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.
The Japanese are known for being one of the healthiest people with high life expectancy and low cancer incidence. It seems sensible to start our children on the Japanese diet that is rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
When I look at the array of bento-making accessories, I can spot the cartoon characters that would get my own child excited.
And I am sure any child would want to try Hello Kitty-shaped pancakes, bread or carrots! Or eggs in the shape of a train or car.
Playful: Cute food picks and a friendly face turn veggies, cheese toasts, fish fingers and corn in a cup into a nutritious lunch for toddlers.
“A Japanese bento usually has four parts of sushi, three parts of terriyaki chicken, two parts of beancurd and a side dish of pickles,”
Veronica said: “If we apply this rule to Malaysian food, a child’s bento could have four parts of rice, three parts of stir-fried chicken, two parts of steamed broccoli and a serving of jelly. Another day, the bento can be four parts of fried rice, three parts steamed fish, two parts stir-fried cabbage and an apple.
“For lovers of Western food, the bento can be four parts of spaghetti, three parts of sausages, two parts of steamed broccoli and a serving of cake.
“As you can see, the combinations are endless!”
Beginners could start out with a bento box, a set of food picks, a set of vegetable cutters for cutting toast, meat or cheese, a food cup and egg, rice or jelly mould, Veronica suggested.
“This basic set (approximately RM100) allows you to create a variety of bentos. Once you get the hang of it, you can add other accessories.”
With accessories costing as low as RM9, the best-selling item is the boiled egg mould which results in fish, car, rabbit or cartoon character shapes like Hello Kitty or Winnie the Pooh.
Another favourite is the multi-functional cutter set (RM25 each) that you can use as a cookie cutter or to stamp cartoon characters on pancakes or bread.
Plus, you can also mould toast or rice into cute shapes or lovable characters.
Since all bento accessories are washable, you save money and reduce wastage in the long run compared to other forms of food packaging.
No domestic goddess myself, I asked Veronica if bento-making would create even more mess and fuss than a regular packed meal.
“When I started the business, I found that many mothers are interested in bento-making but had little experience with them,” she said,
“To start them on bento-making, I created a blog at http://blog.nst.my with instructions, tips and photos. It’s also a great place to meet other mothers interested in banto-making.”
New Stylish Tokyo was moulded from Veronica’s love for cooking and baking. When the IT graduate-turned-computer teacher found it difficult to find Japanese bento-making accessories in Malaysia, she decided to start an online store selling them.
“An online store requires a low start-up capital and is open 365 days a year 24 hours a day,” said Veronica.
“Our success comes from establishing ties with a Japanese supplier, which means that our customers can buy Japan’s latest and popular items without having to leave the country.”
Bento-making accessories at New Stylish Tokyo are genuine and made from 100% food-grade safe plastic.
When asked about the most important lesson she learned as an entrepreneur, she said that providing excellent customer service is the centrepiece of the online store.
“You need to care for your customers as if they were your family and friends. I have met Chinese, Malay, Indian and Kadazan mothers who are all devoted to making healthful bentos for their families.
“In sharing our ideas and experiences, many of my customers have become my friends, which has made my home business a rewarding and enriching experience.”
