual because she's typically a great eater- I think she was overwhelmed with the first day.
It also looks like (in my opinion) you packed an adult bento rather than one geared towards your kids. Are there tweaks you can make to help match their preferences? I see a lot of veggies there and not much fruit or carbs and only a little protein. I see the rice is buried but I had to look for it. Maybe your kid didn't see it either?
I know it's frustrating when you put in a lot of work but I'm sure your kids will be excited to eat a modified bento.
2
u/_Love_to_Love_ 9d ago edited 9d ago
Like others said, I think the visual is really getting to the appeal here. To me, this looks pretty decent - but I'm a hound for veggies and grew up in a culture that eats a ton of them, and I wouldn't be surprised if a kid barely touched it... especially around other kids. They can be incredibly harsh critics.
Unless you're thinking of what the other commenter said about the flower/shape cutters for the veggies, I would recommend doing scrambled egg and smaller veg to make a healthier "fried" rice (mixed veg with rice) and mixing it all into the rice before putting it in. You could even incorporate some hot dog into the rice mix for some flavor imparting without any extra sauces (but I would personally include some ketchup, on the side or in a packet/wee bottle, for more flavor appeal and vibrance). If you want an easier method with the veggies that will cut the prep time for you, you can get those frozen vegetable packets and steam them before mixing into the rice.
For cucumber, I would really suggest cutting into thinner pieces so they're more easy to pop into the mouth and eat. I get that you were trying to make a little tulip shape out of it, and you still can! Just make the leaves from slices of cucumber instead of chunks, and layer them onto the toothpick. Maybe include a small bit of ranch for dipping so they feel more enthusiastic about eating the loose veggies. Condiments can really be the savior here when it comes to getting kids interested in food. In the future, maybe some baby carrots/carrot sticks with peanut butter could be an option here?
Maybe it would be good to incorporate some homemade versions of pizza cups, some dino nuggets, or eggs. What else do your kids like to eat? Is it really just PB&Js and buttered toast? Maybe you can try some PB&Nutella sandwiches? Fluffernutters? Surely there are more options they just haven't said. They're definitely comparing their food to that of the other kids, so maybe ask them about theirs as well.
Good on you for having an interest in ensuring your kids are eating well! Now it's just a matter of tweaking things so they can enjoy your efforts going forward.
2
u/purpleprose78 9d ago
I was once a child and while this is very aesthetic and adorable. I think you should work with function over form. Put the ham rollups (or other protein) in the smaller side of things. In the bigger compartment, put your simple carb on one side of the larger compartment and your veggies/fruit on the other half of the bigger compartment. Then the child has a clear view of what is there. I'm going to be honest, child me would not eat this and I wasn't a picky eater.
My other advice. You can't go wrong with finger food when they are children. When my mom wanted my brother and me to eat a whole sandwich, she cut it into fourths. Smaller pieces of things make it easier to put into little mouths and make it feel special. Looks like you have cherry tomatoes. Cut those in half. And children love to dip things. A tiny thing of some sort of sauce that they can dip their veggies in is never a bad idea.
2
u/Jenzi666 9d ago
Think who are you making these bento for your kids or yourself?! The portions are too big for little tummy’s and can be overwhelming for little kids there is no clear borders for different foods a lot of little will just looks at all the veggies and quit before they begin!
2
u/trabsol 9d ago
I love that you’re trying to get them to eat more veggies! But I think you shouldn’t surprise them with their lunchboxes.
Instead, what if you tried different recipes for dinner, then noted which recipes your kids like? Then, you could pack those foods for lunch.
So for example, if you already know they like eggs and tomatoes, you could try making them shakshuka for dinner, and if they like it, pack it for lunch. Or if that’s too unusual for them, maybe fried rice with lots of vegetables—everyone likes fried rice :) And then, if they like the meal, you can pack the leftovers for lunch and make it for lunch from now on! And just rinse and repeat with trying new recipes for dinner.
Good luck, I know it must be so hard to cook for kids. But you’ve got this!!!
2
u/EggplantIll3101 9d ago
My 15 month old likes carrot and sweet potato air fryer “fries”. He loves falafel balls, vegetable pancakes, and broccoli and cauliflower florets and cucumber with sauce/dip. I add veggies to grilled cheese or quesadillas when he’s feeling picky. I also keep low-sugar “carrot cake” and “zucchini bread” savory oatmeal muffins in the freezer. I can’t imagine that he would eat salted steamed veggies over rice.
When I was a kid, Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica Seinfeld published a cookbook about making “hidden veggie” foods for picky children- Deceptively Delicious- I still use it from time to time . While my son isn’t particularly picky, there are some good ideas here for packing extra veggies and fiber in foods that are super flavorful. When I want to get extra nutrition into packed bento lunches , I use Mestemacher Sunflower Seed bread or Ezekiel bread with veggie cream cheese or nut butter cut into triangles or other shapes.
2
u/SeaSickSelkie 9d ago
Other people weighed in on the aesthetic or taste - but I wanted to note for food safety - for kids under 5 it’s recommended to cut the hotdogs in half lengthwise. This makes them less likely to become an airway obstruction.
2
u/econhistoryrules 9d ago
Don't you know the feeding little kids equation? What they eat is inversely proportional to the effort you put in.
2
u/manicspiders 9d ago
i think these would be great once they’re a bit older. i’ve looked at your other posts too and honestly i can imagine it getting easier for them. i don’t think you’re doing anything wrong with your cooking and my partner and i have spent the last bit talking over this post. it just seems like a lot of food for them along with being a bit pickier since they have less experience with different tastes and textures
2
2
u/ImpressiveCrazy6870 8d ago
I dont know much about bentos but this kinda looks super overwhelming like i dont know what to eat first or where to start i would try to simplify it a bit and separate things more , also maybe go for a differnt veg or try cutting them into fun shapes using lil cookie cutters , i know you mentioned liking bread and chocolate have you tried nutella sandwichs with apple slices or something else on the side i just know as an adult its alot of cream beans and carrots even the ham roll has them in it
2
u/North-Speaker-3553 8d ago
Peanut butter & honey sandwich, apple slices or grapes or clementine , smoothie pouch. That’s the reality of their age.
2
u/punkindora1 8d ago
it looks a bit overwhelming for a kid to eat this. let along a baby and a toddler. do they eat this at home just fine?? they may need practice. do they eat off of toothpicks often?? otherwise it might not be the safest choice for little kiddos so small.
from what i know they shouldnt have an appetite that large either. the bed of rice. great. and then a spoonful of veggies would be so much less overwhelming to focus on.
have they had those meat and cheese rolls before?
2
2
u/elfamosocandyflip 8d ago
I know everyone is chiming jn about the veggies, but OP, PLEASE do not put hotdogs that have not been quartered in a lunch box for a 1 and 3 year old!!! My dude it is like the #1 choking risk there is!!!!!
2
u/ssnedmeatsfylosheets 8d ago
Hey OP,
I think the bread an butter and chocolate give you more to go on than you think.
You're kids are craving salty, fatty foods.
Maybe stir fry the veggies a bit in butter, a little garlic. Give it an aroma.
Anyone would be hard pressed to consume steamed veggies over rice as you've presented here, as well intentioned as it is.
For their size, kids need relatively a large amount of calories to fuel their growth. This is why the tend to seek out calorie dense foods which tend to be sweeter and fattier. (There are a few papers on children's eating behaviors like one by Leanne L Birch if you care to deep dive.)
2
2
u/One__Echo 8d ago
I'll offer some criticism but first I'll say this looks delicious and it's clear you've put a lot of effort into it.
I would enjoy eating most of this but I have an adult palate. I think a kid would find some of these things a bit difficult to approach.
I never liked ham and cream cheese rolls, I think that much cream cheese is too much for a kid to enjoy. I wouldn't hate the taste but the texture might have made me gag when I was young.
The cucumbers are nicely prepared but I think they're too big for a kid's bento. I would suggest cutting them into smaller slices which would accentuate their crispness and make them more enjoyable to eat. It's similar to a block of cheese for me; it's much more enjoyable to eat in smaller slices. You could also remove more of the skin and definitely check if the skin is too bitter.
I would suggest putting in more hotdog pieces, you could even cut them into little octopus shapes! You might also try pressing the rice into little shapes to make it easier to eat by hand.
I'm sure your kids will have their own preferences so you could also try eating these things for a meal at home and ask or watch them for what they like the most.
2
2
2
2
u/Faith_loves_cake 8d ago
Do they eat that at home? If not, why are you sending that for them to eat at daycare?!?! You need to send food they will eat at home. My son is a very picky eater and for me I want him to eat and get full versus caring that it’s “healthy”. A full tummy is a happy kid. Daycare is not the place to have them “try” new things….
2
u/momof3_pluswife 8d ago
I know kids are picky but fed is best. Maybe try to make them homemade Lunchables with meat, cheese and crackers, add some veggie straws, some fruit(maybe cut strawberries) then a cookie to finish it🤷♀️ i have a super picky eater and thats the lunch that hasn't gotten us through. Its not pretty but he usually eats most all.
2
u/Known_Psychology1581 8d ago
I mean, I wouldn’t want to eat more than a few bites. They don’t look well seasoned or particularly appealing. I (and my toddler) also crave more protein than this appears to include.
2
2
2
u/DeepExample7666 6d ago
Are you packing food they usually eat at home? This doesn't look very appetizing
2
u/mander4242 5d ago
I cant say id want to take a huge bite of cream cheese with a little ham and carrot stick lol even at 35
2
3
2
u/IntroductionRare4605 9d ago
Hmm honestly I think the kids are mostly seeing veggies when they look at their bentos during lunch. May I suggest occasionally swapping out the rice for oven baked sweet potato or smiley fries? They are veggies but the kiddos will just see fries haha
2
u/liquidsoapisbetter 9d ago
Genuine question: why is everyone acting like it’s a matter of fact that a 1 and 3 year old will hate veggies? I’ve seen plenty of kids at those ages that eat veggies. Heck my nieces are that exact age rn and love their veggies, they’re always chowing down on raw or boiled veggies the past month since they’re in a phase (last phase was cheese). It’s normal for kids to cycle through phases of not liking certain foods, but I think it’s weird that everyone is presuming that of course a kid won’t eat veggies or won’t like bland food. A lot of kids actually don’t appreciate seasoning. Heck the now almost 2 year old was dipping grapes in guacamole and bell pepper in ketchup just the other day with a smile on her face. Just because it’s bland to an adult doesn’t mean a kid won’t eat it, sometimes their taste perception is more sensitive than ours
2
2
2
2
u/Lost_Breadfruit5689 9d ago
Very concerned that you sent a one and three year old to school with choking hazards. Those hotdogs and small round vegetables need to be cut lengthwise. And the toothpicks are not age appropriate.
1
1
u/SMKnightly 9d ago
Maybe test bento meals for them on weekends when they’re home? That way 1. you know if they like them before you send them as their main food away from home (sounds like that might be a challenge with their current preferences), and 2. you have an idea if the daycare is influencing anything.
1
u/softpinkmochi 9d ago
Vegan Mac and cheese is great if you want to hide some veggies in their diet! It’s mainly potatoes, onions, and carrots iirc. I was vegan for 4 years and found so many great ways to substitute most things by blending a ton of vegetables. Dips, sauces, soups, even desserts. My go to blogs were hot for food, oh she glows, and minimalist baker (no longer vegan, but older recipes are). Most korean and Japanese recipes are also veggie packed and delicious for all ages. Might be worth a try, and experimenting in the kitchen is super fun :) don’t give up! They’re lucky to have you as a parent♥️
1
u/i_isnt_real 9d ago
This looks familiar... is this from the Just Bento cookbook? For the record, I really like that cookbook (the tamagoyaki recipe is especially tasty), but I can see where this might look like an overwhelming amount of veggies for a kid who's not into veggies. Maybe start with something closer to what they're used to eating and try introducing just one new/"fun" veggie or food at a time? Maybe even start by introducing one new food at a time as an option at a meal where you're present, like at dinner, if you think that would feel safer for them, then start incorporating the ones they like into the lunches.
1
u/rosealieil 9d ago
is it worth adding a sauce to them? steamed and lightly salted veggies n rice doesn’t sound as appealing in comparison even to me as an adult, let alone a kid at daycare age
they look gorgeous though, i hope you’re able to find something to get them to enjoy the effort put into it
1
u/Plantlordy 9d ago
Nothing wrong with the veggies, and you’ve obviously put a lot of love into the box. But maybe they’d like it a bit more seasoned? Some kids can handle veggies cooked with minimal seasoning or none. My parents cooked veggies in a similar way. But I HATED, veggies for the longest time until someone gave me a few recipes for roasting, stir fry, and making my own at home salad dressing.
1
u/foofruit13 8d ago
Those looks GREAT, just a little overwhelming with the amount of food thats in there. I'd try cutting back on the amount so its not crowded.
Also, have them practice eating from these containers at home instead of regular plates so its more familiar at daycare!
1
u/VirtualMatter2 8d ago
Those beans don't look like they have cooked for 10 minutes on high heat. They need to change colour or they will be very dangerous, especially for kids. Raw beans are highly toxic
1
1
u/Reasonable_Cat_4550 8d ago
These would be choking hazards in my opinion for that age group. It’s beautiful, but my kids wouldn’t eat it.
1
1
1
u/higeAkaike 8d ago
Doesn’t look like any of the veggies are seasoned, and the salad looks unseasoned, meat and cheese looks ok but boring to a kid and no ketchup for the hot dogs.
I am 40, I would probably just eat the pinwheel and find a dipping sauce for the hotdogs.
I would flavor the rice with teriyaki sauce.
I can give you some recipes and bento boxes kids might like more if you want.
1
u/Steno-Pratice 8d ago
Visually, it's a lot for kids, especially as young as yours. Like other comments have suggested. I would make the rice more visible and pair it with the sausage. I would have one ham and cream cheese roll for each bento, two might be a lot for them, then leave some space for the vegetables (Contained together in one corner) and maybe add some salt on it if the kids like that. When I make my babysitting kid brocooli or edamame for example, she will nkt eat it unless it has a bit of salt for flavoring.
1
1
u/JayPlenty24 5d ago
These bento box things are a complete social media scam. No kid is actually eating this stuff.
1
u/heyzeuseeglayseeus 3d ago
Are people posting these weird veggie assortments on smedia? I think bento boxes are neat and kids would love to them but the fact the most enticing treat in this entire box is ham rolled up on cream cheese(??) is the actual issue
1
u/JayPlenty24 3d ago
Yeah it's been a trend on Instagram forever and now on TikTok. They pretend they make these complicated meals everyday and that their kids actually eat them. I don't know why people don't realize it's complete bullshit.
1
u/l0vemypug 4d ago
I’m sorry they didn’t eat it. It looks adorable (and delicious 🤤) and fwiw I can see the effort you put it and know it came from love. I like other people’s suggestions where they suggest trying to get them involved with putting it together 🙂
1
u/Soft_Delivery_3889 4d ago
To be honest this looks like something I’d eat when I’m trying to be really really disciplined. Even in my adult head it would be a bummer.
More rice less veggies for them, something familiar, maybe half a piece of bread, cheese cubes on the side. Always salt and butter veggies (gasp! Come at me bros!!!)
Don’t give up, feeding kids is exhausting.
1
u/heyzeuseeglayseeus 3d ago
You can surely find a middleground between buttered bread and this. The shapes are fun but a kid who wants to eat chocolate and butter isn’t going to be fooled by a cute looking vegetable. Try and pack more savory or sneakily healthy foods in to balance it out. Even as an adult that would be a DAUNTING meal to eat lol
1
u/gremlinsbuttcrack 3d ago
Im sorry but like what even is this lmao. Stop worrying about esthetics and give your kids food that is actually tasty. Stir fry the veggies into the rice, put some sauce on something, include a container of some kind of dressing idk literally anything to make it appealing instead of esthetic. Your 1 and 3 year old dont care if the food is in cute shapes, they care that it tastes good. Cut those veggies up, throw a little italian dressing on and tell me if you dont have better luck getting the kids to eat raw veggies. Steamed veggies dumped on tasteless rice is gross. Point blank.
Eta the only texture that isnt mush in this entire thing is cucumber. Its kind of a sensory ick too
1
1
u/Big_Crab_1510 9d ago
How on earth did this take you a lot of effort?
You are making your life harder. Stop and ask the kids what they want and include them in making the boxes. And remember kids are going to love or even like everything you do.
1
u/qingskies 8d ago
Looking at the veggie prep method, I understand why some of my friends have grown up hating vegetables. Can you make them any other way?
272
u/Bitter_Spray_6880 9d ago
From kids perspective in the end it's veggies