Today’s Bento Was Built on Leftovers

Let me tell you something quietly powerful:

You don’t need to exhaust yourself to be a good mom.

Today’s bento wasn’t some perfectly curated, IG-ready spread.

It was made with love — and leftovers.

I didn’t plan anything fancy.

I just opened the fridge, checked what was still good, and assembled what we already had:

Leftover pancit malabon. 

Some leftover greens. 

Then I added some croutons, probiotic prunes, cheddar crackers, Japanese mandarin orange, and shrimp peanuts. The only thing I cooked was the fruity soy chicken. It was enough to make two bentos - one for me, one for my son. And some leftover chicken for his dad's lunch. 

And 3 miniature chocolates. Just because. 

I didn't do a ton of cooking. No stress.

And yet, everyone was fed, cared for, and full.

Here’s the deeper lesson:

I’ve found that prepping and assembling bentos before I sit down to work changes everything for me.

It grounds my ADHD brain.

It gets me moving early.

It creates momentum for the rest of the day — without draining me.

I feel lighter. Clearer. More capable.

Not because I did more, but because I did what made sense.

To all the moms juggling work, hormones, mental health, and never-ending to-do lists:

Let go of the guilt.

Leftovers count.

Doing less is still love.

And practical can still be beautiful.

You are not behind. You’re surviving with grace.

See today’s full bento breakdown over at my food blog — my cozy corner for practical, honest food posts.