One of my largest collections of completely adorable things is my huge bento box and bento accessories collection. This is actually quite humorous since I work from home and never take a lunch anywhere. On a couple of occasions I have made bento for road trips or picnics but otherwise my bento collection is quite pristine. I keep telling myself that someday I will make bentos the way the Japanese do (every day) since I have some wonderful bento cookbooks and even belong to a couple of vegetarian and vegan bento groups at Flickr.

Perhaps the sheer volume of bento stuff intimidates me or maybe it is just the notion of having to make all these little bits of food and stick them on kawaii little picks and stuff them in Hello Kitty bento boxes that keeps me staring at the piled high clear totes where I store my bento collection.

If I was better organized I might not have this problem. It would be good (I tell myself) to make bento every day, to take time out and create a healthy meal and spend creativity energy on making it kawaii. It could even be meditative.

So why don’t I do it?

Here are some beautiful bentos that should inspire me. I will let you know if they actually do.

This Hello Kitty fruit bento just screams summer fresh! How about the super cute bunny pick in the nectarines? So love.

Another fruitie bento with some added veg. Check out the purple cauliflower. How about Pandapple and the pick of edamame? Yikes too much for me!

Veggie sushi with grapes and other kawaii accessories. Yummy.  I must have veggie sushi – stat!

Hello Kitty fruit bunny bento – awwwww!

Check out the lychees that look like acorns and the cute little bunny sauce bottle. So sweet. Looks delish.

Blue potato bunny and then egg flowers! Oh my gosh – I am stunned at the adorability! Little sheep sauce container.

I love the little animal food dividers. Super sweet.

Happy acorn sammie! Bunny apples and smiley face boo-berries.

I love the monkey mayo container and elephnat pick in the falafel. Yummy!