Unpacking the Convenience of a Modern Bento Box

Want to have dinner for lunch the next day? Sure. Don’t want your rice or noodles to mix with the sauce or gravy? No problem. Or maybe you’ll just go with a sandwich, some fruits and dessert instead.

Basically, you just want to have a perfectly balanced lunch.

The answer to your gastronomic dilemma is a bento box. Bento boxes help to keep your meals fresh and compartmentalised with two or more separate parts. Some boxes even have an extra box or space to keep your cutlery!

It’s sturdy. It’s convenient. And it is definitely a smarter way to do lunches. No longer requiring the use of cling wrap or aluminum foil either, and the environment will thank you.

The Origins of the Bento Box

Bento boxes have a rich history in Japan. During the 5th century, Japanese workers used to pack their meals in boxes and bring them to the fields. These boxes usually have multiple compartments to hold different types of food, such as rice, vegetables, meat or fish.

Sounds like a really good way to have your meals, doesn’t it?

The word “bento” comes from a slang term which means “convenient”. The bento boxes had variations between regions and countries, and they eventually became a popular phenomenon.

The bento was originally made of wood or basket material but in the early 1900s, aluminum became the go-to material for manufacturers. By then, the bento turned into a status item that oozed luxury more than convenience. Rich families were able to send their children to school with these aluminum bento boxes but the poor families could not afford such luxuries.

In the 1980s, the bento regained their popularity as the demand for TV dinners increased. Convenient meals became the new rage and bento was the answer. The 1990s arrived and people began using bento boxes to create food art that included faces and pop-culture icons. Today, the bento is a cultural phenomenon that constantly pops up on Instagram and Pinterest.

The Luxuries of a Modern Bento Box

There are many types of bento boxes, ranging from the traditional Japanese to the modern ones and each type caters for different taste buds.

The popularity of bento boxes has risen over the years. Nowadays, the bento box is seen more as a lifestyle than as a regular lunch box. Many parents have begun preparing aesthetically-pleasing bento boxes for their children. Even adults have taken the liberty of fixing one up for themselves to bring home cooked meals to work. And these are the reasons why the bento boxes are here to stay.

Healthy Habits

As you continue preparing them regularly, you can be sure that you are eating the freshest meals without additives or chemicals. It is also a great way to have a well-balanced diet, which usually consist of rice, fish or meat, and pickled, raw or cooked vegetables. By adding fruit as dessert, you would be covering all the food groups as advised by doctors.

Practical and Economical

Bentos are healthier than food in restaurants and are cheaper too! As you eat less out, it will cost you less as well. Not only that, packing a bento meal to school or work will make the environment a much better place as you no longer need to pack your sandwiches in cling wrap or store your salad in little plastic boxes.

Assist in Weight Loss Plans

Bentos can also help you to lose weight as your meals are packed in boxes that come with a few portioned compartments to keep you from overeating. If you have no idea what size fits you, you may want to go with this rule of thumb:

1 cubic milliliter equals to 1 calorie. If your goal is a 1,800-calorie diet, you can get a bento box of 600 milliliters. This equation should cover your three daily meals.

Beautiful and Eye-Catching

Let's face it: Modern bentos today look really nice! They come in so many shapes, sizes, colours, themes, and materials. Some designs even have popular cartoon characters that tickle a child’s fancy. Imagine preparing a Hello Kitty themed lunch for your daughter in a Hello Kitty patterned bento box! Now that’s what we call a ‘character bento’!

What is a 'Character Bento'?

Character bento takes bento-making to a whole new level of artistic creativity. Known as “kyaraben” in Japanese, character bentos are typically arranged in the shape of popular cartoon characters and other cute motifs. These boxes are works of art, often put together by mothers to cater to their children’s picky-eating habits.

Imagine opening your lunch box and being greeted by little animals or characters with smiling faces! This mom wanted to see her children smile everyday, she even has her own website!

The character bento originally catered for children and featured popular cartoon characters like Hello Kitty, Doraemon and Ultraman. But now it has evolved into an art form and there are even character bento-making contests that produce incredibly sophisticated and artistic bento designs!

Want some ideas on how to create a character bento? Watch this video to learn how to make a Hello Kitty Bento Box.

Building Your Bento Box

Preparation and Portions

The assembly of the elements in your bento box is up to you. Do take note that these boxes are not very big. You'll need some top-level Tetris skills to fit everything in. In short, you’ll need to know what to put and where. And if you have a picky eater at home, you may want to ensure that the different foods don’t touch one another.

The first step to making a bento meal is finding a container. You can buy one online or in places that sell Tupperware containers and thermoses, or you can use silicone baking cups or lettuce leaves to make compartments in a large container. All you need is to ensure the wet and dry elements stay separate.

It goes without saying that you want to ensure that your ingredients are cooked but aren’t at the risk of going spoiled. At the same time, you want to add more variety to your bento. After all, that’s the point of going bento. A good ratio for a well-balanced meal is:

• Four parts carbohydrates
• Two parts protein
• One part each for vegetables and fruit

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we can help you with that.

You can start with some rice or noodles as the base. If you’re on a diet, you can have meat or fish instead. Add some greens for colour (add more greens if you want healthy skin). Top off your meal with an apple or a banana and a little treat to make your day, maybe a chocolate or two, a few pretzels or a slice of cheese.

The key is to make sure you pack it all neatly and tightly so that each part of the meal does not shift while you’re on the move, or if your child is sprinting for the bus or jumping hedges. You want the flavours and the food to stay put in their own place (for the adults) and still look as cute as they did when you packed them (for the young ones).

Packing meals to work can be a bit of a drag. It could be worse if you are preparing meals for your kids. With a diverse range of eatery options outside your office block, it’s also tempting to fork out the extra cost and calories for the convenience of a takeout. At Everten, we believe we can help to change that attitude starting with a well-designed lunch box.

We have an assortment of bento boxes available based on your lifestyle requirements, including the ones that tailor to your kid or the kid in you. All we want is for you to give bentos - and your health - a chance. You won’t regret it!

For the easily-excitable kids

Colours don’t just stand out in designs and imagery. Colours also get the attention of children whose eyes pop the moment they see something bright and multicoloured.

Get this fun and exciting lunch box in a bento style by Raine Beau. The Kiwi Fruit lunch box comes with four portioned compartments of different sizes.

This lunch box is dishwasher-safe, allowing for daily use thanks to its durable BPA-free, environmentally-friendly design. It is also leak-proof, making your lunch box suitable for storing yogurt, dips and other juicy fruits when your child is out and about.

This lunch box also comes in Dragon Fruit, Orange and Watermelon designs.

For the wallet-friendly

You can spare your bank account the pain and go with the Polar Gear Double Decker Sandwich container instead.

Polar Gear is a leading UK brand and have been making cool bags, travel mugs and food storage since 1999. Their focus on performance, quality, design and function bring you fresh and innovative ideas for seasons all year round.

The container comes with a removable divided tray and lower compartment which is perfect for separating your sandwiches, fruits and snacks. Depending on your menu for the day, you can also go without the divided tray.

The Polar Gear Double Decker Sandwich containers come in Berry and Turquoise colours.

For the kid in you

Children aren’t the only ones tickled pink by rare and unique items. Sometimes, we adults like to have some fun, too.

This DOIY bento box is inspired by a life-size nigiri (sashimi) bento lunch box. Not only is it a fun design but the bento lunch box also features two compartments with a smart hermetic seal to prevent leakage when packing lunches. This lightweight bento lunch box is both microwave and dishwasher safe, which meets your need for convenience.

Apart from it being an ideal lunch box for work (and the conversation starter at your workplace too) but it can also be used for your own delight no matter where you are. The Nigiri Cutlery Set completes the Nigiri range which is also available for purchase at our online store.

For the eco-warriors

Lunchbots are environmentally-friendly and made from premium quality materials including low-toxic stainless steel which eliminates harsh chemicals and plastics from touching your food contents.

Cinco uniquely designed two types of the Lunchbots:

• The Bento Trio Lunch Container with 3 different-sized containers (right)
• The Bento Cinco Lunch Container with 5 different-sized containers (left)

Both lunch boxes let you store food fit for a meal or two, and are made to fit the entire height of the box so when the lid snaps shut, food remains separated at all times. These containers are the perfect companions for travel, picnics, or to bring to work, school and university.

If you’re not a fan of stainless steel containers, then you might like this bento lunch box that is made from sugarcane. Yes, you read that right.

Introducing SugarLab, one of the world’s first environmentally beneficial alternatives to daily household plastic products!

SugarLab is an innovative and eco-friendly brand, offering high-quality kitchenware products made from bioplastics derived from the all-natural sugarcane. Choosing SugarLab over your regular supermarket alternative products is better for your health, your family’s and that of the environment too.

This mini lunch box features 3 levels that give you the freedom to portion your lunch and comes with a strap to hold all the tiers together. Now is your chance to go au-naturale with the Mini Lunch Box Orange by SugarLab.

For those who appreciate authentic Japanese

Made in Japan, Takenaka specialises in bento boxes designed specifically for snacking and ensuring nutritional portions are consumed at every meal.

Using innovative ideas and designs, Takenaka creates bento box-style lunch boxes that are perfect for you on-the-go. The Takenaka designs all feature unique designs for practicality and space optimisation, which include:

• 1L bento bowls (in glacier grey, peppermint and serenity blue)
• 1.3L bento box double lunch boxes (in glacier grey, lavender, peppermint, and serenity blue)
• 900ml expanded lunch boxes (in glacier grey, lavender, peppermint, and serenity blue)
• 1.15L expanded double lunch boxes (in glacier grey, lavender, peppermint, and serenity blue)

Now that we’ve given you some inspiration and options, the only advice we have for you is to be creative and have fun with it!

Shop our entire range of lunch boxes here!