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There is a stage when children develop certain tastes and preferences when it comes to eating. They fuss about the shape, size, texture or color of the pieces served to them. This makes mealtime a struggle for parents as it is just natural for us to worry about the quality and quantity of food our children eat, whether at home or in school. It is frustrating especially when a child rejects whole food and sticks to those which lack adequate nutrition.
Some pediatric nutrition experts say that “picky eating” is just a normal rite of passage, a fleeting stage which parents have to understand and address accordingly. They say it is the children’s way of exploring their environment and asserting independence. Picky eating often surfaces when children turn a few years old — when they learn how to feed themselves. This “skill” eventually poses a choice on what they want to eat and gives them some degree of control.
Fortunately, families can overcome this finicky phase by giving it the right attention. Parents who exhibit a positive and healthy attitude towards food eventually influence their children in developing the same perspective. Adding variety to their meals and encouraging kids to try something new, every now and then, are also ways of tickling their taste buds.
For former school teacher, Davaoeña Russet Cainglet, now a homemaker and mom of two, she was able to resolve the problem of picky eating by making food more interesting for her kids and by encouraging a wider range of eating habits.
I learned the art of bento (Japanese lunch boxes) through a fellow mom, right at the time when my kids were exceptionally picky with food, especially veggies,” Russet explains. “I figured, if I can make them look fun and appetizing, my children might become more enticed to try different food. This was also my solution in complying with their school’s strict policy against junk food and fast food, which I totally agree with. We should encourage children to value whole and ‘real’ food, even when they are out of our house.”
“As cute and whimsical presentation appeals to my kids and have charmed them into trying new things, I began to love and enjoy preparing charaben, even if it needs me to wake up very early every day.”
Charaben is short for character bento, an elaborately arranged bento which features food styled as people, popular media, animals, plants or animated characters.
“Intricate charaben designs take longer for me to make, sometimes taking more than an hour. If I decide to do complicated ones, I make sure I wake up an hour earlier than usual.”
“Bento is actually economical, healthy and fun,” Russet adds. “Since balance is an essential aspect in a bento, you are more conscious in packing the right amount of carbohydrates, protein and veggies or fruits. Giving them these healthy, tasty and attractive meals beat any take-out food in terms of nutrition and price. Looking at the bigger picture, it is also good for our planet. You reduce the amount of trash thrown into our environment as everything used in a bento box is washable and reusable.”
Russet is naturally creative and artistic, which made it easy for her to master the art of bento. She practiced with the aid of online tutorial videos and, eventually, discovered which techniques and tools work well with her style.
As Russet would put it, this hobby channeled the artist in her and added color to her daily routine of preparing food for the family. Ideas spring from all corners and she also get inspiration from her kids’ favorite cartoon, animal, toy, or a new movie.
Russet, who has the spirit and passion of a teacher, decided to share her craft and opened several workshops. To date, she has handled several classes for moms and children, with as much as 30 participants per session. Her next workshop is scheduled on 30 April 2016 (Saturday), from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm, at the Sky Language Center of Davao, located in Margarita Village along JP Laurel Avenue.
Asked to share some useful tips for fellow moms, she says, “Before I get my hands on the ingredients, I sketch out all the details and shapes of my chosen character. On any given weekend, I work on several designs, enough to cover a 5-day period. From that, I would draw up my grocery list and I’m all set for the next couple of days.”
For a beginner, the easiest way to create a charaben is to use tiny cookie cutters to cut shapes out of veggies, egg sheets or ham, before laying these over rice or bread. You can also hand-shape rice into a ball (using cling wrap or a plastic mold) and add details of a face by using pieces of nori (seaweed used for sushi). For kids, as long as they can handle cookie cutters or shaping rice with a mold or cling wrap, they can definitely help in preparing bento with their mom or parents. It’s actually a good idea to prepare meals together with children because it builds their confidence and curiosity in tasting their own creation.”
Follow @thismommymakes on Instagram for more information and samples of Russet’s work. You may also send inquiries on workshop schedule via tset11@yahoo.com.
Photos courtesy of Russet Cainglet.
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Story published on my newspaper column in Edge Davao.
