Engage your kids’ help in making baon

Nothing is more disappointing than moms finding their kids’ baon untouched when they come home from school. This, after giving it much thought and effort. What was wrong? Didn’t they like it? Probably.

By age 4 and above, the kids would have developed their taste for food, and will eat what appeals to them. Thus, consult them. Engage them even, in the preparation of their school baon. They will be thrilled and surely will partake of the food. No more untouched lunch boxes.

Over the weekend, plan some baon items with your young ones, boys or girls. Make them involved in the preparation. We recently had a demo of a magic Planet Cupcake Maker (inquire about this at [email protected]) which produces the cupcakes in about six minutes. Our four-year-old B and her six-year-old friend Sophia delighted in making the cupcakes, which they mixed and decorated. Subsequently the cupcakes became part of their baon list.   

Milo sandwich is another kid baon innovation. A slice of loaf bread, either toasted or plain, is smothered with the chocolate powder to a heap. As you will put this in a food server, place another piece of bread on top so the powder will firm up. Make the kid bring either a tetrapak fruit drink or fresh fruit juice contained in a sealed jug.

Ham must not be confined to being a sandwich filler. Grill about two pieces on a non-stick broiler, cut into small pieces and mix with rice. Good and filling. Pack a banana or an apple with this.

Children love chicken. They can eat fried chicken everyday. Deviate from the usual way of cooking this and get some of those seasoned packs of chicken nuggets. They are easy to pick (from the container), neat and practical. Give them milk and maybe crackers to go with this. There is tetrapack milk as well. Or better still, give them fresh milk, if their tummies can take it.

There are more alternatives – a piece of brownie, perhaps, or a couple of macarons. Or a few pieces of local cookies and biscuits like uraro. Danish pastries are also recommended.               

There is an infinite variety of baon food. But plan them by consulting your young ones.

E-mail comments and questions to [email protected].