Tips to make boring baon more appealing to kids

It's sad to find your child's baon untouched at the end of the day. Whether it's food you cooked yourself or something bought in a hurry, wasted food is frustrating. When you find yourself eating leftovers too often, perhaps it's time to think of ways to make sure the baon gets eaten. Your child probably has reasons for not eating the food you prepared. Sometimes, it could just be how the food looks. To a kid, recess isn't really about eating. It's time to run around and try to use up all the energy that kids have, so the food should be appealing enough to compete with the playground for your child's attention. Play with food As kids, we were told not to play with our food, but it might actually be a good idea to have fun with food before it gets eaten. For instance, celery is not at the top of kids' favorite snacks. But if you offer them ants on a log, they might change their minds. To make ants on a log, just spread peanut butter on celery sticks and sprinkle raisins on top. Colorful lunchboxes can help make baon attractive, but why stop there? You can make the food itself colorful. "Burritos with yellow peppers, tomatoes and parsley, or crushed whole wheat corn flakes instead of breading for fried chicken," says Kat, a working mom. Rainbow-colored bread, a mixed fruit cup, and carrot sticks are not only colorful but also healthy. You could also have fun naming the food. "If it's avocado shake, make it Green Monster Goo or something to make it sound interesting," says Kat.

Be creative Often, the problem is that the food is boring. "Kids don't want to eat peanut butter sandwiches everyday," observes freelance writer Rose. To add variety to your kids’ baon, she suggests packing no-fuss nutritious snacks like fruits, or instant oatmeal and cereal. To keep things from getting too predictable, try making bite-sized sandwiches in cookie-cutter shapes. Cereal bars are also healthy, and won't make much of a mess. Even leftovers from the night before can be baon, if prepared in creative ways. "For instance, barbecue chicken can become the next day's bbq chicken sandwich," says Kat, who is a business analyst during the week and transforms leftovers into yummy concoctions on weekends. No spills For rice and viand meals, make sure the containers are spill-proof. "Get the nice locked containers to prevent spillage during travel. Woe to the kid with spilled food or juice by lunchtime or recess," says Sophie, a personal shopper who sometimes brings baon to work. Shopping expert Lady May Rodrigo suggests using insulated lunchboxes that are easy to open, but lock tightly. "Lagyan na lang ng safety belt para hindi tatapon," she says. There are also containers with divisions to keep the food from getting mixed up in one unrecognizable, unappetizing blob. "Para sa tumblers, maganda yung easy grip para kumportable uminom ang mga bata. At may takip, para hindi madumihan," says Rodrigo. Keep food fresh The food should be as fresh as possible. "Make sure the food will stay good even without refrigeration or reheating," says Sophie, adding that sandwiches are usually safe. Rodrigo’s advice is to leave food partially covered if it is still hot, and to make sure that containers are clean and hands are washed before preparing the food. Pack the nutrients If vegetables are an issue, you can feed your kids vegetables without them realizing it. "Like pureed carrots added to spaghetti sauce, or minced mushrooms added to burger patties," suggests Kat. "We want nutritional value and variety for our children's food, so they don't get bored, and so they get adequate nutrition to boost their energy and memory," said Activeone Health medical director Dr. Gia Sison on GMA News TV’s News to Go. "For energy-boosting food, kailangan nila ng complex carbohydrates like oats and cereal. Complex carbohydrates release sugar slowly, to sustain energy throughout the day," says Sison. Food that is rich in iron and calcium like eggs, cheese, milk and juice enhance the memory. For picky eaters, you can prepare a mayo chicken sandwich, or give them tetra packed juice or chocolate milk. "Tetra packs are okay as long as they're kept in the lunchbox, away from heat," explains Sison. You could also freeze the juice overnight, so that by lunchtime the juice will have thawed, but will still be cold. Plan your meals "Get them to help make their baon," suggests Rose. That way, they get a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. It's extra bonding time, too. Well-planned meals can also help you save on cooking time and ingredients. "During the weekend try to cook something that will extend its usefulness throughout the week. Like, marinara sauce can be marinara pasta for Monday, pizza pan-de sal for Tuesday, burrito sauce for Wednesday, meatball sandwich with marinara sauce on Thursday," suggests Kat. If baon really doesn't work for you, consider giving your child allowance. Find out how much food costs in the school canteen, and give your child a bit more. This way, you can start teaching about budgeting and saving, and you won't have to worry about what to pack for lunch. — YA/TJD, GMA News