Remember the happy face pancake? There was something too enjoyable about chowing down on that whipped-cream smile. Ants on a log… same thing.  It can be difficult getting kids to eat their lunches (or any meal for that matter) but cute food makes kids want to eat it. These days, inspired by the Bento Box lunches Japanese mothers pack for their kids, it’s cuter than ever.  It isn’t just about how the food tastes anymore, it’s about how it looks. Think of it like the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine go down.

Thinking about packing a peanut butter and jelly? What about simply scramble your morning eggs? Where’s the fun in that? Think again and test out some easy to use kitchen crafts for morning, noon, and night.

For breakfast. Nothing starts the morning off right like a little bit of sunshine. This silicone egg shaper from Animi Causa will help make your morning plate a work of art.

Looking to add a little fun and love to lunchtime? The Bento Sandwich Cutter Kit means any sandwich can be a pig, panda, cat, or frog. This is also a great way to teach your little ones about animals.

Tailor it to pending holidays. If you send your kids off to school with Valentine’s there’s no reason you can’t send them off with heart shaped foods. If you have a steady hand, you don’t need a heart-shaped cookie cutter, but for precisions sake– this set of five from Williams Sonoma won’t hurt. Plus with the varying sizes, you can create hearts out of nearly anything.  Boot the melon-balls and replace them with some cantaloupe hearts.

Don’t forget the actual lunchbox. You’ll need something cute with compartments to pack your master-cooking-crafts in.

Throwing this is for good measure. Sushi isn’t exactly cute, but it is certainly difficult to master the art of the hand-roll. With Sushiquik you can make and enjoy home-made sushi without the struggle. Easy to use and impressive for any lunch box (even it it’s the one you take to work). Also serves to impress if you’re having girlfriend’s over for dinner. Kids aren’t the only ones who should enjoy the perks of crafty food tools.

–Arianna Schioldager