In Gizelle's Kitchen

My name is Gizelle and I am a  mother of a 3 yr old girl and also currently pregnant. I started making healthier lunches as soon as my daughter came into our lives.

Now being a mother, I aspire to provide healthier meals for my family while not compromising quality time. I like to make easy but nutritious meals as much as I can.

• What is a Bento Box / Lunch Box to you?

To me, a bento box lunch is something I make for my picky eater to make her meals a little special. By separating entrees from snacks and by adding shapes, bright colors, notes and other fun things, it makes her look forward to her meals and even eat her food better.

• What do you pack in your TAKENAKA Bento?

I try to pack a variety of food in my Takenaka bento to ensue a healthy diet. Fruits and veggies are a must with a small side of sweets like cookies as a treat.

• What is your favorite part of our boxes and what colors have you chosen?  

My favorite part, aside from the bright colors, is the fact that there are 2 airtight levels for more space options and the fact that a utensil can be packed with the box. No more forgetting utensils!

For my picky eater, I made her Air Fried Chicken Katsu with Mickey Mouse rice shape with furikake

Ingredients 

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced in half horizontally

1 pinch garlic salt and ground black pepper 

1 cup flour

2 large eggs, beaten 

1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs

1 serving cooking spray 

Katsu sauce 

Directions

1. Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F
2. Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls: whisk the eggs and put them in one bowl; add the flour to a second bowl; add the pan ko breadcrumbs to a third bowl.
3. Add the garlic salt and pepper to the dish with the flour and mix it well.
4. Prepare the chicken: Dip a piece of chicken in the egg mixture to coat it. Then dip the chicken into the flour, shaking excess. Dip into egg mixture again and finally, dip the chicken into the panko and lightly press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken so that it is evenly coated. Shake off the excess panko.
5. Place the chicken in the basket of an air fryer or onto the tray, and repeat the process until all the chicken is breaded.
6. Spray the chicken with nonstick cooking spray and cook for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over, spray this side with nonstick cooking spray, and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and the internal temperature is at least 165-F.
7. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and slice. Serve with katsu sauce.

I served it with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a variety of fruit such as grapes and raspberries as well as chocolate-filled cookies and a protein bar.