Cooking

A bento box for active kids

On your marks, set, chop!

Kon’Nichiwa and welcome to JAPAN! Our dear Squid is going to show you how to make a sports-inspired bento box with a small child in your life. How marvellous and just in time for this year’s Squidball tournament.

(Don’t worry, there’s no actual squid in this recipe – that would make our Squid very sad). Your finished bento box (delicious, stunning packed lunch) will feature a sports field and charming little squid players that you’ll make with a clever cooking trick. You know what, let’s just start, it’s all too exciting.

Print this recipe

You will need:

A handful of kale
A few radishes and/or cherry tomatoes
A portion of rice (coloured blue)
A couple of biscuits (we used All Butter)
A slice of cheddar (sliced)
A rainbow Belt Candy
A Frankfurt Sausages (pork/turkey)
A tupperware box

Round 1: Sausage Squids

Step 1

Cut the hot dogs into 3 equal parts. To make the legs, cut each one lengthways from one end, but stop half way. Turn the sausage and repeat, until you’ve made 8 little legs. You can also carve a little happy face 🙂

Step 2

Put the frying pan on medium heat with a splash of oil and in go your squids. This is the clever part… POP! The legs curl out.

Round 2: Kale Crisps

Step 1

Wash and cut the kale into small mouthfuls and throw them in the salad spinner. Scatter the leaves in an oven dish and rub them with olive oil and salt.

Step 2

Bake in the oven at 200°c for about 10 minutes to make kale crisps. This is going to line your sports field.

Round 3: Make your Bento!

Step 1

First, cook some rice and if want to make it extra fun, drop in a little blue (vegetable based) food colouring.

Step 2

Next, cover the bottom of the bento box (normal tupperware is fine too) with the kale crisps. Make sure they touch the edges snuggly.

Step 3

Lay the rice on top of the kale and press it down with a tablespoon to create a firm layer. Yes, this should pass Squidball sports field regulations.

Step 4

Now, mark out your sports field with cheese: cut two semicircles from a slice of cheddar (you can trace around a glass rim or small bowl). Then place a thin strip of cheese down the middle. You can make this look like a football, basketball or baseball field.

Step 5

The field looks ready, so drop the mini squids on and add a ball (you can use a cherry tomato, a radish, or anything small, round and delicious). Marvellous, don’t you think?

Step 6

Add a few more balls on the side in case the match ball gets, you know, eaten.

Step 7

Now time for the medal – your little champions’ treat. You can make this using a chocolate coin or biscuit and use your creativity for the ribbon. Candy ribbons are fun but a little naughty. You can make them out of anything you think your little one will love.

YOKU DEKIMASHITA (Well done), you did it! You’ve done a splendid job and this packed lunch will be the envy of any team dressing room.

A few extra tips to make any bento amazing:

Tip 1. The right ratio for a bento box is 50% carbs, 25% protein, 12,5% fruit, 12,5% veggies
Tip 2. Pack it in tight… that way, everything will be in the same place when your little one opens it. So, no sauces.
Tip 3. The more colours, the better. But go easy on food colouring and use natural colours where possible.
Tip 4. Cupcake cases can make good dividers to chop your box into neat sections.

Print this recipe

On your marks, set, chop!

You will need:

Round 1: Sausage Squids

Step 1

Step 2

Round 2: Kale Crisps

Step 1

Step 2

Round 3: Make your Bento!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

A few extra tips to make any bento amazing:

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