Bento Lunches?

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ebonaskavi
ebonaskavi Posts: 42 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone else make bentos for lunch? I bought a box at the start of July and have used it for lunch at work almost every day since. I really like it and I feel like its taught me a lot about real portion sizes. I've also discovered that it's not at all limiting in what I'm able to have... I just have to make it fit in the box.

Normally for lunch I aim for 350-450 calories. Here are some pictures of a couple of lunches I've had in the past few weeks. I try to keep them 1:1:2. 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 2 parts fruit and veggie.

6191935500_544da4595e.jpg
299889_670165954986_9503790_35327486_1151150620_n
Greek burger, tzaziki (sp?) sauce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber onion salad.

317391_670166014866_9503790_35327488_1002008428_n.jpg
Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers.

306733_664066019306_9503790_35249569_6182871_n.jpg
Egg with scallions, avocado, peach, and potatoes with parsley.

each of my little liners holds about half a cup of food, so the entire thing hold about 2 cups.
Last week my husband I went out to lunch (at Arbys which he loves... I had never been and was indifferent) and I ate half a sandwich and half a small fries and felt super full because volume-wise I was at my normal lunch capacity (though over my caloric goal...).

This is working for me! Anybody else using a bento/what do you do for healthy lunches at work?
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Replies

  • rachemn
    rachemn Posts: 407 Member
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    Your lunches look beautiful!! I have a bento box, but I haven't been using it and I'm going to start immediately! That's one thing I've always had a problem with...portion size and I really need to change that. And I pack a lunch for work every day too.
  • JBRENTLINGER
    JBRENTLINGER Posts: 160
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    This idea rocks! I may start trying it here real soon!
  • svanhoecke
    svanhoecke Posts: 266
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    I worked in an office that was 95% Japanese women this summer and they all had these bento boxes! I am so jealous you have one. Where did you buy it?
  • LittleFootHafner
    LittleFootHafner Posts: 302
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    Have you looked on their website for ideas:
    http://www.bentolunch.net/
  • amfmmama
    amfmmama Posts: 1,420 Member
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    Great idea!! I use them for my kids, never occurred to me to use them for myself!!
  • ebonaskavi
    ebonaskavi Posts: 42 Member
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    I worked in an office that was 95% Japanese women this summer and they all had these bento boxes! I am so jealous you have one. Where did you buy it?

    I actually got mine on amazon.com (the real pretty ones are super expensive!) http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Duo-Stainless-Container-Orange/dp/B001OIX5H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317210571&sr=8-1
  • RuthAne
    RuthAne Posts: 130
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    I haven't used one before, but your combinations look so good!
  • JulieBoBoo
    JulieBoBoo Posts: 642
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    your lunches are beautiful! I use a bento-like system for my daughters (easylunchboxes.com) and they love it. I confess the lunches I pack for them aren't nearly as pretty as yours though! There are pics in my blog (linked on my profile) if you're interested. Since I eat at home I don't pack a lunch for me.
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,720 Member
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    My kid goes to school with her little bento box too. She loves it.
  • carriem73
    carriem73 Posts: 333 Member
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    What a great idea for portion control- I'm headed to Amazon right now to search for bento boxes!
  • emariec78
    emariec78 Posts: 530 Member
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    love this idea! I've seen these in specialty stores before, but never thought about using them for myself and for portion control. thanks for posting
  • carolina_r
    carolina_r Posts: 359 Member
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    Love the bento box idea!
  • msDpenguin87
    msDpenguin87 Posts: 7
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    does it come with the little liner things?
  • natika33
    natika33 Posts: 154 Member
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    Hi Ebonaskavi!

    Your bento boxes are super cute and look delicious! The flower cut-outs really make the one example look Japanese. (^_^)

    I love bento boxes because I think the portion sizing is really good and really helps you visualize the proper amount.

    Incidentally, if you don't have a proper bento any normal Tupperware-type container can also be used. (Not as cute, I know). If you are aiming for 450 calories and you keep to the proper rules of making up a bento (the ratios you mentioned - 3 parts grains, 1 part protein, 2 parts vegetables), then a 400mL container is the right size. You can tell how many mLs your container holds by filling it with water, then measuring the amount of water.

    A really good website in English that explains a lot about bento boxes is lunchinabox.net. I just paraphrased from the website in my above paragraph. (~_^)
  • natika33
    natika33 Posts: 154 Member
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    P.S. You can use silicone cupcake tins for liners if you can't get the real ones. Wax paper tins also works if you aren't using anything too wet.
  • Wilmingtonbelle
    Wilmingtonbelle Posts: 255 Member
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    I love bento lunches! I bought a cheap alternative to a bento box called the Stay Fit Lunch To Go. It's awesome with a gel pack in the top to keep everything cool. I bought 3 other types including the soup, salad and cereal stay fit kits. Find on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3PV3C/ref=s9_simh_gw_p364_d0_g79_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1AC1FM5FQAAF94YXXJQQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
  • ebonaskavi
    ebonaskavi Posts: 42 Member
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    does it come with the little liner things?

    no it doesn't, those are actually from the wilton pull-apart-puzzle cake set.
    resize?sq=220&uid=1031896541

    You can use normal cupcake liners, but I like the silicone ones because they are reusable and mine are different shapes so they fit in the box nicely. In the greek burger one I have the sauce in a plastic dixie cup that I cut down to be the correct height.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
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    I have loads of kiddy bento boxes at home (my husband is Japanese and my mil sent them for a party we had) and my son will use one for school, but I really must work on making his as pretty! Thanks for the inspiration :flowerforyou:
  • Silchi24
    Silchi24 Posts: 51
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    :happy: :happy:
    Does anyone else make bentos for lunch? I bought a box at the start of July and have used it for lunch at work almost every day since. I really like it and I feel like its taught me a lot about real portion sizes. I've also discovered that it's not at all limiting in what I'm able to have... I just have to make it fit in the box.

    Normally for lunch I aim for 350-450 calories. Here are some pictures of a couple of lunches I've had in the past few weeks. I try to keep them 1:1:2. 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 2 parts fruit and veggie.

    6191935500_544da4595e.jpg
    299889_670165954986_9503790_35327486_1151150620_n
    Greek burger, tzaziki (sp?) sauce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber onion salad.

    317391_670166014866_9503790_35327488_1002008428_n.jpg
    Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers.

    306733_664066019306_9503790_35249569_6182871_n.jpg
    Egg with scallions, avocado, peach, and potatoes with parsley.

    each of my little liners holds about half a cup of food, so the entire thing hold about 2 cups.
    Last week my husband I went out to lunch (at Arbys which he loves... I had never been and was indifferent) and I ate half a sandwich and half a small fries and felt super full because volume-wise I was at my normal lunch capacity (though over my caloric goal...).

    This is working for me! Anybody else using a bento/what do you do for healthy lunches at work?

    I've never even heard of them, but I love it! I am off to AMAZON to get me some. Thanks for the idea. Now I don't have to lug around all these containers.
  • Silchi24
    Silchi24 Posts: 51
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    BTW, where did you get that little bottle that is in the Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers, picture?

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