My husband and I brought this bento box (left) home from a trip we took to Kyoto, Japan a couple years ago. This particular design was recommended to us by a friend who lives in Japan with his wife and son, who's about the same age as our son. Japanese children bring these efficient containers to school with them, filled with rice, seaweed, sushi and other delicacies.

Our newest bento box has been aptly named "Froggy". Froggy is displaying a more American style kid lunch below - complete with the standard chicken nuggets (whole grain variety, thank-you-very-much). My son loves rice and veggies and enjoys them so much more when they're neatly packed in a bento box. Rice with Edamame is also a huge hit with our boy!

Here's my tip to moms everywhere: If a kid finds veggies more palatable when they're in a bento box - go buy one. Make that two!