Try bento for picky eaters

Some of the bento lunch boxes prepared by Chef Ai Ping at the House of Ingredients.

It all started with friends asking Chef Ai Ping for food ideas for their picky children.

Sharing recipes with friends and family members soon became a routine in Ai Ping's life. That was how she was inspired to come up with the bento box idea two years ago.

“I started blogging first (www.kidsdreamwork.com) with the intention of sharing everything about food and children. The blog was a platform for parents to exchange ideas,” says the soft-spoken Ai Ping who has two boys - Liew Jia Yu (JY), five, and Liew Jia Qi (JQ), two.

After starting her blog, Ai Ping discovered there were so many interesting things happening during a child’s growing phase. So, she decided to jot down everything as part of her diary for her kids.

Since Ai Ping and husband Liew Chee Wah, 36, share the same interest in creative and cute food presentation, they decided to include in their blog posts about “Kyaraben” or “Charaben” (Character Bento) food for children.

Bento, or boxed lunch, has a long history rooted in ancient Japan. It originally began as a simple meal but today it is a vibrant artform which has become a trend worldwide.

Ai Ping explains that Japanese art bento has its own set of guidelines. Traditional bento follows a couple of basic rules - part rice, protein, vegetable, and one part “treat” (usually either pickled vegetables or something sweet).