Chapter "A":  Appearance

Whether we admit it or not, kids prefer meals that look good. They don't like mixed-up foods, oily rotis, or boring presentations. The combination of oily rotis and intermixed items in the भाजी (vegetable curry) is a turn-off for them. 

The solution? We opted for a bento box – a tiffin with neat, small compartments. This not only allowed for a creative mix of different dishes but also improved the overall presentation. Imagine the joy on the faces of kids as they discover a treasure trove of delicious surprises, each compartment holding a new culinary delight. It's like opening a lunchbox and finding a mini food festival inside – a feast for the eyes and taste buds alike.

१. पोळी ओली झालेली कुणालाच आवडत नाही. आणि मुलं सुद्धा त्याला अपवाद नाहीत. गरम गरम पोळी घाईगर्दीत झटकन बंद केली कि ती घामेजते हे आपल्या आई आज्जी पासून चं ज्ञान.    💡

२. रंगसंगती: पोळीचा रंग तर आपण बदलू शकणार नाही. पण भाजीच्या रंगाप्रमाणे डब्याला रंगात येईल अशी फळं, लोणच्याची फोड, चटणी, काकडी, टोमॅटो, बीट इत्यादी देऊ शकतो. भाजीवर कोथिंबिरीची सजावट तर मस्ट!!! कोथिंबिरीच्या बाबतीत मी हुकूमशाही करते, पण तो मी माझा हक्क मानते!! 🌈

३. भाजी चं तेल लागलेली पोळी आणि एकमेकांमध्ये मिसळून गेलेले पदार्थ मुलांना आवडत नाहीत.  आणि हे टाळण्यासाठी आपण सगळेच विविध लॉक अँड लॉक चे डबे वापरतो. बेन्टो बॉक्स मध्ये हि समस्या पूर्णतः संपण्यासाठी चांगल्या दर्जाच्या  बेन्टो बॉक्स ची निवड आवश्यक ठरते. 

My learnings:

1) Magic in Compartments 

Utilize the Bento Box as a canvas for culinary creativity. Picture this: a rainbow of colourful veggies, perfectly sliced fruits, and bite-sized delights, each in its designated space. कुछ तो मज़ा आये दया!!! 

2) The Presentation Makeover: Turning "Ew" 😑  into "Wow! 😋"

Gone are the days of food monotony. With the compartmentalised lunchbox, every meal becomes a visual treat. 

Engagement Quest: ⁉️

Now, dear readers, spill the beans (or should I say, the bento!) - what's your secret weapon in conquering the kids' culinary battleground? Share your tips and tricks below, and let's turn mealtime into a culinary carnival! 🌈🍱✨

RECAP ⏪ ⏪

Part 1:  The School Dilemma: (Read detailed text below)

In 2022, after the pandemic, planning and preparing school meals became a morning challenge. Miss R's feedback prompted a rethink of meal strategies. 

Takeaways: 

• School meals need careful planning due to specific timings.

• Miss R's feedback led to rethinking meal prep.

• The series shares insights into transforming lunchbox experiences.

Part 2: Lunchbox Uniqueness: (Read detailed text below)

This part highlights how lunchboxes are different from home meals. Crafting the perfect lunch involves balancing a child's preferences and ensuring comfort during break activities. The CAP philosophy—Comfort, Appearance, and Palate—guides lunchbox preparation.

Takeaways:

• Lunchboxes should be unique and suit a child's taste.

• The CAP philosophy helps create a special lunch experience.

• The series emphasizes joy and memories in lunchbox moments.

Chapter "C":  Comfort

After facing the ups and downs of planning school meals and having seen the importance of making lunches unique, let's delve into the heart of my journey—the CAP philosophy. Here, I'll share how Comfort, Appearance, and Palate come together, turning ordinary lunchboxes into sources of joy and cherished memories.

I learned that if kids genuinely enjoy the food, they won't make excuses for not finishing their tiffin. In the first 15 days, Miss R was leaving half her tiffin untouched, claiming she needed time to cut roti (fulka et al) into pieces and manage the contents. Unfortunately, this process was taking up too much time, leaving her with an unfinished meal. 😞 

To tackle this, I decided to pre-cut the roti (fulka et al)) for her, focusing on one problem at a time! 💡

P.S.: As the last line suggests, I decided to tackle one problem at a time. We must NOT make children crippled in managing their food. We made sure that Miss R must not ask for help in cutting roti (fulka et al)) at dinner. The help was strictly offered only for lunch box and until the tiffin chapter was autonomous.