Using Bento Boxes for lunches.

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Replies

  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    @sleepigrl Heehee, the red box in my most recent pictures is the same as yours ^_^ That looks delish btw.

    @ivygirl1937 bout time :p . Kyouko is satisfied

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  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    mangrothian wrote: »
    @sleepigrl Heehee, the red box in my most recent pictures is the same as yours ^_^ That looks delish btw.

    @ivygirl1937 bout time :p . Kyouko is satisfied

    z4qy01gph0r9.gif

    :lol: That gif is so adorable!!

    I'll be honest, I've been bringing a bento box every day but I haven't been taking pictures because my bentos are not pretty. Due to budget constraints (hubby got laid off and had to take a lower paying job), we've been using canned and frozen veggies and very little fruit lately so my boxes have been very sad looking so I don't want to post them. I have been making/taking them though!
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    edited February 2017
    ivygirl1937 wrote: »
    mangrothian wrote: »
    @sleepigrl Heehee, the red box in my most recent pictures is the same as yours ^_^ That looks delish btw.

    @ivygirl1937 bout time :p . Kyouko is satisfied

    z4qy01gph0r9.gif

    :lol: That gif is so adorable!!

    I'll be honest, I've been bringing a bento box every day but I haven't been taking pictures because my bentos are not pretty. Due to budget constraints (hubby got laid off and had to take a lower paying job), we've been using canned and frozen veggies and very little fruit lately so my boxes have been very sad looking so I don't want to post them. I have been making/taking them though!
    I do that all the time. Still doesn't mean you shouldn't take a picture. If you don't like the look of them on their own, mix them with some eggs and a pinch of salt and turn them into a frittata that'll last a couple of days.

    Hiking bento - I'm going on an 18km hike tomorrow with a 1000m ascent, so need to fuel
    z84h8w2p5u2l.jpg
    The bento has umeboshi (pickled plum) filled onigiri, beef bulgogi meatballs, boiled eggs, tomatoes, sugarplums and a small amount of trail mix.

    This box has about 1000Cals of food in it, so it's definitely not something I'd pack very often.
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    @mangrothian That looks delicious!! Have fun and good luck today! Yours always look so pretty, I always assume it's all fresh and lovely, I'd never know it was frozen or canned from your pictures. Maybe I just need bento-packing classes on how to make things pretty. :lol:
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    ivygirl1937 wrote: »
    @mangrothian That looks delicious!! Have fun and good luck today! Yours always look so pretty, I always assume it's all fresh and lovely, I'd never know it was frozen or canned from your pictures. Maybe I just need bento-packing classes on how to make things pretty. :lol:

    The majority of meat I use has been pre-prepared and frozen, then taken out when needed. Same with the rice; it gets frozen into 150g packets and I take one out as needed.

    As to frozen veg, I use it about 20% of the time. Usually when I'm too lazy or the fridge is looking a bit mother Hubbard.

    Monday bento is lazy bento:
    y5vmo0d6p5pl.jpg
    Everything except the furikake in the rice and the umeboshi was from frozen. Hell, I didn't even defrost the meatballs; they're still frozen in the picture. They'll have defrosted by the time I eat my lunch the next day.
  • salemnye
    salemnye Posts: 305 Member
    2vmee0o.jpg


    My lunch for tomorrow. Small snack box is a Greek salad (little container is italian dressing) and carrots. Big container is homemade bean nuggets, edamame, sweet mini peppers, celery, and freeze dried strawberries (they're actually pretty good). Total for the 2 containers comes out to be 337 calories.
  • PixieGoddess
    PixieGoddess Posts: 1,833 Member
    edited March 2017
    Finally started packing bentos again, and I keep forgetting to post the pictures! So here's 3 at once:
    rzjzqevx3g30.jpg
    pasta with turkey meatballs, and a side salad

    5x01awohab9r.jpg
    roast beast, rice, and roasted veggies, with a side salad

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    roast beast, rice pilaf, and veggies, with chopped apple and peach
  • SueSueDio
    SueSueDio Posts: 4,796 Member
    PixieGoddess wrote: »
    roast beast, rice, and roasted veggies, with a side salad

    Now I'm curious to know what type of beast you roasted! :)
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    SueSueDio wrote: »
    PixieGoddess wrote: »
    roast beast, rice, and roasted veggies, with a side salad

    Now I'm curious to know what type of beast you roasted! :)

    The sarcastic side of me just thought 'hopefully a dead one'.

    I haven't actually been making my bentos that often recently. Some budget constraints mean that batch cooking my lunches for the week has been the norm this year. My slow cooker loves the attention.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    What things do you do to ramp up your bento look if it's going to be frozen then put into the microwave? I use silicone lines, but after so many months that really doesn't do it for me. :smiley:
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    ariceroni wrote: »
    Hey guys! I stumbled upon this thread last week while I was bored at work, and binge read the entire thing in one afternoon! Since then, I've daydreamt of nothing but bento and nice, compartmentalized food :heart:

    Welcome!! Your bento looks beautiful and delicious!! :smiley: I love that pink and white box, I may have to look out for one similar (like I don't already have more than I need).
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    SueSueDio wrote: »
    PixieGoddess wrote: »
    roast beast, rice, and roasted veggies, with a side salad

    Now I'm curious to know what type of beast you roasted! :)

    I thought this too!! :lol:
  • cside691
    cside691 Posts: 39 Member
    edited March 2017
    So having purchasing my bento box months ago and being afraid to use it (I have this weird obsession where I buy beautiful things and then won't use them as I don't want to spoil them!) I have packed one today
    Eastern bean and ham salad with herb dressing
    Satsuma, meringue and natural yogurt - 331 calories

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  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    Afura wrote: »
    What things do you do to ramp up your bento look if it's going to be frozen then put into the microwave? I use silicone lines, but after so many months that really doesn't do it for me. :smiley:

    I find that a hard one to answer considering I hardly ever use any sort of silicone liner in my bentos unless I have something soupy; at most I use a sauce pot.

    I can't remember if you use any of the fancy vegetable cutters or not, but having the pretty come from the food rather than the liners could help. Also using food that keeps it's colour when frozen a reheated helps; carrot, broccoli, pumpkin, corn, mini golden squash, asparagus and cauliflower all freeze and reheat well.

    If you're having rice, something as simple as cutting a nori sheet into some sort of fancy shape could do the trick as well.
    cside691 wrote: »
    So having purchasing my bento box months ago and being afraid to use it (I have this weird obsession where I buy beautiful things and then won't use them as I don't want to spoil them!) I have packed one today
    Eastern bean and ham salad with herb dressing
    Satsuma, meringue and natural yogurt - 331 calories

    Lol I'm the opposite of you. If I buy something pretty I make sure I use it because otherwise I feel like it's going to waste. It must be shared with the world!

    The salad looks delish btw ;)
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    ariceroni wrote: »
    Hey guys! I stumbled upon this thread last week while I was bored at work, and binge read the entire thing in one afternoon! Since then, I've daydreamt of nothing but bento and nice, compartmentalized food :heart:

    I purchased some supplies over the weekend, and made my first bento today! Very surprised by how much more compact my lunch/snack is than usual, this is going to save me a ton of backpack space! Thank you all for inspiring me :)
    Pink box (lunch) has: 

    Steamed peas and carrots

    Mixed berries

    White rice loaded with nori komi furikake (it came out too fast!!)

    Steamed broccoli

    Meatless chicken strips cooked with teriyaki sauce

    Bunny cup has extra teriyaki sauce

    Kimchi (lol I know, everything else in that tray is Japanese but I just love kimchi!)
    = 475 calories

    Red box (snack) has:

    Homemade applesauce

    Baby heirloom tomatoes 

    Bell pepper strips

    Almonds
    = 226 calories

    Don't worry about too much furikake. In Japan there's actually a type of bento called a 'nori-ben', where the rice is completely covered in nori (the seaweed used in furikake) on purpose. Some of the furikake flavours I could easily eat with a spoon, so I have to ration myself when mixing it through my rice.
  • ariceroni
    ariceroni Posts: 422 Member
    Today’s lunch and snack bentos turned out pretty good! I tried out the tiny fruit/veggie shape cutter things and was pleased with the results, especially the flower-shaped cucumbers :3

    1syxp95f8p25.jpg

    Pink bento (lunch) has:
    Sliced strawberries
    Kimchi topped with cucumber flowers
    Sliced peaches
    White rice with furikake
    Boca chicken patty cut into hearts
    Steamed broccoli
    Steamed edamame
    Bunny container has sesame oil
    = 478 calories

    Red bento (snack) has:
    Homemade applesauce
    Baby heirloom tomatoes
    Bell pepper strips
    Cracked pepper triscuits
    Baby bell cheese (not pictured)
    = 303 calories


    Thanks @ivygirl1937 for the welcome!
    @cside691 - I have a monbento too! It's almost too pretty to use :3 is yours the vanilla colored one or white?
    @mangrothian - glad to hear there is no such thing as too much! The main reason I was concerned is that I didn't try the furikake before I put it on my rice lol (which was kind of dumb...). I definitely like it though, really yummy! Was surprised that it was kind of sweet, I also didn't read the ingredients list...
  • cside691
    cside691 Posts: 39 Member
    @ariceroni it is the vanilla and white one - love it but I don't have patience or time to make my food look fancy
  • agbmom556
    agbmom556 Posts: 694 Member
    @ariceroni - love your bento boxes
    Where did you get your veggie cutters?
    I saw some online on Amazon but would like to pick some up this weekend.
  • ariceroni
    ariceroni Posts: 422 Member
    @cside691 - ooh I loved that vanilla color so much! It would look so dreamy with the mint or peach ones they have :blush: Maybe one day I'll buy a custom one in those colors

    @agbmom556 -thank you! I bought them on Amazon too, they were a prime add on item for like $4 I think. Can't beat two day shipping! I'm hoping to find a good shop I can go to though because that's way more fun! And instant gratification lol
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    ariceroni wrote: »
    Today’s lunch! No snack packed because I’m leaving work early this afternoon and will be able to have a snack at home before I head to the airport. Going to visit my family in FL for spring break!!!

    Lunch:

    - White rice with furikake
    
- Steamed broccoli

    - Chicken-less strips (beyond meat) cooked in teriyaki sauce

    - Mixed berries

    - Kimchi
    - Bonus: cute otter and dolphin picks!
    = 425 calories

    I got two new boxes in the mail last night that I can’t wait to try out! Plus two more coming in the next few days lol, I may have a problem… They are just too pretty/cute and I have no self-control apparently. Sadly will have to wait to try them out until next week when I get back :disappointed:

    Love it!! None of us have self control when it comes to bento-ing, it's a sickness. A really awesome, adorable sickness. Remember @mangrothian's picture of all her boxes?? :lol: I'm not there yet but I'm getting there.

    I need to go shop for more bento stuff now. I'm feeling the fever again. :lol:
  • agbmom556
    agbmom556 Posts: 694 Member
    Wow! Love all those colorful, cute boxes... :)
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    For those who wanted the R2D2 Bento, seems that it dropped a little in price on Amazon:
    https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-R2-D2-Bento-Box/dp/B015AT2B98/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1489609887&sr=8-22&keywords=bento+box

    Don't know if that helps and I'm sorry I don't remember who liked it!
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    @ivygirl1937 you know what? I have waaaaay more than that now. I might need to take another picture. Then again, I've also cracked a few and thrown them out.
  • ivygirl1937
    ivygirl1937 Posts: 899 Member
    mangrothian wrote: »
    @ivygirl1937 you know what? I have waaaaay more than that now. I might need to take another picture. Then again, I've also cracked a few and thrown them out.

    Yes! Another picture is required now!
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    mangrothian wrote: »
    @ivygirl1937 you know what? I have waaaaay more than that now. I might need to take another picture. Then again, I've also cracked a few and thrown them out.
    I'll second that. It's a different collection now so obviously we need to see the new ones! :wink:
  • moribunny
    moribunny Posts: 417 Member
    ivygirl1937 wrote: »
    mangrothian wrote: »
    @ivygirl1937 you know what? I have waaaaay more than that now. I might need to take another picture. Then again, I've also cracked a few and thrown them out.

    Yes! Another picture is required now!
    I second this~(*＾＾*)

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