Typically, parents generally can't be bothered to exert more effort beyond sweeping a dozen artery clogging, obesity causing Lunchables into their shopping cart every two weeks then slapping them into Chubby Timmy's backpack. When I was in elementary school, I set the packed lunch bar low, only hoping for an PB&J sandwich that hadn't been flattened by a Red Delicious and praying that the bananas were some shade of yellow.

However, this Japanese mom goes to extreme lengths to keep her children interested in their food, creating gorgeously handcrafted lunchbox creations, most of them loaded with Nintendo character references. From Super Mario Bros. to Animal Crossing to Mario Kart, these food creations look too good to eat. Not that I'm a fan of carved Vienna sausages and boiled fish paste mind you, just that the craftsmanship is out of this world. Many more here.

Thanks to Synie for the wonderful tip! Michael McWhertor

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