I used to bring lunch box to school every single day. But back then, the art of Bento wasn’t that popular or probably haven’t even exist. Nowadays kids are so blessed to bring pretty little Bentos to school that not only tastes good, but also visually pleasing.

Mission Foods Back to School Bento Workshop

With Mission Foods Back to School Bento Workshop, mummies don’t need to feel too stressed thinking of new Bento ideas. I’m going to share a few recipes for you to create a nutritious yet fun packed lunch for your little ones. It’s not easy to get children to eat healthy food, especially vegetables. Recognizing this problem, Mission Foods has teamed up with consultant dietitian lndra Balaratnam as well as celebrity moms, Aishah Sinclair and Sazzy Falak to tackle this mission. Together, they shared some tips and tricks on how to prepare quick and healthy Bentos using versatile Mission products such as wraps, pita, naan and chips!

Constantino Flores, Vice President of Operations of Mission Foods Asia explained that mothers as the main nutrition gatekeeper of the family are sometimes too stretched for ideas and need the inspiration and support to ensure the best diet for her loved ones. Through this collaboration with influential moms, more mothers will be inspired to get artistic and at the same time more mindful about what they feed to their children when preparing Bento. Mission Foods products are perfect for Bentos as they are nutritious, easy to prepare, and taste good with so many diverse ingredients. What differentiates Bento boxes from normal packed lunches is that touch of fun and whim in how the food is prepared and arranged. Nicely decorated Bento boxes makes eating lunch more enjoyable. It’s also a great way to introduce new healthy food in tiny, pretty portions for children. For example, boiled eggs are a great form of protein for children and a clever way to get them to enjoy it is to shape it like a cute bunny! According to consultant dietitian Indra Balaratnam, also a mother to an 11-year old daughter, said that one of the best investments a parent can make is to create a positive relationship with food so that their children grow up to become healthy and confident. With a little bit of imagination, any mom can create a cute and appetizing bento incorporating healthy, seasonal items leaving out sugary snacks, and junk food. Try to incorporate their favorite things like cars, cute little animals and make it colorful to entice your children.

lndra demonstrated Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas using Mission 6-Grain Wraps, shaped into dinosaurs grazing in a flower garden. The flower garden was cleverly made up of a leafy salad strewn with edible flowers. At the side was a Dinosaur Nest made up of a base of Mission Tortilla Chips, mixed nuts and a boiled egg with dots coloured with beetroot juice. When preparing her daughter’s Bento, she tries to include all five food groups such as grain, protein, dairy, nuts, vegetables and fruits. It is always in the form of a wrap or a pita pocket because she will be able to pack as many ingredients as she can to ensure a balanced meal. Meanwhile, radio announcer, TV host and fitness enthusiast Aishah Sinclair created a delicious Tandoori Chicken Pizza with Mission Wholemeal Pizza Crust in the form of flowers for her two daughters. Her trick is to cut out cute shapes using cookie cutters and her kids get really excited about that. She’s also a huge believer in eating right and being active so she wants to inspire her girls to do the same.

For TV anchor, fashionpreneur and fitness instructor Sazzy Falak, a hectic schedule doesn’t stop her from preparing meals for her family. For her twins, she created a snazzy bed of Mission Original Tortilla Chips nachos topped with crushed avocados and melted cheese, served with a fresh salsa. On the side was a teddy-shaped boiled egg and fruits with cute animal picks. Her main focus when preparing Bento for her twins is to include a carbohydrate base that is healthy, versatile and convenient to use as it gives them the energy they need to sustain throughout the day. From here, use your imagination to bring in five colours for a variety of flavours, textures and nutrients.

In Malaysia, Mission Foods offers a wide variety of products which include:

• Wraps in 6 different flavours (Original, Wholegrain, Garlic, Onion & Chives, Potato, Curry and 6-Grain)
• Pita (Plain and Wholemeal)
• Naan (Plain and Garlic & Herb)
• Pizza Crust (Plain and Wholemeal)
• Tortilla Chips in 6 flavours (Original, Garlic & Butter, Cheese, BBQ, Tomato and Hot & Spicy)

Discover more Bento recipes at Mission Foods Malaysia Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/missionfoodsmalaysia