Bento box tutorial: Carrot flowers

Carrot flowers are a really simple way to add a touch of “pretty” to your kids’ bento box lunches in literally seconds. For under $5, it’s an awesome bento tool, and it makes a beautiful, healthy treat for your little ones.

This is what a carrot curler looks like. You can purchase a carrot curler online here.

Think of it as a giant pencil sharpener, and the carrot would be like your pencil:

Wash your carrot. I like to use a veggie peeler to peel off the outer layer of the carrot. Place the carrot inside the carrot curler:

Just as you would sharpen a pencil in a pencil sharpener, twist the carrot so the blade of curler shaves off a thin layer of carrot:

Keep twisting until either your carrot runs out or you think you have enough carrot shavings to make a pretty flower:

Take your carrot shaving and, starting at one end, roll it tightly to make a flower. Continue this process until the entire carrot shaving is used:

Marvel at the thing of beauty you just made from a carrot in mere seconds:

I’ve also used purple and yellow carrots, and I just love the gorgeous results:

Stick a cherry tomato in the centre, and you’re done!

Here are some of the bento boxes I’ve created with the carrot flowers:

First up is a pink two-tiered bento box. The bottom tier held a carrot flower and a circular-cut chicken sandwich. The top tier held mini pretzels and a silicone muffin cup with cucumber flowers.

Next up is a fabulous “hello, kitty” bento box. The upper section held a circular-cut chicken sandwich with a “hello, kitty” ring for decoration. The bottom section held a beautiful carrot flower, some sliced cucumbers and a silicone muffin cup with crackers and “hello, kitty”-face cheese.

Here is a blue two-tiered bento box. The top tier held a beautiful carrot flower and some cherry tomatoes. The bottom tier held a circular-cut ham-and-cheese sandwich with a cute bento pick and some mini pretzels.

More lunch ideas

Lunches revampedNutritious lunch box meals for kidsSchool lunches your kids will love