Using Bento Boxes for lunches.

Generally if something is microwave safe (probably only without the lid on for gentle reheating) it should be ok in the dishwasher. I hand wash all my boxes though because I find if I keep sticking it in the dishwasher it slowly warps and the lid eventually won't fit properly.

Can you take a legible picture of the bottom of the box with the care details? If I can't read it, there are definitely others who can

Also, a note on BPA in plastic; it is only ever present in clear plastic because it's used to make the plastic not go cloudy over time. Any BPA free advertising on a solid colour box is a marketing gimmick. Also, the dangers of BPA in plastic have pretty much been debunked unless you're planning to eat the damn stuff.

cside691 wrote: »

Just received my first bento box - any tips for a newbie who won't be able to do all those fancy shapes and animals but still would like a nice looking bento? Thanks in advance

The main two pointers I would give are:
- Use lots of colourful foods; if everything is brown, it's never going to look that pleasant, even if it's tasty.
- Think about how you're placing things in the box. Try to make it look aesthetic and in a way that it will hopefully look the same when you open it as when you finished packing it.

If you're not getting cutters or anything like that, have a look at some youtube videos on simple vegetable cutting. Some of the things you can do to vegetables with a paring knife is amazing.

cside691 wrote: »

carolynelaurino993 wrote: »

b
Here's my bento for today! Some brown rice with furikake (Japanese rice seasoning), cucumber, and raspberries!
If you're on a 1200 calorie diet like me, a small lunch like this will really fill you up but won't waste your precious calories!

P.s
If you live in or around Manhattan, these stores have some fabulous bento supplies ( food, utensils, and boxes):
-H-mart in K-town
-Sunrise mart across from the public library
-kinokuniya across from Bryant park (this one doesn't really have food, just lunch boxes)

Unfortunately I'm in the UK - thanks all for the inspiration

If you're looking for a local store to buy some of the different ingredients, try the Japanese grocery stores list on JustOneCookbook. There are user submitted stores from all over the world

Well, shame on me for not having a bento to post for so long. I've been doing leftovers lunches for a while, but am trying to get back into my bento habit again to control my lunch calories a little more. Back to old style images it is!


The picture shows everything I have to eat during my work day, which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks:

Breakfast, 292 Cal
- 90g Banana (85 Cal)
- Breakfast cookie (207 Cal)

Lunch, 429 Cal
- 120g rice (190 Cal)
- 3 beef & pork meatballs (164 Cal)
- 160g Mixed blanched vegetables: snow peas, broccoli, carrot, radishes, yellow capsicum, shiitake mushroom, zucchini (61 Cal)
- Furikake (9 Cal)
- Umeboshi (3 Cal)

Snacks, 229 Cal
- 2 Vanilla Oreo Thins (64 Cal) There's 4 in the box, but I shared with coworkers ^_^
- 135g of Goat's milk yoghurt with 70g mixed berries (165 Cal)

The yoghurt might not get eaten. I have an issue with Casein protein giving me stomach cramps and gas and can't have a lot of regular dairy, so I'm giving goats milk yoghurt a try to see how that goes. If it doesn't go well, then it's not exactly all going to get eaten