KNIKA

Photos by Jim Wilson , NY Times

Look below for more photos!

 So I was browsing NY Times website as I always do and came across this amazing article, written by Samantha Storey.

Bento Boxes, a Japanese custom, offer creative ways to prepare healthy lunches. These small boxes are packed with colorful and creative food items that make food more appealing. Some parents dress up the food, by making silly faces with food pieces such as carrots, rice, and seafood; children are more likely to eat vegetables if it looks less like a vegetable and more like an edible toy.

“For dieters, they are an eye popping form of portion control,” because the box is only so big.

Anyone can try this, students can prepare a bento box for lunch and parents can make a healthy lunch for their child.

Bento boxes are becoming increasingly more popular in America which is a great thing, after all the Japanese have the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease and obesity; they are doing something right!*

*Referenced from Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

Where to Get Boxes and Supplies

BENTO & CO Bentoandco.com (French language site, ships from Japan).

BENTO CRAZY Bentocrazy.ecrater.com.

FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE From-japan-with-love.com (ships from Japan).

I LOVE OBENTO Iloveobento.com.

JAPAN CENTRE Japancentre.com (ships from England).

J BOX Jbox.com (ships from Japan).

KINOKUNIYA 1073 Sixth Avenue (41st Street), (212) 869-1700.

LAPTOP LUNCHES Laptoplunches.com.

BOOKS: “501 Bento Box Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento” (Graffito Books, 2009) and “Vegan Lunch Box Around the World” by Jennifer McCann (Da Capo, 2009).

  Can you find the apples in the picture? Photo by Staramaze

APPPPLLLLEEEEE   SNAAAAACCCKKKSSS

There are many great ways to eat apples! I encourage you to eat an apple a day! Here are some favs: 

 *Parents, some of these recipes are fun to make with younger kids. When kids participate in making something, they are more likely to eat it. Fun snack making with healthy foods will encourage your kids to consume healthy foods.*

·               Apples dipped in peanut butter 

·               Apples dipped in caramel

·               Apples, peanut butter, cinnamon, and graham cracker- yum 

·                 Honey, cinnamon, apple dish

                                 2 Red Delicious apples
                                Lemon juice
                                1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
                                2 tablespoons honey
                                1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
                                6 graham crackers    

Directions: 

Core apples and cut each in half; cut each half into 3 wedges. Dip wedges in lemon juice to prevent browning and place in a single layer on microwave-safe plate or baking dish.

Cover loosely with waxed paper and microwave on high (100 percent) 3 1/2 to 4 minutes or until apples are tender and hold their shape. (If microwave does not have carousel, rotate dish halfway through cooking.) Drain apples on paper towels.

In small bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon. Snap graham crackers in half to make 12 square crackers. Spread a layer of peanut butter mixture on each of six square crackers; top each with 2 apple wedges. Top with remaining graham cracker squares to sandwich snacks.               

·         Apples in a fruit salad

·         Apples and strawberry jello -  Peel and slice an apple (red works best), sprinkle with strawberry Jell-O or cherry, or try a different kind of Jell-O. Sometimes my children just enjoy dipping the apple slices into the Jell-O. Provided by, http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/apples/apple_snacks.htm

·         Apples, marshmallows, raisins, peanut butter:. Take one apple and core it. Next fill the hole with peanut butter, raisins, small marshmallows.

·         Apple smiles: cut apples into 8 wedges.  Take two wedges and spread peanut butter on one side of both wedges. Next take mini- marshmallow and sandwich them between the 2 wedges, creating an apple smile.

·          Apple Snack bars: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1947,157184-229206,00.html 

4 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 c. raisins
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. sugar
1 c. oatmeal
1/3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 c. butter, melted

        In bowl, combine apples, raisins, lemon juice, and sugars. Stir to mix. Add oatmeal, flour, cinnamon, and allspice. Stir in melted butter. Spread into 10 x 6 inch pan. Flatten with spatula. Bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees until apples are tender. Cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours. Cut into 2 1/2 x 3 inches. Wrap individually in plastic wrap for school lunch boxes.