Bento Style Lunch Boxes

Bento usually refers to a single portion takeout or home packed meal that is common in Japan cuisine. Traditionally it consists of rice, fish or meat and vegetable as side dish. All this is then pack into disposable or hand craft lacquer ware containers.

Readily made Bento lunch boxes can be easily found in train stations and convenience stores but it is much common for Japanese homemaker to spent time and energy producing appealing boxed lunch

However today's bento lunch boxes have go through many changes. Lacquer ware lunch boxes are being replaced with food safe plastic lunch boxes. Food preparation has becoming more and more creative simple due to new preparation method and fun tools.

Bento style lunch boxes are commonly used for children who need to eat lunch in school. Many time school meals are not healthy and children may be picky at eating certain food. Many mums see this problem and start to prepare lunch boxes for their children. However preparing normal lunch boxes may not encourage children to eat their packed lunch, especially those who are picky with food.

So alternative ways to encourage children to eat and love their food is to put their meal into Bento lunch boxes. Bento lunch boxes changed an ordinary meal to a very creative and attractive meal. Difference shapes and sizes of food with attractive color will always attract children attention. Not only it looks attractive, it does have nutrition value as well.

There are common guideline in preparing Bento style lunch boxes. One of the most comment used is 3:1:2 "Spinning Top" nutritional guideline. The 3:1:2 guideline basically consist of the following composition

Part A:
3 parts grain dishes (rice or noodle)
1 part protein dishes (meat or fish)
2 parts vegetable dishes (vegetable or fruit)

Part B: without candy, junk food or fatty food

Part C: without empty space

Part A itself are well balance in diet with sufficient vegetable, not too much meat or fat and large portion of rice/noodle to keep you fill.

Part B remove the necessity of junk food or unhealthy food which was commonly served in many canteen.

Part C simple ensure that the packed food remains as it is during preparation and when served. Empty space are usually filled with smaller item such as dry fruits or nuts, cherry tomatoes or small, whole fresh fruits like grapes

With this brief introduction to bento style lunch boxes, give yourself a try in preparing your first bento lunch box. As you are preparing it, get you children to get involve, as this will encourage them to appreciate their food better. Bento preparation not only help build family tides, it offer healthy living through healthy diet. Preparing it can be fun, making food preparation much more interesting and creative.

You do not need to be a great chef to do Bendo. Just a great passion for food will do.

There are so much more benefit in Bento lunch boxes can offer. No wonder it is gaining more and more popular.