Bento is a way of life in Japan. Meals have been packed at home in this way since the 16
th century. It is a lovely way to eat, as it is convenient (in fact this is the meaning of the word
bento in Japanese) and the food is kept fresh and separate from each other in the different compartments of the takeaway box. One of the best aspects of eating from a bento box is the variety of foods offered in the compartments.
The possibilities are endless, but often in bento boxes, you can find rice, either spread out in the largest compartment or shaped into easy rice balls (
see my Onigiri Recipe post for instructions), boiled eggs, crunchy raw vegetables, rolled omelette, salad, fish or meat.
Takenaka Bento Boxes are designed and made in Japan, and therefore offer a stylish and authentic bento experience. There are several styles to choose from, depending on how large you want your lunch to be. Within each bento box is a removable separator so that you can separate food from each other. This is handy when taking leftovers to school or work like casseroles.
Bento boxes make a great kids’ lunchbox option, too. Kids notoriously prefer their different food choices divided and not touching, so bento boxes are the perfect choice with their separate compartments.
The boxes do not take up too much room in your bag on the go, as the two main compartments are nestled together neatly. There are options here, too, whether you prefer the box to be closed with clasps on the side, with a tidy band around the middle or with no clasps at all (the lid just closes tightly with suction). I personally love the colours of the lids, which come in muted pastels called
‘peppermint’,
‘serenity blue’,
‘glacier grey’ and
‘lavender’. The larger boxes include a fork and two main compartments (with removable separator), so you can pack a main meal, snack and/or salad all in one bento box.
Takenaka boxes are
microwave and dishwasher safe (except the top lid and included fork). I find that the whole bento box is easiest just to simply rinse clean under hot water and if you need to, simply pop the food compartments in the dishwasher.
There are so many options with
what you can pack in your bento box. Of course, any style of food can work here, not only Japanese. My husband takes his bento to work and takes to his deli of choice as a re-usable takeaway container. By doing this we can avoid excess plastic packaging and make an eco-friendly choice.
I regularly pack up my Takenaka Bento Box with lots of Onigiri rice balls, fresh veggies and a healthy sweet, such as a chocolate protein ball. The Onigiri is essentially THE Japanese rice balls, and you can find them everywhere in Japan. They are one of the most popular foods, especially with children. They are also known to be the easiest of Japanese recipes to make – anyone can make Onigiri! Much easier than sushi rolls, you can re-create the look and taste of sushi for your bento box with no trouble at all.
I asked a Japanese friend of mine to show me exactly how to make Onigiri.
See the recipe post for Traditional Japanese Onigiri here.
Like It? Pin It!
Becky Gilhespie is a food writer and former Masterchef semi-finalist. She is currently working part-time as a chef, having chosen to do on the job training instead of enrolling at culinary school. Becky is a recipe writer and product tester for many household name brands via
Everten, and her own food blog,
www.eatwhatweeat.com focusses on family-friendly meals with the wow factor that are healthy, fast and simple to prepare.
Becky is originally from the US but lived in London for 15 years and now resides in Gerringong on the NSW South Coast with her husband and two little boys. Her food is inspired a lot by her travels (and desire to travel more).
