Minions - a popular childrens' cartoon character - are getting drawn on bananas as part of the crafty cuisine venture, Our Lunch Box.
Owner Lisa Strampel-Menzies opened up her pantry for business in Taranaki just three weeks ago as a way to encourage students to enjoy healthier options.
Lisa Strampel-Menzies dresses bananas as Universal Pictures' Minions - a popular childrens' cartoon movie.
"I know what it can be like trying to get children eating healthy," she said. "This just makes food fun and more appealing."
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Using icing for eyes and edible markers, Strampel-Menzies packs boxes with the fun bananas as well as grape caterpillar sticks, vegetable flowers and tasty tiger mandarins.
Lisa Strampel-Menzias has started 'Our Lunch Box'. A venture to get kids eating healthily in school.
Placed in a box with a fun food fact, Strampel-Menzies then delivers the prepacked lunches to a school.
Our Lunch Box allows parents to order a packed lunch for $6.50 or $8, dependent on size.
However, Strampel-Menzies also included a feature that allows anyone to shout a lunch box for a $5 donation.
Using edible markers, Lisa Strampel-Menzias creates fun characters on healthy food.
"You hear of some students who go to school with no lunch and it's so sad," Strampel-Menzies said.
"This helps feed those students who just need a school lunch."
Strampel-Menzies said the crafty lunch box idea came naturally to her.
"I was a nanny for 10 years," she said.
"And I've always liked food. So, it just sort of came together.
"Plus I get to work from home and be with my daughter."
Seventeen-month-old Isla Menzies watches her mum draw on fruits with edible markers and cut imaginative shapes into vegetables.
"Oh she loves to taste test," Strampel-Menzies laughed.
She said when the Food Act 2014 came into force earlier this year, she wanted to combine her love for children and cuisine and start the at-home venture.
"With council approval, the law allows me to use my own kitchen so it cuts out a lot of costs," she said.
Since the lunch box business was so new, Strampel-Menzies only had one school she delivered to - St John Bosco in New Plymouth.
"The first couple of weeks were freebies to get the name out," she said. "This week, I dropped off 12 boxes."
But the Minion bananas, crunchy cereal bracelets, and tiger mandarins weren't enough for Strampel-Menzies, as she has added edible bouquets to the online menu.
"There isn't anything like that here and I think it would work really well for afternoon tea."
If the venture gained enough popularity, Strampel-Menzies said she would like to expand and pack lunches for businesses.
"I'd like to offer salad boxes one day," she said. "Maybe some different pairing options. We'll see how it goes."
