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Simple, small and cute ... or not?

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Encouraging children to eat healthily might not be an easy task, but how about making edible art in the shape of their favorite characters, like this Pikachu?

In Japan, cooking is considered a woman’s task and the highest symbol of love a woman can give towards her loved ones. For children, bento is the symbol of absolute love from a mother. Even though bento appear to outsiders as “small and cute lunch boxes”, they are far more complicated and regulated than can be seen at first sight. Strict regulations with regards to making and presenting bento, bento as identification of mothers themselves and the observation and critique of bento by teachers and peers makes preparing bento nearly impossible and only adds fuel to the fire on pressure of Japanese mothers.