氣質姐與可愛可

　　Bento is a traditional Japanese lunch packed in a box. Recently, some Japanese mothers have started making the food that their children take to school for lunch a little more exciting. These artistic parents arrange the items in the boxes into fun surprises. By adding seaweed and other ingredients, they can shape rice, meat, and vegetables into popular toys and cartoon characters. It is a fun and creative way to present food.

　　However, some mothers really take it seriously because that is the only way they can get their children to eat. Kids are often picky about what they put in their mouths, so if it doesn't look good, they are not going to touch it. According to some mothers, the playful arrangements ensure empty bento boxes at the end of the day. Moreover, at some schools, how fun one's bento looks or doesn't look has led to peer pressure. This in turn puts pressure on the mothers to create something even more over-the-top. Not to worry, though. Classes on how to make eye-catching bento box creations are available. As feasts for the mouths and eyes, bento boxes really stand out.

1. ingredient n. 食材，原料
   I found all the ingredients I needed for my favorite recipe in the supermarket.
   我在超市裡找到我最愛的食譜中所需的全部食材。
   
2. shape A into B　　將 A 塑形∕塑造成 B
   The kids shaped the soft clay into all sorts of animals.
   孩子們把柔軟的黏土捏成各式各樣的動物。
   
3. take...seriously　　認真看待∕對待……
   Hank takes his job very seriously and always gives 100 percent.
   漢克非常認真地看待自己的工作，而且總是不遺餘力地全心投入。
   
4. picky a. 挑剔的
   Frank couldn't believe it when his picky supervisor found nothing wrong with his proposal.
   法蘭克不敢相信他吹毛求疵的主管竟然沒有從他的提案中找到任何錯誤。
   
5. ensure vt. 保證，確保
   The bodyguard's job is to ensure the personal safety of the famous actress.
   那位保鏢的職責就是要確保那個知名女演員的人身安全。
   
6. in turn　　因此，因而
   Tracy stopped eating out, which in turn helped her save a lot of money.
   翠西不再上館子，這也因此幫她省了很多錢。
   
7. over-the-top　a. 誇張的；過度的
   Sandra didn't overreact. Instead, your joke about her hair was over-the-top.
   珊卓並沒有反應過度。反倒是你對她頭髮開的玩笑太過火了。
   
8. eye-catching a. 搶眼的，引人注意的
   Nina prefers to wear clothes in eye-catching colors, such as yellow, red, and orange.
   妮娜比較喜歡穿顏色鮮豔的衣服，像是黃色、紅色和橘色。

1. artistic a. 有藝術才華的
    
   
2. seaweed n. 海苔；海藻
    
   
3. arrangement n. 佈置∕排列∕整理好的東西
    
   
4. peer pressure n. 同儕壓力
    
   
5. feast n.（美味的）盛宴
    
   
6. leftovers n. 剩菜剩飯（恆用複數）

　　便當是一種把飯菜裝在盒子裡的傳統日式午餐。近來有一些日本家庭主婦已經開始把孩子們帶去學校吃的午餐變得更豐富有趣。這些充滿藝術天分的家長們將便當裡的飯菜排出令人驚喜的圖案。藉由加入海苔和其他食材，她們可以將米飯、肉類和青菜塑造成熱門玩具和當紅卡通人物的造型。這種呈現食物的方法不但有趣，而且創意無窮。
 

　　不過某些主婦們卻很認真地看待這件事，因為這是唯一能讓孩子們吃飯的方法。小孩子通常對吃進嘴裡的食物都很挑剔，所以假如便當看起來一點都不秀色可餐，他們根本連碰都不想碰。根據一些主婦的說法，充滿創意趣味的設計能確保在一天結束時，孩子會把吃得乾淨溜溜的便當帶回家。此外，在某些學校裡，孩童的便當看起來好不好玩也會導致同儕之間的壓力。這因此讓日本母親對於要做出更精美、更誇張的便當這件事倍感壓力。不過別擔心。日本市面上出現了許多專門教人做出讓人眼睛為之一亮的便當課程。作為這些能夠滿足口腹之慾又能讓人大飽眼福的盒中盛宴，便當的確吸引了大眾的目光。

 引用自：長春藤英語  http://www.ivy.com.tw/