What are good things to put in a bento box?

Put carbs: I usually fill 1/2 of the bento box with carbs. Of course, you can pack brown rice, pasta, wraps, sandwiches, bread , etc instead of white rice. Put main dish (protein): Any kind of beef, chicken, pork, tofu, beans, eggs, or other protein sources can be packed in 1/4 of the bento box.

What typically goes in a bento box?

A traditional Japanese bento often contains a carb (rice or noodles) with a protein (typically fish or meat), and an assortment of pickled or cooked vegetables , to create a nutritionally balanced meal in one box. Bento filled with rice balls or rice stuffed with sushi is also popular.

How to fill a bento box?

Half the bento box is traditionally filled with rice , while the smaller compartments hold fruit, vegetables and a light protein to create a complete meal. Each dish is stored separately to keep flavors from mixing and to create a tidy, beautiful presentation.

The concept is simple: defining a weekly menu or meal plans and preparing all the lunch boxes in advance . Cook two or three types of vegetables, starches and proteins, add some seasonal fruit, a yogurt or a piece of homemade cake for dessert and divide everything into your bento boxes. And, that's it!

What do Japanese people put in bento boxes?

In simple terms, bento is a single-serving, packed meal, transported by the eater already assembled and ready to be savored. Like an American lunch box, only so much more. Bento historically stars rice or noodles as the foundational starch, accompanied by a protein or two like fish, eggs, or meat.

What would a Japanese person put in a bento box?

While restaurants, bento shops and even individuals have expanded the bento from its original design, the traditional bento box is much the same as ever. It contains either rice or noodles and some kind of meat or fish . It also has cooked vegetables to round out the meal.

What is a common side dish in a bento box?

Perhaps the most common side dish ingredient used in bento are eggs . Eggs used in bento are cooked in many different ways: tamagoyaki (omelet strips or squares typically cooked with salt and sugar), sunny-side-up eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets with many different kinds of filling, and even boiled eggs.

What are the rules for bento boxes?

Traditional bentos follow a couple of basic rules. The 4-3-2-1 rule: 4 parts rice, 3 parts protein, 2 parts vegetable, and 1 part "treat" (Usually either pickled vegetables or something sweet.) Sushi should be prepared with more wasabi than usual. Pack foods with flavors that might run or stick together with a divider.

Bento Box and Lunchbox Ideas - 10 Easy Ideas for Kids (2024)

More About Jack’s

Jack aim to bring great tasting food, at great value prices. Jack’s was of course founded by someone called Jack, who wanted to make affordable food available to everyone! Jack’s Stores are based across the UK, in Middlewich, Barnsley, St Helens and Liverpool. We headed over to our local Jack’s in West Bromwich, which is about 5 miles away.

Jack’s love the flavours of Britain and are passionate about working with hundreds of regional farmers, growers and producers.

They are family focussed, aiming to provide produce for families to cook delicious, affordable meals.

We headed over to local Jack’s, a list and my voucher! I have to say I had quite a bit of money left for another trip and I had everything on my list. So very good value.

The kids came along too (drove me mad) and enjoyed helping me find everything we needed. There was lots of choice!

10 Kid’s Bento Box and Lunchbox Ideas

After heading over to Jack’s we had some great products to use for our bento boxes for the next 2 weeks! Jack’s stock their own brand products, as well as common, known brands, so we have a mixture included for the ideas.