Community Chat

[Yardlie]

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@shoekitty wrote:

A real bento box, that is wood or straw and stacks... Was used in the fields. They would stack the foods according to hot, cool then wrap with a towel. I forget the name of the dish towel, but I have several my husbands mom left me.  .  We have a bento thermos we use when traveling.  It is beyond unique and handy.  As an example we put sliced cold cucumbers, shredded cabbage, edamame in the  smallest, then terikayi or grilled chicken, sliced.in the larger section   Then some brocoli.  Or dessert., in the last one.  Two pairs of chop sticks are cleverly hidden...inserted in a chamber, each lid turns into a bowl.  The whole thing It is maybe 13 inches tall and 5 inches wide.  It has a handle.  The one we have for traveling is insulated. Oh, there is even this little vial that slips out for soyu!!!!   Those clever Japanese!

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@shoekitty ... That is what I purchased....a thermos type one. If I get one for myself and DH, I would put in a lot of raw, fresh veggies, too. We love them, but my mother likes her veggies cooked. I think the Bento boxes I saw online were extremely clever also. Some contained little containers with lids for dipping sauces. I've seen the eating utensils cleverly hidden also. One had chopsticks that came in two pieces, and you had to screw the pieces together!

[Poodlepet2]

@SilleeMee, your mother was very wise! Over the last few years, I've seen the Bento Box idea catch on....if you think about it, the "Lunchables" are a take-off on the idea. They are aimed at kiddies-and are probably not the healthiest, but I can think of alternatives that are far worse.

OP, try googling "healthy sushi roll-ups". These are not sushi at all: what they are, are wraps and a filling rolled up jelly roll style and sliced on the bias so they look like sushi....

One of my favorite afternoon snacks is PB or almond butter and thin apple or jicama slices or pear...I have that when I want something sweet....

Of course, you could make any number of savory wraps.....

Poodlepet2

[Cakers3]

These sound like a good way to stay with portion control and also a good way to pack a variety of food so that a diet isn't boring.

[Yahooey]

mini quiches

mini meatballs

guac. + chjips

pigs in a blanket (i know it isn't good for you but I love them)

i agree that cheese cubes + cracker are always good

[BirdieGal]

@Noel7

Two of our favorite local Japanese restaurants do the exact same thing during lunch. It's really fun. Gyoza in one compartment, salad, rice, sushi, the wasabi and pickled ginger and then the entree. 

Not lunchtime here yet...darn!

[Yardlie]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

These sound like a good way to stay with portion control and also a good way to pack a variety of food so that a diet isn't boring.

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@Cakers3 ... As I was browsing the web a couple days ago looking at Bento boxes, I noticed that most of the manufacturers mentioned how beneficial they are to dieters due to portion control.

It's almost like one of those lunches you can buy on a plane. They have one called "Tapas." It's cardboard box with a variety of different things to eat in it.There is actually a Bento box brand that uses the word "tapas" in it. Those boxes have a diagram on the bottom that shows where your protein should go, grains, fruits/veggies, dips, and snack food. There are a lot of really nice ones out there, but be sure to read the reviews.

[shoekitty]

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@Yardlie wrote:

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@shoekitty wrote:

A real bento box, that is wood or straw and stacks... Was used in the fields. They would stack the foods according to hot, cool then wrap with a towel. I forget the name of the dish towel, but I have several my husbands mom left me.  .  We have a bento thermos we use when traveling.  It is beyond unique and handy.  As an example we put sliced cold cucumbers, shredded cabbage, edamame in the  smallest, then terikayi or grilled chicken, sliced.in the larger section   Then some brocoli.  Or dessert., in the last one.  Two pairs of chop sticks are cleverly hidden...inserted in a chamber, each lid turns into a bowl.  The whole thing It is maybe 13 inches tall and 5 inches wide.  It has a handle.  The one we have for traveling is insulated. Oh, there is even this little vial that slips out for soyu!!!!   Those clever Japanese!

---

@shoekitty ... That is what I purchased....a thermos type one. If I get one for myself and DH, I would put in a lot of raw, fresh veggies, too. We love them, but my mother likes her veggies cooked. I think the Bento boxes I saw online were extremely clever also. Some contained little containers with lids for dipping sauces. I've seen the eating utensils cleverly hidden also. One had chopsticks that came in two pieces, and you had to screw the pieces together!

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Shoekitty said

yes!!! Mine has collapsable chopsticks.  Bowls that are apart of the design.  We travel 8 hours and food is still warm or cool.  

[dex]

How about chicken strips,cottage cheese,chia pudding,muffins

[Cakers3]

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@dex wrote:

How about chicken strips,cottage cheese,chia pudding,muffins

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@dex  A little off topic but I've been seeing chia pudding lately but haven't tried i yet.  Have you?

[dex]

@Cakers3 I make it all of the time and we love it.I always set out different toppings to use.berries,peaches,sliced almonds,crunchy cereal and sometimes hemp seeds.I use one cup of almond milk,one cup of Greek yoghurt,one quarter cup chia,one tsp. Vanilla and two tbsp maple syrup.Stir well and then stir again about 15 min later so chia doesn't settle.I usually make before going to bed so it is nice and thick and the chia has gelled well.I sometimes use only one tbsp maple syrup.