The Japanese bento box, or lunch box, dates back hundreds of years in Japanese history. The contemporary bento box has been influenced by pop culture elements such as movies, TV shows and manga.
The bento box is "Comprised of food crafted into visually creative, appealing and recognizable forms, and are as much about planning and preparation as nutrition," says markbattypublisher.com "What better way to make children eat than to turn their midday meals into cartoon characters and video games?"
Indeed, rice, tofu, fish cakes, hot dogs, seaweed are skillfully turned into the likeness of Cinderella, Pikachu, Daraemon, Super Mario, Piglet, Pokemon, Snow white, Spiderman etc, etc. bringing not just visually pleasing food to the children but healthy meals and snacks to go into their bento box.
Face Food by Christopher D Salyers is a book that not only tells about but includes array of images of these pop culture infected bento boxes.
Edible Cartoons
Face Food Bento Boxes
Trend Themes
1. Pop Culture Bento Boxes - The trend of creating bento boxes inspired by popular characters from movies, TV shows, and manga provides an opportunity for innovative food presentation and customization.
2. Visual-driven Nutrition - The rise in visually creative and appealing bento boxes highlights the potential for incorporating nutrition education through visually stimulating food designs.
3. Healthy Snacks for Children - The use of creative bento boxes as a medium to offer both visually pleasing and nutritious meals can capitalize on the demand for healthier snack options for kids.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Food companies and restaurants can leverage the popularity of pop culture bento boxes to attract customers and offer unique food experiences.
2. Education and Nutrition - Educational institutions and nutrition-focused organizations can explore the use of visually-driven bento boxes as a tool to promote healthy eating habits among children.
3. Entertainment and Licensing - The trend of edible cartoons presents an opportunity for entertainment and licensing companies to collaborate with food businesses in creating branded bento boxes.