Christine Jalleh

Original article in Sunday Star (Metro) on 14 December 2008.

Tempt the fussy eater with a home-cooked bento set.

Every mother knows the frustration of dealing with a fussy eater. It’s the toddler who rejects the Omega 3-rich steamed fish or the pre-schooler who turns up his nose at anything green.

Perhaps a bento is the answer for mothers looking to cultivate healthy eating habits.

What’s a bento? A bento is a traditional Japanese red and black lacquered lunch box.

Wide range: Veronica Chen and her bento-making accessories.

In Japan, mothers pack food attractively in bentos using a 4-3-2-1 rule, which are four parts of rice, three parts of protein, two parts of vegetable and one part “treat” (usually pickled vegetables or a sweet).

“Bentos are quite similar to the Malaysian practice of packing sandwiches, nasi lemak, capati or other home-cooked food,” said Veronica Chen, 30, owner of New Stylish Tokyo (http://www.nst.my), an online shop selling lunch boxes, moulds and other accessories for bento-making.

“The only difference is that the 4-3-2-1 rule of bento packing ensures healthy, balanced meals.

“More importantly, the meal is presented in various colours, shapes and flavours that tempt even young children to try foods they normally avoid,” she said.

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