The new school term is here, causing anxiety among those of us with kids going to nursery, kindergarten or Year One. And for many Asian parents, the important question of what will they eat at nursery, kindergarten and school?
Back-to-school Bento lunch boxes are an essential tool for busy parents who want to ensure that their little ones are getting healthy, well-balanced and preferably organic meals from an early age.
The case for switching over to a more organic diet especially for kids is strong as these foods are absent of chemicals from pesticides.
Research suggests that even low levels of pesticide exposure in an extended period can affect young children’s neurological and behavioral development, with evidence showing links between pesticide exposure to neonatal reflexes, psychomotor and mental development, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The Italian brand Alce Nero, producer of organic food products such as pasta, pasta sauces, honey, jams, olive oil and apple cider vinegar among others, outlines seven simple tips that can help parents to make a healthy back-to-school Bento boxes for their kids.
1 Start with a base that kids love – pasta
The majority of kids love pasta. Pastas can be prepared in numerous ways to suit your child’s preference. Savoury, sweet, spicy and even air-fried as a healthy Bento box snack.
2. Prep ahead, leftovers included
Cook up a larger than required dinner, so that there will be enough to pack for the next day’s lunch. Alce Nero Organic Pasta is an excellent choice as it refrigerates well and reheats. Fill the Bento boxes before serving dinner, then refrigerate.
In the morning add sauce to pasta and microwave, then add fresh fruit, carrot, cucumber or celery sticks and some cherry tomatoes, a small pack of raisins or other sweet treat in their individual compartments or use cupcake cases or lettuce leaves as separators.
3. Cuteness encourages appetite
Picky eaters can be encouraged to eat just a little bit more with cute food. Alce Nero Organic Kids’ Pasta comes in the shape of alphabets, vehicles and sports equipment that are visually arresting. The pastas include dehydrated organic spinach for green shapes, and dehydrated organic tomato for orangey red shapes.
Depending on your child’s interest they will love playing with and eating their favourite pasta shapes in their Bento box. With some practice you will have the skills to create Insta-worthy Bento boxes.
Personalise their Bento box lunch by spelling their name using alphabet pasta. The young, and the young at heart will both love this little touch.
4. Make it saucy
Kids love pasta with tomato sauce in their Bento boxes. Prepare Alce Nero Organic Kids’ Pasta according to the instruction, and at the same time warm up Alce Nero Pasta Tomato Sauce in a pan. Depending on your child’s tolerance for organic vegetables and proteins, add what they like, then combine the pasta with the pasta sauce. Grate some cheese over this tasty delight, and its ready.
5. Get creative
Try making dessert pasta salad. Cook up a serving of Alce Nero Organic Fun Shapes pasta, toss with Alce Nero organic honey, flaked almonds or other nuts, raisins or dried cranberries, sweetcorn kernels and some diced cucumber or celery. Top with cherry tomatoes or strawberries. Add a creatively sliced boiled egg on the side. A balanced, colourful, cute and tasty Bento box for kids who cannot handle spicy food.
6. Portion control and a nutritionally balanced Bento box
Kids tend to eat smaller meals than adults, but their meals need to be well balanced. The Malaysian Healthy Plate by the Ministry of Health recommends that a meal comprise of half vegetables and fruits, a quarter of protein and a quarter of carbohydrates. An easy way to portion kids’ meals is to get a well-proportioned kids’ Bento box, and not overfill the compartments.
7. Scale up for the entire family
With the cost of eating out increasing and most of us back at work as the country enters the transition to endemic phase of Covid-19 on April 1, organic Bento boxes for the entire family are a great idea. It helps the family eat healthier, more balanced organic meals, saves on costs and you do not need to worry about the provenance of your meal.
The brand’s farm-to-table concept is made possible by working with its network of organic farmers, making the produce much healthier. It’s extensive line of authentic Italian organic produce is 100% organic certified by European Union law and by JAS organic agriculture in Japan.
Alce Nero products is certified Halal by official certification bodies recognized by Jakim.
