I continue to experiment with edible backgrounds for my bentos. I make a lot of American food bentos because that is what my nieces and nephews will eat. Many of my bentos contain some type of sandwich. I love the look of a full Japanese bento but it is more difficult to obtain with a sandwich. My goal is a background that looks nice and the kid will eat.

Benefits of putting food backgrounds under a cute sandwich.

• Increases calories for a bento with a small cute sandwich (for older kids)
• Adds volume so less food shifting during travel
• Raises the fun factor

Blueberries under letter sandwiches

Celery sticks and spinach under a Zebra sandwich

Lettuce under a torch quesadilla

Blue tortilla chips under a Saturn bagel

Popcorn under an airplane sandwich

I have tried and would recommend the following backgrounds:

• blueberries
• celery (thinly sliced sticks)
• lettuce
• popcorn (air popped)
• snow peas
• spinach (raw)
• tortilla chips
• tortillas (I used flour)

I have tried and caution against using the following backgrounds:

• caramel popcorn (not as healthy, only as special treat)
• M&M’s (not as healthy, only as special treat)
• pistachios in a shell (takes time to eat and only safe for an older child)

If you have suggestions for sandwich backgrounds, please leave a comment.

Thanks!