Don't Play with Your Food

Published: December 11, 2008 in design » art by Thomas Baekdal

When I was a kid, I was always told that I should not play with my food. I of course completely ignored whoever said that, and I often turned my potatoes into little people. But "Anna the Red" has taken the art of playing with food to a completely insane level.

Now this is what a lunchbox should look like!

Made by Anna the Red, see more images via Flickr

#1
Dec 12
2008
Jasmin Tragas

Jasmin Tragas

Love it! Thanks for sharing, it's inspired me. I really love those rabbit cookies! *reaches into screen to grab one*

#2
Dec 13
2008
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

:)

#3
Dec 13
2008
hary

hary

my name is spelled wrong nevermind

#4
Dec 13
2008
JijiN3k0

JijiN3k0

Wow- So artistic! I don't have that kind of skill! lol

jijineko.blogspot.com

trinidadandtobagolife.wordpress.com

#5
Dec 13
2008
Cooking Dad

Cooking Dad

Very creative!

#6
Dec 13
2008
kang

kang

haha.... very nice, really like the walle one :D

#7
Dec 13
2008
Jonathan

Jonathan

Interesting. Wonder if we'll get a repeat of this from the likes of Bandai and Studio Ghibli?

#8
Dec 14
2008
Walfas

Walfas

Woah this is awesome!

#9
Dec 15
2008
aidan

aidan

totally cool! ill try this! thumbs up!

#10
Dec 15
2008
abby

abby

very creative... if this is whats inside my lunchbox I'd rather not to eat it...

#11
Dec 15
2008
kim

kim

Amazing!

#12
Dec 15
2008
Ericson

Ericson

I'm hungry now :(

#13
Dec 15
2008
Sarah

Sarah

i like it but i wouldn't want to eat the special things like that! they are AWESOME!!!!

#14
Dec 15
2008
denise

denise

cool shit there. love to try and do those

#15
Dec 15
2008
Ashley

Ashley

AWESOME!!!!!!

#16
Dec 15
2008
Gretchen

Gretchen

Its called Bento people. Japanese lunchboxes, usually decorated like this (when done with great love) other times just plain.

#17
Dec 15
2008
sam barr

sam barr

you, sir, are a pimp

#18
Dec 15
2008
Deltrice

Deltrice

I love this idea... have to try it some time.

#19
Dec 15
2008
adhinatalia

adhinatalia

Awesome!! Extra Ordinary Creations! Ugot an OWL [from Harry] for those!!

#20
Dec 15
2008
Jeffy

Jeffy

I love the CatBus and the big Totoro is fantastic!

#21
Dec 16
2008
arrr

arrr

someone tell me what the second one is supposed to be.

#22
Dec 16
2008
owl

owl

do you prepare these each day for how many children and do they still look like that when the lunchbox is opened at school?

#23
Dec 16
2008
Creamy Soup

Creamy Soup

Love the BioShock one!

#24
Dec 16
2008
Foodaholic

Foodaholic

How cute! That would be a great way to get my toddler to eat her food.

#25
Dec 16
2008
El Chilakil

El Chilakil

A mi apenas me salen los HotCakes de Micky Mouse

#26
Dec 16
2008
Dodge S.

Dodge S.

And in true geek form:

Epic Win.

@Arrr: Cooking Mama, I think.

#27
Dec 16
2008
hawtchicca16

hawtchicca16

oh my gawd u the most awesomest artist in the world!!!!!!! u rok!!!

#28
Dec 16
2008
TwinToddlersDad

TwinToddlersDad

These pictures look good. Very creative.

I am wondering if it really encourages kids to eat well. Or if it just looks good in a picture.

Check out my blog at

http://www.littlestomaks.com/about/

Follow me on twitter

http://www.twitter.com/twintoddlersdad

#29
Dec 16
2008
KD

KD

the wall-e one is adorable!!

#30
Dec 16
2008
Tonie

Tonie

Thanks for the share I wish I had the patience to be able to do this for friends that are sick..or a thank you gift.

#31
Dec 16
2008
tori=)

tori=)

sooo cooool!!!!!

#32
Dec 16
2008
jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com

jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com

My girlfriend tells me that only the most hardcore Japanese moms make these bento. Bear in mind by American standards that would mean that she is a super hardcore mom.

#33
Dec 16
2008
yamgnos

yamgnos

Wow, that's really so creative I have never seen

#34
Dec 16
2008
Just When You Thought You've Seen It All

Just When You Thought You've Seen It All

My miserable daughter finds sites like this and taunts

me about what an awful mother that I was by NOT having sent her to school with lunches that looked so

spectacular. However, she will often copy a picture

of one that she finds particularly stunning and tell me

that she ' just took a photo of what I sent in your

grandson's lunch today ' -.

It's too late now, but I SHOULD have at least pulled her

hair when she was a child....(joking!!!)

#35
Dec 16
2008
ingrid

ingrid

Love the pop culture references! :)

#36
Dec 17
2008
MissT

MissT

Hahahaha, that's hilarious! And it looks really great!! :)

#37
Dec 17
2008
James

James

These are really cool. I've seen some great sushi art but this is by far the best!

#38
Dec 17
2008
Albu Mihai

Albu Mihai

The photographs are beautiful, creates a big appetite. I have a photo blog, I'm good at cooking, you probably should eat picture too. Congratulations

#39
Dec 17
2008
Indre

Indre

You should start a how to website with this type of stuff. Obviously way easier for the everyday person but this stuff looks really cool. I would like to make simpler versions at home to make dinner more exciting!

#40
Dec 17
2008
Milena

Milena

If only I had the time to entice my kid by making these.

Great looking stuff. I also love the blog redesign.

#41
Dec 17
2008
MissAmyShops

MissAmyShops

Wonderful - what fun!

#42
Dec 17
2008
Juice

Juice

Excellent. I won't eat it if I had such cute food.

#43
Dec 17
2008
PhilGo20

PhilGo20

Love it !

I wanna play with my food all over again !

#44
Dec 17
2008
Jayme

Jayme

I just StumbledUpon this, and I'm so glad I did!! This is so creative and funny and cute!

#45
Dec 17
2008
Kham Tran

Kham Tran

Wow, those look so cool!

#46
Dec 17
2008
Deborah Dowd

Deborah Dowd

Since my blog is named Play with food, I am all for edible art! These examples are really amazing!

#47
Dec 17
2008
ginger

ginger

I LOVED the Cooking Mama one!

Good job!

#48
Dec 17
2008
candy

candy

you are eating these creations arent you? if so ..which one tasted the best?

#49
Dec 17
2008
nisu

nisu

what a waste of food

#50
Dec 18
2008
tanzie

tanzie

i love it.. soo cool!

#51
Dec 18
2008
Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

Very cool indeed!

#52
Dec 18
2008
Mia

Mia

this is freaking amazing! my favorite one is the one with Joshi and Kirby!

#53
Dec 18
2008
Juan Pablo Calderon

Juan Pablo Calderon

That´s a very genuine way yo mix art, food and photography.

Congratulations!!!!

#54
Dec 18
2008
Neanderthal

Neanderthal

Doesn't look edible. It's fantastic, but I wouldn't eat that if I got paid for it. It looks like plastic, sponge and foam.

#55
Dec 18
2008
Zeljka

Zeljka

Neverovatno! Koliko li vremena treba da se tako servira jedan obrok?

#56
Dec 18
2008
Robusta

Robusta

Really cool!

#57
Dec 18
2008
Nick

Nick

Didn't your mom ever tell you to never play with your food

#58
Dec 18
2008
Twisted Logic

Twisted Logic

The Big Daddy is awesome!

#59
Dec 18
2008
anaka

anaka

very colourful and nice to see. feel like eating things

#60
Dec 19
2008
Amber

Amber

I absolutely love the Wall-E one, so cute!!

#61
Dec 19
2008
sanjana

sanjana

superb lunch box,.........frm now onwards i'l prepare my lunch box lik dis

#62
Dec 19
2008
DA KING

DA KING

THTS KOOL

#63
Dec 19
2008
Michele

Michele

How incredibly CUTE!!! Thanks for posting it, I may try something like that even though my kids are 15 and 11 LOL!

#64
Dec 19
2008
bellasmama

bellasmama

36 helens agree...you rock

#65
Dec 19
2008
Seek Geo

Seek Geo

Wow.. amazing!!! I can't do that, darn!

-SG

#66
Dec 20
2008
co0kymnstr

co0kymnstr

SUGOI!!WOW! these r amazing!!!

i wish i can do that when i can cook better...

i love all ov them

im so glad i stumbled apon this site

:)

~co0kymnstr~

#67
Dec 20
2008
Lucy

Lucy

AMAZING!

#68
Dec 21
2008
Marcuss

Marcuss

How many times were these food handled? I hope those who prepared 'em wore gloves.

#69
Dec 21
2008
amani

amani

very nice food : )

#70
Dec 21
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

dude i wanna be a chef and i love this your outstanding

#71
Dec 21
2008
katia

katia

great work!

#72
Dec 21
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

thats sooooo freakin awesome

#73
Dec 21
2008
Charizze

Charizze

Wow I like all of them

#74
Dec 22
2008
Matt

Matt

good job

#75
Dec 22
2008
chris

chris

very artistict they're also cute

#76
Dec 22
2008
Molly

Molly

Oh my god, I love the giant grinning Totoro!

#77
Dec 22
2008
Yuuki

Yuuki

cute Bento boxes.

She is pretty good at the Japanese house wife's art.

but when you said

"I often turned my potatoes into little people. But "Anna the Red" has taken the art of playing with food to a completely insane level."

that is not true. The Bento has been around for many years. In fact, the origin of bento can be traced back to the late Kamakura Period (1185 to 1333) though they started to become more like the examples above after WWII and the husbands returned to work in Japan. and it became a contest, where wife's would try to best each other.

#78
Dec 23
2008
~Nexus

~Nexus

i wouldn't eat this... i'll keep it as many time as i could

this is just aweso,e...

i liked the link and the yoshi with the kirby

#79
Dec 23
2008
joe

joe

waaaallleee!!! That is the most spectacular dish i have ever seen!!

i just got the movie and i love it.makes me happy to see these dishes.thank u for the uplift!

#80
Dec 23
2008
Smagglebit

Smagglebit

wow I love playing with food!~ The Rabbid cookies are awesome!

#81
Dec 23
2008
MHartz

MHartz

I am thrilled at Totoro food. Thank you very much for an exciting posting.

#82
Dec 23
2008
Anuradha Khanna

Anuradha Khanna

oh this is so cute, so cute, so cute!!! thanks for sharing!

#83
Dec 24
2008
Julianne

Julianne

Amazing food art! Wow... My mom never made me lunch boxes like that! ;-)

#84
Dec 24
2008
Jessiqua

Jessiqua

Omg....that bioshock one is absolutely AMAZING...and the my neighbor totoro ones as well

#85
Dec 24
2008
boahalaaku

boahalaaku

varah habeys ingey!

#86
Dec 24
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

I love it very much. Keep going!

#87
Dec 24
2008
wafiyya

wafiyya

love your art! kids will love this!

#88
Dec 24
2008
jess

jess

omg!!! so pretty!!! i'll so eat them!!!

#89
Dec 25
2008
Brenda

Brenda

Love the bunnies. Looks like they're holding plungers. Must be rabbit plumbers.

Very clever.

#90
Dec 27
2008
CARINA

CARINA

IT'S AMAZING, REALLY NICE

#91
Dec 28
2008
Jackie

Jackie

Link and yoshi Rock!:D

#92
Dec 28
2008
MVP

MVP

I love it!

#93
Dec 29
2008
Barush

Barush

:D:D:D:D:D to je dobrýýýý. I´m czech girl. It very good. :)

#94
Dec 30
2008
Rebecca Cheng

Rebecca Cheng

Delicious!....making me hungry...i love food...i love cooking....

Maybe it would be fun if you give each one a unique NAME!

#95
Jan 1
2009
Emz

Emz

thay r so cool i luv the bioshock 1 im 12 but my bro plays it we thinks its best game ever, and im settin the my neighbour totoro 1 as my background i hav 2 learn how to do that

btw i kno i talk too much

my new yrs resolution is dont talk so much ;)

#96
Jan 2
2009
dewhy

dewhy

wow... nice idea !!! :D

#97
Jan 5
2009
Minako

Minako

You should sell these, or at least give them as presents. I would love one of these for my birthday, but I wouldn't be able to make myself eat it. : )

#98
Jan 6
2009
Bing Futch

Bing Futch

How come our local sushi place doesn't offer these specials?

#99
Jan 6
2009
Max Weir

Max Weir

My lunches are packed similar to this but without the character designs, my wife is Japanese :-)

#100
Jan 15
2009
melissa

melissa

WALL-E ROCKS!

#101
Jan 21
2009
Omar Cisneros

Omar Cisneros

Simply awesome!

#102
Jan 23
2009
Jessie

Jessie

Oh! Oh! The big Totoro! Hooray!

+Jessie

a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse

#103
Jan 30
2009
Lhennn

Lhennn

hello!

cute site.. nice photos.. Ü

#104
Feb 4
2009
Kay D

Kay D

Lovin the cooking mama!! : )

PLZ MAKE MORE!!

#105
Feb 6
2009
Christopher C

Christopher C

I love the artwork =] Especially the Nintendo ones. Keep up the great work!!

#106
Feb 24
2009
tjaden

tjaden

meget vakkert

#107
Mar 21
2009
Gracie

Gracie

This is so cool can you try to make a guniea pig or hamster

#108
Apr 18
2009
Elmer

Elmer

I love the Young Link thing and the Rabbid Cookies. I WANT ONE!!!!

#109
Apr 20
2009
Roxanne

Roxanne

Those look so great. Its a fun way to eat your food when its getting a little boring :)

#110
May 11
2009
meemee

meemee

wow cool shmile guys it's food time

#111
Jun 19
2009
Candice

Candice

Oh man I love the Totoro ones

#112
Aug 3
2009
Madeleine

Madeleine

I love it! this is so cool!!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME great job!!!!

#113
Sep 24
2009
Online Colleges

Online Colleges

Haha love it. Maybe it will actually get children to eat their food. Very creative!

#114
Dec 13
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

Crazy Japanese. Loved the Totoro and Catbus rice.

#115
Jan 9
2010
Thailand Breeze

Thailand Breeze

I love this kind of arts! They're edible too. :)

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