Monday, April 26, 2010

Before & After Bento Project

The Before and After Bento Project came about when my fellow bentomakers and I were sharing photos of our bento from days long past. Debra (Hapabento), Megan (Bento Zen), Susan (Hawaii's Bento Box Cookbook) and I had a laugh over how much our styles have changed over the months and years. After all, we can't help but learn and grow from experience -- what tastes good, what holds up well, what looks good. Debra had the idea for us to each take our first posted bento and "remake" it, using the same ingredients and the same box, to see how it might turn out today. What an interesting project it turned out to be.
First of all, I had been making bento for my son for many years, although it never occurred to me to make them "look good". The first time I posted a bento on flickr was just out of curiosity. I had been reading Just Bento and happened upon the flickr group there. So here goes; my first "published" bento, from February 16, 2009:
As it happens, I still have this box, and use it from time to time, but I have since come to realize that it's pretty large for my kid's appetite. As you can see, I don't come near to filling it up. One thing I've learned over the years is that a tightly packed smaller size bento box forces you to think about the type of calories you choose to fill it with. As a bonus, the foods are less likely to move around in a tightly packed box. However, I wanted to see if I could use this box and the same foods, and arrange it in a more pleasing manner. I was happy to discover that basically all these foods are ones that I still make and pack. So I didn't have to compromise in terms of nutrition. My main objective was to "rearrange". Here's what I did:
So what do you think? I'll admit that my 2009 bento was probably packed in a couple of minutes max, while the re-do version bento took time for me to cut nori and carve cucumbers and carrots. I also took some liberties with the kind of rice (I used a red/brown mix). But, overall I think the extra effort was not unreasonable.

It was fun to do this. Perhaps you might get a kick out of looking back through your old bento archives and reminisce about your changing tastes and techniques as well. If I do it again in another year, I bet I'll come up with something completely different again :)

Don't forget to check out my fellow bento-makers' takes on the Before and After Project. We all have differing bento backgrounds and our "first" bento comes from varying timeframes. You may be surprised!



Susan at Hawaii's Bento Box Cookbook

Finally, thanks to Debra, Megan and Susan for collaborating with me on a fun post! We've all learned a lot; I know I have from all of you!

21 comments:

  1. Love it!!! All of the same elements in today's bento but wow, what a difference in how you artfully arranged it! Beautiful!

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  2. This is such a good idea! You guys are great. Funny though I just posted my first bento post a little while ago...I'll have to do this now next year too! :D

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  3. Your apple bunnies have great flair and your "after" bento is a model for pretty arrangement.

    What hasn't changed is your dedication to Misterman's nutrition! Good stuff!

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  4. I love it!! Wow, even your 'first' bento easily outdoes mine. haha! Are those funky toothpicks making the tomatoes look like balloons? I love that! The only thing I need to worry about is how the food looks. If the rice looks 'too funky', my kid won't touch it. I love these 'vintage' bento images! Great idea Sheri!

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  5. so interesting to see how you and susan have both learned about portion sizes! i agree with the ladies above, though - both bentos are adorable and really show the love and care you put into your boy's food! thanks for all of the ideas and support - you have been such a dear bento pal to me ever since i started!! <3

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  6. a before and after bento post! how fun! so cool to see how you can take the same elements in one bento and just arrange it so much more artfully. i went to my flickr to look for my first bento and found a bunch of photos missing!!! the oldest bento pic i have is bento #13, so i am missing a lot! i don't have a pro account so does this mean older pictures automatically delete when you upload new ones? i'm so confused and upset! not because of the missing photos but more of the comments, love, support, and advice my bento friends have shown...especially ones from you sheri, you probably commented on everyone of my photos over the past year :(

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  7. ok i found out what the problem was! i don't have a pro account so my photostream views are limited to the 200 most recent photos. and i just need to upgrade to get my originals back, i think....i guess i just have to go pro now and see ughh!

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  8. I love it! It is so fun to see everyone's older bento and to see how far you've come!

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  9. Wonderful post idea, this has been so fun and educational! Its beautiful to see everyone develop unique bento styles that are full of your own expressions of charm, color, and vitality!

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  10. Thanks Susan! I've learned a lot about artful arrangement from you and other bento experts :) Thanks for participating in this fun joint post with me!

    Lyndsey, it'll be fun to watch your bento evolution over the next year. Thanks a lot!

    Thanks Debra! You always think up these great joint post ideas. I had a great time rememebering those old bento days :)

    Thanks Chantale! You're always so cheerfully encouraging. Those are indeed special balloon picks. They come in a pack with umbrella and ring picks too :)

    Thanks megan! I could say the same about you. Can't believe you've been making bento for such a short time. I always stare at your creations for a long time and have seen many of your ideas creep over into my own bento :)

    Hi Laura! Thanks a lot! Yep, you'll have to "go pro" to keep all your photos. And you're right, I couldn't bear to lose the comments and encouragement from bento friends like you who have been there so long! So glad you've "come back" to bento in recent days, missed ya!

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  11. Thanks a lot Jenn! It was a lot of fun!

    Bentobird, you're right. Over time we all develop a bento "style" of our own, but I believe there are elements of all bentomakers present in each of our unique styles. It's such an interactive and supportive bento community, which is what I love about you and everyone here!

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  12. Awesome post Sheri! So much fun to read this and to look at both of the bento pictures. Not only the bento sytle is transforming but the photography also. So much to learn from you and your bento :)

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  13. Thanks a lot Lia! I learned a lot from everyone I met in this community :D

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  14. I love your "before" and "after" Bento. It's so great and fun to see all the changes in technique, style and cooking ^-^

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  15. what a great idea of showing your old bento-fotos and making a new one with the same ingredians! The photography and the bento-style is way better now! I love it! :D

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  16. Sheri, I love this project. How fun! Also, I like your tip about the effect of the box and content. thanks!

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  17. Thanks Lil'chan! It was a lot of fun to see how our styles have changed over time.

    Token, thanks! I've learned a lot about bento (and photography) over time, thank goodness! Hopefully it'll improve more in the future as well :)

    Thanks a lot Rachel!

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  18. I think your project is so much fun! I have just looked up my own very first bento blog and noted down the ingredients... To be continued ;) Your bentos have definitely become brighter too!

    Thanks for all the bento inspiration you give me :)

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  19. Thanks gnoegnoe! Can't wait to see your bento transformation too!
    You're sweet to be so kind :D

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  20. You have definitely improved and so are the rest! It is so much fun now that we can have so many gadgets to make our bentos more lively.

    Maybe we should all do this before and after bento...

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  21. Thanks a lot Angeleyes! Accessories do make the process a lot more fun :)
    Hope you can do it too!

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