Kawaii!! Kyaraben –  Fun Animal Sandwich Bento

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bread
• Tuna Salad (or filling of your choice)
• Lettuce
• Zucchini (for bunny backdrop)
• Tomato (for heart backdrop)
• Cheddar Cheese (for star backdrop)
• Basil (for frog backdrop)
• A piece of nori seaweed

1. Slice off edges of 4 slices of bread.  For 2 top slices cut out with cookie cutters as shown.  (I used a bear shape cookie cutter to create a frog.  Available at Daiso)

2. Place 2 bottom slices in a bento box and add filling.  (I used tuna salad)

3.  Place vegetables and cheese in locations shown for character backdrop coloring.

4. Add cut-out top slices.

6. Create remaining fun face and body parts using yellow cheddar cheese, white cheese, seaweed, radish, etc.

Mayumi Johnston
Author of Japanese character bento blog, “Spice Up Your Life With a Taste of Japan” funbentobox.com. She has taught character bento classes at Whole Foods Market and Tokyo Central.
@funbentobox