Cartoon character bento boxes made by Aya Savet, a mom from Marikina. Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
MANILA, Philippines – Aya Savet, a mom from Marikina City, became a viral sensation after posting photos of the adorable and inventive bento boxes she fashioned for her daughter to take to school.
Bento boxes, as we know them now, originate in Japan. They come in a wide range of sizes and forms, but they all include a variety of nutrients such as protein, vegetables, grains, and dairy.
“This is a good way to encourage kids to eat healthy as you can portion their food and provide them with variety,” Savet told INQUIRER.net over a Facebook chat on Friday.
Savet added that her family has also been making them for meals during lockdowns.
“Bento boxes can be for anyone and not necessarily for baon (school meals) only; this is recommended for those who want healthier food choices and those who are into weight management kasi napoportion yung food so you can control food intake,” Savet said.
(Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
On top of health benefits, bento boxes are “safe because you’re the one who prepares the food, and it’s also environment friendly because you can do away with foil and plastic wrappers, etc. There are a lot of benefits, so I highly encourage parents to try it!” Savet said.
Savet explained that the aesthetic value of bento boxes is not always necessary.
(Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
“You don’t really need to be artistic to achieve a healthy and presentable baon for the kids. It is not always about decorating naman kasi it can also be as simple as putting a variety of food with different colors,” she said, adding that the food she makes for her daughter is just the usual food they have at home.
When asked how she started making bento boxes, Savet shared that she has been making them since 2016.
(Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
“I was actually inspired by a page I came across in Facebook where a mom shared baon ideas of her daughter. I thought of doing the same for my own daughter, Zion, who was in kindergarten back then (she is now in Grade 7), so I started researching and following bento creators until I ended up doing bentos myself and really enjoyed it” Savet stated.
She found her motivation as she saw her daughter’s delight in the bento boxes she had prepared.
“I eventually got the motivation and inspiration from my daughter just seeing how much she appreciates what I do for her, and how it makes her smile is priceless,” she said.
Savet’s passion allowed her to branch out and create a YouTube (YT) channel called Kaayaaya Vlogs, where she posts her bento-making process.
“I actually created a YT channel out of this passion for reaching more people and sharing my knowledge din because when I was starting, I couldn’t remember someone from the Philippines who did bento-making tutorials in YT. I thought it would be a nice avenue to share these ideas and tips I have,” Savet said.
(Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
With her daughter returning to face-to-face classes soon, Savet said she would continue to make bento boxes for her.
“I surely will recommend parents to try it,” she said.
(Photo courtesy of Aya Savet)
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