Katrina Delgado-Maderazo was concerned. Zen, her six-year-old daughter, wasn’t finishing her school meals.

 

“I thought of experimenting with clever and interesting ways to make her meal more enticing to eat,” said Kat.

 

Her solution? Giving her kids’ baon a bento makeover, using the Japanese art of elaborately designed, home-packed meals: “I thought maybe that will do the trick; maybe if I come up with a cute bento for my daughter, she will eat more in school.”

 

Her first design was a caterpillar that she made using edamame and brown rice. It was an instant hit with Zen, who ate all of it. “That was more than enough to encourage me to pursue this craft.”

 

Kat researched online, watched video tutorials, bought books, tools and accessories and kept making bento after bento to the delight of Zen and Sky, Kat’s four-year-old son.

 

The kids have opened their lunchboxes to see pandas, smiling pigs, bears, a zebra, an owl, a singing girl, adorable penguins, Elmo from “Sesame Street,” Hello Kitty, stars, airplanes, whales and more.

 

Kat’s favorites are the bird’s nest she made using udon noodles and quail eggs, and the black cats made of seaweed-wrapped brown rice and vegetables.

 

“I like working with rice, it’s fun to play with because you can mold it into different shapes, fruits and, most importantly, veggies,” she said.

 

Healthy, too

 

Balancing nutrition and aesthetics is important for Kat, who makes sure her children’s meals aren’t just cute—they’re healthy, too.

 

“I find ways to (create) good designs without using processed food and food coloring. There’s never a shortage of colorful fruits and veggies and healthier food options,” she said.

 

For Kat, making these bento meals means getting up at four in the morning. “Sometimes it takes only 30 minutes but the elaborate ones can take about two hours or maybe even more. Despite the early schedule five days a week, seeing my children’s faces light up every time they see their bento boxes more than makes up for that.”

 

Her husband, filmmaker and commercial director Sid Maderazo, documents the process. Her kids join the fun, too—Kat says Zen even draws bento requests that she happily turns to reality.

 

Her kids are thrilled with their creative meals: “They are always excited to see their baon, and sometimes they want to eat it right away!”

 

Even their classmates have become fans. “They love it! My daughter’s classmates wait for her bento every mealtime and excitedly gather around her in the cafeteria,” Kat said.

 

Since creating these bento meals less than a month ago, Kat follows other bento artists from Japan, Turkey, Holland, Malaysia, Singapore and the US.

“I’ve learned a lot from Ochikeron on YouTube. Her instructions are clear and her works are clean. She’s so talented and continues to be an inspiration,” she said.

 

And although she started only recently, Kat’s creations have already been drawing attention online: “I am overwhelmed and inspired by the positive comments I get from friends and even strangers from around the world.”

 

But to her, the best feedback comes from her two kids. “I truly enjoy making bento for them and I feel fulfilled knowing that they are excited to eat their meals, and that they feel my love every time they open their lunchboxes.”