Tuesday February 9 is Mardi Gras this year. For those of you who do not know, Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is the day before some Christians fast for Lent. Traditionally people celebrate and eat rich and fattening foods. This bento lunch contains healthy food but it is still a celebration of color and flavor.

This lunch features masks and beads. It is my first Mardi Gras bento. I received the pick from a friend and found the cookie cutter so I took it as an opportunity to add to my collection of themed holiday meals.

Note: My Mom and Dad helped me to make and photograph this lunch during my recovery from shoulder surgery.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Sauteed carrots and zucchini (in vegetable broth), cooked hot Nishiki rice packed into a cookie cutter (push down with plastic wrap then carefully remove from cookie cutter), green peas

Top Right: Beads made by threading peas on raw spaghetti and then cooking it (my Dad did this for me), corn

Bottom Right: Orange slices, mask pick