When Tammy Pelstring and Amy Hemmert developed their version of the bento box, they did it with nutrition in mind. So they wrote a booklet, Laptop Lunch User's Guide, that includes many nutritious lunch ideas. We've thrown in a few others to encourage the kids to eat.

1. Let the children become part of the lunch process. They'll be more apt to eat the lunch.

"You have to let it go and let it be OK if the kitchen is more messy that you'd expect it to get," Pelstring said. "Kids love to cook and participate in it."

2. Sit with the kids and discuss foods.

Children as young as kindergarten age can help make lunch decisions.

Talk about what they like and don't like and make a list of foods appropriate for a healthful lunch. Pelstring even has the children help with the shopping to get accustomed to vegetables and non-packaged foods.

3. Include the occasional surprise treat.

"Talk about what are 'growing' foods vs. 'once-in-a-while foods,' " Pelstring said.

4. Cook without expressing your likes and dislikes; let kids decide on their own.

This one comes from Silvana Nardone, editor of Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine. Nardone said that children are taught to eat two ways: They are either presented food and allowed no input or they are allowed to explore.

"What I love about kids is that they can be truly honest and they'll say, 'Yuck,' even if you cooked all day."

5. Leftovers make a perfect lunch the next day.

Parents can plan ahead and cook more than needed the night before. It takes no longer to cook two chickens than it does one. At around $5, that second chicken can make plenty of chicken salad or be sliced for chicken sandwiches or wraps.

While cooking supper, boil some eggs in a separate pot to serve whole the next day or use for egg salad.

6. Consider what time your child will be eating.

A small ice pack inside a plastic bag (to prevent leaking) is a good idea when packing non-processed foods. Pack a small water bottle or milk carton so the children won't be tempted with soda if it's available at their school.

Japanese bento box concept can help make lunch for school more appealing -- and nutritious -- than ever

The future of the American school lunch may be found in Japan.

Instead of a lunch box featuring the latest movie or cartoon character, a simple plastic rectangular box with other smaller boxes inside might be the way to go this school year.

It's called a bento box, and fans of the classic '80s film The Breakfast Club may remember Molly Ringwald's character eating her sushi lunch from one. It's not just for sushi anymore.

The bento is a popular seller this year at lunchboxes.com, a site dedicated to selling just lunchboxes. Mike Dobbs, vice president of public relations, said parents see it as a way to serve more nutritious lunches. It helps with portion control.

"Some like it because they can control their kids' diet better. There's a guide to healthy eating that comes with it. It doesn't have a design on it so it can be used by a kid or an adult."

Tammy Pelstring and Amy Hemmert are two moms from Santa Cruz, Calif., who met while volunteering at their children's school. They noticed how lunchtime was messy with discarded package wrappers and that what was inside those wrappers wasn't all that nutritional. They developed their take on the bento box and turned it into a business - laptoplunches.com.

Their goal was to get real food into children's lunches. There's room for yogurt, veggies, fruit, burritos, wraps or regular sandwiches. While the containers for wet foods like yogurt and fruit salads have tops, there are no top for the sandwiches or goldfish. The bento box lid fits tightly on top of those containers.

"This way they get to see the food. They get to see what is there. That's appetizing to kids. In Japan, bento is considered an art form about balance and colors of food," Pelstring said during a telephone interview.

Bento originated in the 16th century, when Japanese military commander Oda Nobunaga fed large groups of people with food in individual boxes. Traditionally, bento is made up of four parts rice, three parts main dish, two parts vegetables, and one part pickled vegetables or dessert.

Silvana Nardone, editor of Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine, is a bento box fan.

"A bento box is for any age. If you have kindergartners, they like the fact that it is colorful and compartmentalized."

In this month's issue, there are recipes for Cold Ginger, Soy and Honey Sesame Noodles and Candy Sushi.

Often, Pelstring said, someone will buy a bento for a child but the parent ends up getting one, as well. Adults have been known to bring an empty bento box to work when they know they are going out to lunch. They put half the mammoth restaurant portion in the bento right at the table, and lunch is already packed for the next day, she said.

At laptoplunches.com, the bento box is sold separately or as a kit that includes a vinyl carrying case where an ice pack can be placed inside and with a water bottle.

While $33.99 may sound pricey, Pelstring said this system lasts for more than one school year.

"Other lunchboxes get yucky and don't hold up. We sell replacement parts and this is dishwasher safe and microwave safe."