Using Bento Boxes for lunches.

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Replies

  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    @linstapler thanks for sharing! Your pictures and your kitty look awesome :smiley:

    Here's tomorrow's bento. DH's on top, he has pb and banana sandwich, carrots, ranch dressing, fritos, a cheddar cheese block (you can't see it) and some non-pareils. Mine is my one of my usuals, dumplings, almonds, edamame and broccoli.

    Since I don't have to weigh his stuff or even care about calories, his are so much faster to make.

    n09dr6mwo3so.jpg
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    linstapler wrote: »
    Thank you to the thread starter and everyone who shares their lovely bentos. Gives me ideas for my own lunches. I am using laptoplunch bentos and I instagram my simple lunches for own reference (https://instagram.com/minah_stapler/)

    Cheers ==

    You're welcome ^_^ It's nice being an appreciated OP!

    u7qf2yye0z5j.jpg

    For once, I remembered to take a pic of my bento at work before I scarfed it down.

    This one is 2 kids snags (sausages for you non-Aussies! :P ), rice and 3 veg since my fridge is getting all Mother Hubbard. At least I never seem to run out of umeboshi. Totals in at just under 400cals.

  • sagj
    sagj Posts: 256 Member
    edited May 2015
    iktmmt1viwik.jpg

    Single layer bento today!

    Shredded brussel sprouts cooked with pan roasted pumpkin seeds and dried mango, green chile chicken enchiladas, and a nectarine

    nom :smiley:
  • Narcissora
    Narcissora Posts: 197 Member
    sagj wrote: »
    iktmmt1viwik.jpg

    Single layer bento today!

    Shredded brussel sprouts cooked with pan roasted pumpkin seeds and dried mango, green chile chicken enchiladas, and a nectarine

    nom :smiley:

    Pretty!!!
  • PixieGoddess
    PixieGoddess Posts: 1,833 Member
    I'M BACK!!! I'm exhausted and have no bentos, but I'm back! ^_^
  • snoringcat
    snoringcat Posts: 131 Member
    In for the yummy examples!
  • sagj
    sagj Posts: 256 Member
    sagj wrote: »
    I couldn't eat it all! I still have half of the coleslaw and a tomato. I think this box is too big (even when I stuff it with mainly veggies). Who worried that bentos don't hold very much? That they would leave ya hungry? Oh yes, me ;)
    I think everyone worries about that, and it probably is an issue at first, simply because it takes practice to figure out how to pack the boxes properly. My first few bento boxes were super tiny. I went hungry at lunch for a few weeks until my packing skills leveled up ☺

    I think I'm happier and more satiated with a variety of different things too. I've noticed I feel I need to eat a lot more of a single casserole item than a small amount of the same casserole plus a variety of different fruits and veggies on the side. I think maybe my body is just happier with the variety of nutrients it is getting and says "I'm good, I'm full" a lot sooner. Just a personal pondering :)
  • Narcissora
    Narcissora Posts: 197 Member
    I got lazy and didn't pack a bento for today. I ended up at Subway. I was tempted to take a picture of my sub in a cardboard box and call it a "Subway bento", but I was way too hungry and ate it up before I could search my office for an empty box.

    I promise to make a subway bento in the future.
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    I may have gone for my first trip to Daiso in a while, and I may have increased my collection to include 3 new boxes, a rice roll maker and a clay rice cooking pot......
    2v03jnehbmhf.jpg
    I love the bad grammar translations.
    e8ovkb80okaq.jpg

    Today's lunch is rice (with a new furikake!), meatballs and veg. I wont have a bento tomorrow if I don't go shopping tonight; all I have left is pumpkin and broccoli in my fridge.

    Daiso is where I get my yuzu pepper paste. In the section where I get it, they also have wasabi paste, garlic & ginger. I also noticed today that they have a plum, shiso and basil paste (plum as in the sour pickled plum). Man does it taste delicious. It does get sold in a few stores here, so I'm assuming it may be in any of the Asian grocers you might frequent. The packets look like this:
    iyqd39791yz7.jpg
  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    @linstapler thanks for sharing! Your pictures and your kitty look awesome :smiley:

    Here's tomorrow's bento. DH's on top, he has pb and banana sandwich, carrots, ranch dressing, fritos, a cheddar cheese block (you can't see it) and some non-pareils. Mine is my one of my usuals, dumplings, almonds, edamame and broccoli.

    Since I don't have to weigh his stuff or even care about calories, his are so much faster to make.

    n09dr6mwo3so.jpg

    I might have to work a pb and banana sandwich into my future food plan this week. My problem with pb + bread is that I will eat three sandwiches instead of one. It turns the "on" switch in my brain.
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    @linstapler thanks for sharing! Your pictures and your kitty look awesome :smiley:

    Here's tomorrow's bento. DH's on top, he has pb and banana sandwich, carrots, ranch dressing, fritos, a cheddar cheese block (you can't see it) and some non-pareils. Mine is my one of my usuals, dumplings, almonds, edamame and broccoli.

    Since I don't have to weigh his stuff or even care about calories, his are so much faster to make.

    n09dr6mwo3so.jpg

    I might have to work a pb and banana sandwich into my future food plan this week. My problem with pb + bread is that I will eat three sandwiches instead of one. It turns the "on" switch in my brain.

    Same here, I can slam a whole french baguette if given the opportunity. Partly why the sammie is in the husband's box :naughty:

  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    @linstapler thanks for sharing! Your pictures and your kitty look awesome :smiley:

    Here's tomorrow's bento. DH's on top, he has pb and banana sandwich, carrots, ranch dressing, fritos, a cheddar cheese block (you can't see it) and some non-pareils. Mine is my one of my usuals, dumplings, almonds, edamame and broccoli.

    Since I don't have to weigh his stuff or even care about calories, his are so much faster to make.

    n09dr6mwo3so.jpg

    I might have to work a pb and banana sandwich into my future food plan this week. My problem with pb + bread is that I will eat three sandwiches instead of one. It turns the "on" switch in my brain.

    Same here, I can slam a whole french baguette if given the opportunity. Partly why the sammie is in the husband's box :naughty:

    Unless it's a ham and cheese toastie or vegemite and cheese on plain bread, I get put off sandwiches pretty quickly. It's probably a good thing. I'd probably be in experimentation mode if you ever saw one in my Bento.
  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    b619nfr848dc.jpg

    Lunch for tomorrow- 1/2 cup cantaloupe, 1/2 cup caraway sauerkraut, salad with lettuce, dried cranberries, chèvre, and grapes, mini veggie burgers to put on salad. I separate them with some parchment papers so the burgers don't get soggy in the salad before I eat it. Also makes it easy to heat up if want to.

    This came in well under 400 calories. If I decide to put some dressing on it will bump it up.

    I don't know about you ladies ( and gents), but the appeal of salad with no dressing is about 0% unless there are tons of goodies in it. I just must be undisciplined :(
  • Narcissora
    Narcissora Posts: 197 Member
    edited May 2015
    4oyckvafvhy5.jpg

    In the small tier: pork tenderloin, haricot verts (omg I learned a new term today!), and a mozzarella ball.

    In the larger tier: vanilla Greek yogurt, granola, strawberries, pineapple.
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    b619nfr848dc.jpg

    Lunch for tomorrow- 1/2 cup cantaloupe, 1/2 cup caraway sauerkraut, salad with lettuce, dried cranberries, chèvre, and grapes, mini veggie burgers to put on salad. I separate them with some parchment papers so the burgers don't get soggy in the salad before I eat it. Also makes it easy to heat up if want to.

    This came in well under 400 calories. If I decide to put some dressing on it will bump it up.

    I don't know about you ladies ( and gents), but the appeal of salad with no dressing is about 0% unless there are tons of goodies in it. I just must be undisciplined :(

    I generally don't eat salad dressing, but it's more because I don't like it on salad than anything else. My salads usually have something creamy in them, like avocado or gorgonzola cheese that makes me not miss eating them plain. I say if you like dressing, eat away! (haha, in moderation :wink: )

  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    edited May 2015

    Lunch for tomorrow- 1/2 cup cantaloupe, 1/2 cup caraway sauerkraut, salad with lettuce, dried cranberries, chèvre, and grapes, mini veggie burgers to put on salad. I separate them with some parchment papers so the burgers don't get soggy in the salad before I eat it. Also makes it easy to heat up if want to.

    This came in well under 400 calories. If I decide to put some dressing on it will bump it up.

    I don't know about you ladies ( and gents), but the appeal of salad with no dressing is about 0% unless there are tons of goodies in it. I just must be undisciplined :(

    I generally don't eat salad dressing, but it's more because I don't like it on salad than anything else. My salads usually have something creamy in them, like avocado or gorgonzola cheese that makes me not miss eating them plain. I say if you like dressing, eat away! (haha, in moderation :wink: )

    eta, where do did you get the mini veggie burgers from?



  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    The brand is called "Hilary's Eat Well" and they come frozen. They have a bunch of larger flavors too. I like them because they don't have any fillers in them. Just veggies and beans. I work at an organic market so I am surrounded by amazing options - all day long. Lucky for me! Not lucky for my waist line sometimes.
  • aSearch4Me
    aSearch4Me Posts: 397 Member

    I don't know about you ladies ( and gents), but the appeal of salad with no dressing is about 0% unless there are tons of goodies in it. I just must be undisciplined :(

    (Former Bento'er trying to find my way back into the Bento-habit, who has been silently creeping this feed again :smile: ) I have found with salads that I like flavored vinegars instead of dressing or vinaigrette. It can zing up a salad without a ton of added calories. My favorites are red wine vinegar, or I have this raspberry balsamic that is excellent that only has like 3g of carb for a TB (& I never use close to a tablespoon). I keep a bottle in my desk for salads at work that I use sometimes. Most grocery stores have a great selection of infused vinegars now...just be sure to double-check the nutrition labels, because sometimes they can have a shockingly huge amount of added sugar. Also, lemon juice squeezed on salad can be tasty too (depending what is on it).

  • colejkeene
    colejkeene Posts: 84 Member
    Vegan bento style spiiiiiiiicy Gardein taco salad packed for Mister's lunch. So good (and healthy)! Box from Monbento.

    11311199_1612846558954543_202491021_n.jpg
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    The brand is called "Hilary's Eat Well" and they come frozen. They have a bunch of larger flavors too. I like them because they don't have any fillers in them. Just veggies and beans. I work at an organic market so I am surrounded by amazing options - all day long. Lucky for me! Not lucky for my waist line sometimes.

    Thanks! Looks like I can get them at Whole Foods. There's not one in my town, but there is in my Mom's town, I may be making a trip...

    @colejkeene What is the green thing in the bottom right corner? I thought a lime, but I can't tell. The lunch looks tasty, it's nice to see other food preps on here as many people assume everthing has to be Asian or carby.
  • colejkeene
    colejkeene Posts: 84 Member
    @colejkeene What is the green thing in the bottom right corner? I thought a lime, but I can't tell. The lunch looks tasty, it's nice to see other food preps on here as many people assume everthing has to be Asian or carby.

    @SpecialKitty7 It is a lime! Sliced right off the side rather than down the middle and into wedges. I used the rest of it in the taco "meat" mixture. :)
  • Narcissora
    Narcissora Posts: 197 Member
    colejkeene wrote: »
    Vegan bento style spiiiiiiiicy Gardein taco salad packed for Mister's lunch. So good (and healthy)! Box from Monbento.

    11311199_1612846558954543_202491021_n.jpg

    This is really pretty!
  • colejkeene
    colejkeene Posts: 84 Member
    Narcissora wrote: »
    This is really pretty!

    Thank you! I'm of the opinion that you eat with your eyes first. Food should be pretty. :)

  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    I definitely prefer vinegar based dressings and I make my own often, but when I eat a dinner sized salad, 2 TBSP feels skimpy. When I read food plans for "1 teaspoon" of butter, I'm like : are my measuring spoons different? Because a teaspoon is about the size of my thumb nail.
    Agree that the vegan taco salad bento is very pretty and colorful! I love an idea for around the world in 80 bentos - with different cuisines. It keeps me motivated to make more.
    Any good suggestions for online bento shopping that ships to the U.S. without putting me in the poor house?
  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    Narcissora wrote: »
    4oyckvafvhy5.jpg

    In the small tier: pork tenderloin, haricot verts (omg I learned a new term today!), and a mozzarella ball.

    In the larger tier: vanilla Greek yogurt, granola, strawberries, pineapple.

    Beautiful, balanced, and looks filling!
  • LilSweet2015
    LilSweet2015 Posts: 41 Member
    linstapler wrote: »
    Thank you to the thread starter and everyone who shares their lovely bentos. Gives me ideas for my own lunches. I am using laptoplunch bentos and I instagram my simple lunches for own reference (https://instagram.com/minah_stapler/)

    Cheers ==

    You're welcome ^_^ It's nice being an appreciated OP!

    u7qf2yye0z5j.jpg

    For once, I remembered to take a pic of my bento at work before I scarfed it down.

    This one is 2 kids snags (sausages for you non-Aussies! :P ), rice and 3 veg since my fridge is getting all Mother Hubbard. At least I never seem to run out of umeboshi. Totals in at just under 400cals.

    This is so cute I want to pinch it's little sausage cheeks!!!!!!
  • aSearch4Me
    aSearch4Me Posts: 397 Member
    Any good suggestions for online bento shopping that ships to the U.S. without putting me in the poor house?

    I have a small Japanese grocery in my area that has a decent rotating selection of Bento supplies... But Amazon.com has a lot of good options too that are affordable & I've gotten a lot of my stuff off there. Also, if you have Meijer stores in your area, they currently have a line of Bento'ish kid lunch kits & stuff right now that are decorated with woodland creatures & are adorable!
  • Narcissora
    Narcissora Posts: 197 Member
    @LilSweet2015 I purchased my bento box from Amazon, and it was Prime eligible, so shipping was free. I purchased some accessories there too (silicone muffin cups, little soy sauce squeeze bottles, etc). I would suggest looking at the "others who bought this item also purchased..." suggestions for more options and bento accessories. I found some really cute things for bentos that way.
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    @snugglesmacks here are a few:
    http://www.jbox.com/category/819
    http://www.daisojapan.com/
    http://www.allthingsforsale.com/103-bento-accessory

    Those are the ones i remember. I bought most of my stuff with amazon prime too.

    @LilSweet2015 Here's an old list. I bought the vast majority of my stuff on amazon, but I got a bunch of stuff from Jbox/Jlist. I also started buying from aliexpress as well. The stuff is super cheap, but you have to wait forever for it to be shipped from China. I just received this in the mail yesterday, took about 2 weeks to come, but it's adorable!
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    aSearch4Me wrote: »
    Any good suggestions for online bento shopping that ships to the U.S. without putting me in the poor house?

    I have a small Japanese grocery in my area that has a decent rotating selection of Bento supplies... But Amazon.com has a lot of good options too that are affordable & I've gotten a lot of my stuff off there. Also, if you have Meijer stores in your area, they currently have a line of Bento'ish kid lunch kits & stuff right now that are decorated with woodland creatures & are adorable!

    Whoa! Where in the Meijer??? I live across the street from one, I need to check this out! By the other lunchbox stuff in the kitchen section?