Hi mom. I’m also in Canada and having to make bento for my daughter. Lately she comes home with lot of leftover food :( in her bento box. What do you think I should do? I don’t give her very much, she is 7 years old. I’ve been trying so many recipes, it’s make me very tired always cooking new things, then I have to throw it out when she does not eat 😢

@umami_mom

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment! I know it’s so sad when kids leave food. My baby is 20-month-old, so things might be different for a 7-year-old, but let me share some tips that I keep in mind. 1) Don’t feel so pressured. Kids grow up just fine eating only what they like. 2) Remember that “Umami” increases when multiple umami components are combined (glutamic acid, inosinic acid, etc). Tomato&onion&beef, onion&shiitake mushroom&pork, Bacon&cheese&asparagus… 3) Know the food your kid definitely wants to eat. My baby likes miso soup, so I add various ingredients like tofu, radish, potatoes, or spinach into miso soup using a generous amount of dashi packets. She sometimes eats the vegetables she wouldn’t usually eat in other dishes. And, she loves the Siwin Japanese Style Sausage (Costco has it). I know it’s not so healthy, but it helps me a lot when I’m too tired to cook. 4) Show them how much you enjoy your food, especially when trying new recipes. 5) Stop giving them too many snacks. If they feel no need to eat, they won’t eat. They often think, “I can just have snacks later.” 6) Praise them a lot when they finish even one of the side dishes. 7) Get them involved in cooking. It can be a hassle for you, but kids would want to eat the dishes when they are told “You made it.” Good luck! Let’s do our best together😊