Author(s): Maki Ogawa

Parenting Pregnancy Childbirth

Japanese boxed lunches are called bento (or obento). These cute, yummy, healthy lunches are all the rage in Japan, where mothers think of them as an expression of love for their children. Bento boxes can be made from scratch, but they are also a great way to enjoy leftovers. Easy, nutritious, super-cute meals are just minutes away! "Yum-Yum Bento Box" is a collection of simple recipes for adorable bento box lunches suitable for children and adults. They are almost too cute to eat!

About the author:
Crystal Watanabe a.k.a. Pikko Pots makes bento boxes for her two preschool-aged children. She is a contributor to 500 Bento Lunches: 500 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento (Korero Books 2008). Launched in 2007, her Web site Adventures in Bento Making (aibento.net) is a popular forum for bento makers worldwide; it has been featured on Boing Boing. She lives on Oahu, Hawaii, the island where Lost is filmed. Maki Ogawa is a Japanese mom famous for the cute bentos that she makes for herself, her two young boys, and her husband. Her lunches have been featured in numerous Asian magazines. She posts pictures of her bentos daily on Flickr, under the name Lucky Sundae.