Our Mum Expert – Yvette Bowyer of Little Bento World shares her story about how making her daughter Bento lunches changed her behaviour.
What I love about Yvette’s approach is that she doesn’t make a fuss about food when talking to her daughter. If something new doesn’t get eaten, it’s ok. If something new does get eaten, it’s “that’s great honey” whilst secretly she is doing a happy dance on the inside.
This year, my daughter started Kindy in Perth. Now I find her first year of school is nearly over and it has been almost a year of making Bento lunches for the school lunchbox. I have been making Bento lunches for my daughter since she was 18 months old.
I remember watching her at my mothers group. A big platter of fruit was placed on the floor – rainbow of colours and all the children were happily digging in. Except my daughter. She refused to try any fruit. It started when she was about 9 months old and refused to move from pureed to lumpy or even finger food. I knew there was something I had to do, to help encourage her eat fruit and vegetables and try new foods.
My love of Japan and Japanese food kept coming into my head. Why not try Bento. The art of packing a lunch that is nutritious but cute, may just help encourage her to try new foods.
Fast forward a few years and my daughter started Kindy this year age 4. Every Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday, I get up early and make her lunch for school. I love making her lunches as I know it is something that she loves too.
We have almost the same lunch every day, however it is presented different and something new is added every so often. Sometimes it is eaten, sometimes it is not. But her fruit and vegetables that she eats now has grown and it makes me happy when she asks to try something new at the supermarket.
I have found having a good compartment style lunchbox is a great way to pack a school lunch. At Kindy she has fruit provided in the morning and afternoon. Come lunchtime she wants to quickly eat and spend time playing with her friends. Having her lunchbox compartment style has helped create a quick nibble of this and a nibble of that but also filling her with her daily requirements – Fruit, Vegetables, Protein, Carbs and Dairy!
My biggest heart swooning moment came on her 5th birthday. I was making her lunch and she asked if she could have an extra hard boiled egg to eat for breakfast. I said absolutely, knowing that she will only eat the white and has never touched the yolk. I gave it to her in a bowl and off she went to the table. 10 minutes later she came back and said “Look Mummy! I ate the egg and the yellow bit!” I turned to her and said
“That’s wonderful honey, I am very proud of you” and turned back to clean the dishes in the sink. I didn’t make a big fuss, but inside I was dancing around like a crazy woman!
Little steps makes it seem like I am on the right path. All my lunches only take 5 minutes to make, you can make them at night or in the morning. It is about a little imagination and the right lunchbox for your child.
My questions for school lunches:
- Are they a big or small eater? This will determine if you need a small or slightly larger lunchbox.
- Do they like wraps, rolls and whole sandwiches, or do they want it cut into four? This will determine if you want a 5/6 compartment box or one that is versatile or only 3 compartments.
- Do they eat morning tea and afternoon tea or is it provided? Look at smaller freezable lid style containers for fruit/vegetables for snack times.
- Always ask what they would like to eat for lunch – a wrap or a sandwich? Banana or Apple?
By involving them in their lunch making, they will be encouraged to try new foods and eat a healthier lunch!
Written by Yvette Bowyer – owner of Little Bento World.
All products shown in the photos can be found at Little Bento World via The Root Cause affiliate link (thanks for ordering from here, it allows me to keep offering you loads of other great free information – Bel)
Yvette’s also provided us with her Basic Muffin Recipe which is as simple as 1-2-3. Click here to go to the recipe