One of the things that makes a lunch a bento is having a selection of foods. Keeping the wet from the dry (or the peas from the strawberries) can avoid soggy crackers and unhappy kiddos. Lots of bento boxes come with their own dividers, often smaller trays that fit neatly inside the box. Silicone baking cups -- available in a wide array of colors and shapes -- are another great option: They're cute, durable, reusable and dishwashable. Flat baran (like the plastic grass on sushi plates) can also keep wet/dry or sweet/salty elements apart.

As for extras, food cutters can make cold cuts look like animals or veggies look like flowers; shapers and presses can do incredible things with a sandwich or a hard-boiled egg (its a car! It's a fish!). Decorative food picks bring seasonal cheer or spruce up any lunch. And if you're feeling really ambitious, you can draw faces and names with food pens (seriously).

Ideally, you'd begin your bento'ing by browsing a well-equipped Asian general market -- though I personally haven't found one yet in the area (please share in the comments below if you have!). No need to fret; a whole world of goods is available online. Some of my favorite sources for bento supplies are overseas; JBox and Bento & Co. are both located in Japan, so expect a great selection but also a considerable delivery time. Etsy, Amazon and eBay offer lots of options as well, though you'll have to do more sifting to find the stuff you really want.

Note that not all bento boxes are dishwasher safe, and only some are BPA-free and microwaveable; if those things are important to you, be sure to check before buying.

Next week: Now that you've got your bento boxes and accessories, what should you put in them?