Bento boxes!

shirochan
shirochan Posts: 24 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So I have a collection of bento boxes (small, Japanese-style lunch boxes) that I want to start using more in the new year. I was thinking about making up a bunch to keep in the freezer instead of buying so many Lean Cuisine meals. But space is limited and I'm running out of ideas for nutrient-dense foods that will fit in the bento boxes and keep me full.

Any ideas of stuff that will freeze well and fit in them?
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Replies

  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Where did you get yours? I want one, but they all seem to be pricey.
  • shirochan
    shirochan Posts: 24 Member
    Most came from various anime conventions ^^. I can sometimes find them at Asian grocery stores, and last time I went World Market had one or two.

    Also, your profile picture is lovely because Blue Exorcist <3
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    basically anything soft or squishy will fit in them.
    Potatoes, sweet potatoes soup, rice.

    I'm guessing you could cut up some chicken too and just make it bento size.

    peanut butter.


    Why not use them to hold nuts and other things similar to a graze box?
  • Torgrills
    Torgrills Posts: 103 Member
    If you're on Pinterest, type bento into the search bar. There's some awesome boards that have a ton of healthy bento recipes, some of which I would have never even thought of had I not been bored enough to do a random search. :)
  • shirochan
    shirochan Posts: 24 Member
    Hmm, how well does rice freeze?
  • buzzcockgirl
    buzzcockgirl Posts: 260 Member
    I love this website-- it has hundreds of pics of bento style lunches. I used this site when planning meals to send for my kids' lunches... but they can easily be for us grown ups, too! These were just some of my favorite pictures. Check out their website!!

    2qbuq37.jpg
  • shirochan
    shirochan Posts: 24 Member
    Wow, those look so tasty!! And Pinterest does have lots of good ideas, lol.

    Thank you guys so much!!
  • Dugleik
    Dugleik Posts: 125
    I love this website-- it has hundreds of pics of bento style lunches. I used this site when planning meals to send for my kids' lunches... but they can easily be for us grown ups, too! These were just some of my favorite pictures. Check out their website!!


    A quick thanks for pointing me to this awesome site!
  • redversustheblue
    redversustheblue Posts: 1,216 Member
    I love this website-- it has hundreds of pics of bento style lunches. I used this site when planning meals to send for my kids' lunches... but they can easily be for us grown ups, too! These were just some of my favorite pictures. Check out their website!!


    I have to start bringing my lunch to work next week, I know I'll be more likely to want to eat it if it's cute. Great site!
  • bkw99508
    bkw99508 Posts: 204 Member
    Hmm, how well does rice freeze?

    I don't know how well they freeze in bento boxes, but...if you put them in a ziploc before putting them in the box, they reheat wonderfully in the microwave. I make a ton of rice and just portion them out into ziploc and just zap them when needed. Just make sure you keep an eye on the microwave so the bag doesn't burst. You don't want to vent the bag so that the rice will be nice and moist.
  • LizL217
    LizL217 Posts: 217 Member
    I love Laptop Lunches, I have their bento box.

    Rice freezes very well, especially if you pack it up into single servings in plastic wrap. Chili also freezes very well and is great for a bento.

    Man, now I want chili.
  • Zx14chick
    Zx14chick Posts: 255 Member
    I will have to try putting my rice in a Ziploc bag! Portion control is probably my biggest problem. I can eat as much, usually more, than my husband who is about 70-80 pounds heavier. Sad but true.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Most came from various anime conventions ^^. I can sometimes find them at Asian grocery stores, and last time I went World Market had one or two.

    Also, your profile picture is lovely because Blue Exorcist <3

    Thanks! =)
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    ahhh I would love to get a cute bento box and do this! hmmmm
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Behold, my personal bento lunches in all their non-creative glory!

    0kaKa7Ml.jpg

    yaa722Yl.jpg

    Lc6V9WKl.jpg

    oyOb5GAl.jpg

    And to think it all started with winning a bento box in a game in Osaka... :-\
  • shirochan
    shirochan Posts: 24 Member
    Yours look lovely! Much neater than anything I've ever made, lol.

    Thank you for the tips on freezing rice! I will have to give it a try tonight!!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Here's another from today:

    cLNBuaHl.jpg
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    Here's another from today:

    cLNBuaHl.jpg

    Your bentos are incredible!!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Here's another from today:

    cLNBuaHl.jpg

    Your bentos are incredible!!

    Thank you. (I'm glad you can see the photo cause it's not showing up on my end, LOL)
  • jkepler77
    jkepler77 Posts: 3 Member
    Hello Carnivorous, I am new here. Your bento box items look wonderful. Are those recipes that you prepare yourself? Ty
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member
    OMG BENTO POSTS!!!!! I was so disappointed when I saw the bento group die. I'm going to upload the pics as soon as I can.

    Fun things to add to bentos:
    Pre-cooked shrimp (pure protein)
    baby carrots
    steamed asparagus
    fat free meringue cookies
    nuts/fruit
    apple slices soaked in lemon water
    melon slices

    Recipes:
    ~Chicken Soboro (Good for topping rice!!)
    1.5oz serving
    107 cals
    3.5g fat
    6g carbs
    11.5g protein

    ~Egg Soboro
    1.5oz serving
    90cals
    5g fat
    4g carbs
    6g protein

    ~Meatball Nirvana (3 cheese, from allrecipes.com)
    1 meatball (I usually put 2-4 in a box)
    54 cals
    2.6g fat
    1.7g carbs
    5.5g protein

    2 egg tomagoyaki
    1 serving
    179 cals
    9.6g carbs
    12.1g protein
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member
    Note: HA!! Thank you imgur!! Successful Pics! =D

    Z4AbmQsl.jpg
    Used a peeled mandarin orange with a celery slice for the stem to make a pumpkin. Cut out the hearts from imitation crab.


    ypqctR9l.jpg
    Usually don't add this much detail but its one of my best looking ones. The things with the seaweed is marinated seaweed chicken.
  • LaurenEllexx
    LaurenEllexx Posts: 64 Member
    I love this website-- it has hundreds of pics of bento style lunches. I used this site when planning meals to send for my kids' lunches... but they can easily be for us grown ups, too! These were just some of my favorite pictures. Check out their website!!

    2qbuq37.jpg
    what was the website? It's not showing up for me
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member
    More Bentos:

    wYZNDyRl.jpg?1
    Soboro Bento (Using Egg and Chicken)

    c3ZSZcWl.jpg
    Bento with little cheese cutouts.
  • jkepler77
    jkepler77 Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you!!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    More Bentos:

    wYZNDyRl.jpg?1
    Soboro Bento (Using Egg and Chicken)

    c3ZSZcWl.jpg
    Bento with little cheese cutouts.

    Wow!!! I am in awe! Those look beautiful!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Hello Carnivorous, I am new here. Your bento box items look wonderful. Are those recipes that you prepare yourself? Ty

    Yes, I sadly cannot eat a more rice-laden bento due to some metabolic issues so I have to get nutritionally creative. I'm still very much a beginner at bentos though!
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member

    Wow!!! I am in awe! Those look beautiful!

    Thanks so much!! ^o^
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member
    I get a lot of my ideas from here: http://justbento.com/
  • FrankWorsley
    FrankWorsley Posts: 106 Member
    Wow...bump!

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