When making choices on which foods to include in the bento box, choose bold colors to provide visual impact. This will help you assemble a nutritiously balanced meal. Fruits – In the bento box or in a separate container (berries, grapes, apples).Fillers – Simple yet colorful ingredients to brighten the bento (blanched broccoli, cherry tomatoes, boiled egg).Sides (Vegetables) – Also, tofu, egg, or mushroom dishes (hijiki salad, potato salad, tamagoyaki, green bean gomaae, kinpira renkon).Main (Protein)– Meat, fish, and seafood (karaage, gyoza, teriyaki salmon).Carb – Fill up tummy! (rice, yakisoba, yaki udon, takikomi gohan).Tip #1: Prepare 5 Types of Foodsįor a Japanese-style bento, we commonly include 5 types of food in the lunch box: Since I mostly cook Japanese food at home, I focus mainly on packing Japanese dishes. It doesn’t have to be complicated and you can start with simple dishes that you are familiar with. įirst, use your creativity to visualize how a bento should look like. For those who prefer a cute soy sauce container, here are animal containers and fish shaped containers.After trying different containers, I prefer a jar style containers like this and this with a twist lid so it’s easy to wash.It’s not so pleasant when the sauce ends up getting mixed with foods it’s not meant for. The sauce containers help you store the sauce separately so that the food will stay dry until lunchtime. Children are gravitated in eating foods with those picks. These picks come in many shapes, patterns, and colors and some are really playful and cute (like my little panda picks)! They are helpful to put small foods together (like meatballs and berries) and also add extra color to your bento. The silicone dividers come in bright colors to improve the presentation for the bento and they help separate one food from the other without mixing up the flavors. You can also use edible separators such as lettuce, shiso leaves, cucumber slices, etc. They are reusable and come in many different sizes and colors. Usually, silicone cups come in bright and cheerful colors which improve the presentation of the bento. The silicone cups are great for keeping wet things away from dry foods and holding loose items like blueberries in one place. Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-NCE09 (3 inner bowls) Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-MEE07 (2 inner bowls) Updated in 2021: Now that my children are in high school and middle school, I use these Zojirushi Lunch Jars to pack their lunches. I do not use these wooden bento boxes called Magewappa (曲げわっぱ) for my children, but the classic look makes it a popular choice among the adults. Eco-Friendly – Bento box is reusable therefore, you can reduce the amount of plastic bags, disposable containers, and waste.ĭid you know the Japanese bentos are meant to be eaten at room temperature? In Japan, bento food is prepared carefully with that in mind.Economical – Bringing food (or even leftover) from home is always more economical than spending money at restaurants.As the bento comes in compartmentalized containers, it is a good reminder on the amount of food you have for the meal. Healthy – If you follow the rule of thumb for bento packing, you naturally have a good portion of carbs, proteins, vegetables, and fruits in your lunch box.We call the bento container “bento-bako” (弁当箱). In Japanese, bento (弁当 bentō) or obento (お弁当 obentō) refers to a compact, nutritiously-balanced, visually appealing meal served in a box. In this post, I will share how I make bentos for my children. And I believe it is the same no matter your background. I have seen so many wonderful bento lunch boxes filled with all kinds of food (from American comfort food, Tex-Mex, Indian, Italian to fusion) and it makes me really happy that the bento culture has gone global.Īs a Japanese mother, packing bento boxes for my two children are the ultimate act of love. These days bento boxes have become synonymous to lunch boxes. Plenty of tips and tools for you to get started. This is the Ultimate Guide to Bento Box Lunch! Whether you’re making school lunches for your little ones or work lunches for yourself, this guide will help you plan and pack a healthy and colorful bento.