How to Make | 5 Healthy Bento Box Ideas
Bento box has been the talk of the town ever since they came into being. The reason behind their popularity isn’t necessarily the variety of foods they contain but the way how each item is balanced with the other. A balanced amount of calories and flavours is the reason why people are preferring bento boxes for lunch during work or school. There is no reason not to like them. They’re healthy, diverse, and look pretty nice too. It’s safe to say they’re one of Japan’s finest traditions.
What is A Bento Box?
Originated from Japan, bento boxes are basically lunch boxes packed with a variety of bite sized food items to ensure convenience for students, people who work, and travelers. While the idea was originally Japanese, bento boxes have evolved and adapted to cuisines all around the world. Common items in these boxes include yogurt, salads, sandwiches, fruit, pasta, candy, etc. Even if you’re trying to fill the box with healthy food, you could add a small treat like gummies or chocolate as an incentive to finish the box.
Each box consists of compartments to fit the food so that the flavour of each item doesn’t unite with the other. They’re fun to pack and very easy to carry around. The bite sized servings allow you to consume food anywhere, for example, in the car, the elevator, or during strong work hours. Most importantly, each box is packed with flavours that complement each other and balanced nutrition. Therefore, if you’re on a weight loss journey, you might also wanna try bento boxes for your lunch. Another thing to keep in mind is that bento boxes need to be packed nice and neat. Opening your box to find beautifully packed food will only make you want to gobble it all up and pursue bento boxes in the future. Following are some amazing and healthy bento box ideas.
- The Japanese Bento Box
Since bento boxes are a Japanese specialty, these people are pioneers in making them. Japanese bento boxes may include boiled or fried rice, a type or two of sushi, Tamagoyaki (a type of Japanese omelette), 2 types of rolls, chicken or beef teriyaki, and boiled or pickled vegetables. Machi Sushi restaurant in Victoria, BC has some of the best Japanese bento boxes available. If you happen to be nearby, you can grab some from them. The reason why Japanese bento boxes are the healthiest is because every food item is low carb and low fat. Moreover, Japanese food isn’t just healthy, it’s delicious too.
- Meat And Cheese Bento Box
This one belongs to the post-conventional category of bento boxes. It’s not necessarily a weight loss friendly bento box. It’s rather the one that’s packed with nutrition. You can add a portion of meat, be it fried or flavored chicken, pepperoni, beef jerky, etc. The second portion can have slices of cheese, any that you prefer. Butter crackers go wonderfully for both of these items, hence the third portion. Lastly, for a sweet side you can include fruit. Blueberries and raspberries go wonderfully with the flavour profile of the above-mentioned items.
- Chickpea Salad Bento Box
Another healthy bento box can have a chickpea salad as the main dish. Chickpeas are healthy and no matter how much you eat of them, you won’t gain an ounce of weight. Keeping the portions healthy, you can include baby carrots, butter crackers, celery as sides. Lastly, a boiled egg will be the final component of a super-healthy plus nutritional meal. This particular bento box can be used for both breakfast and lunches.
The Bottom Line
Bento boxes are a wonderful way to pack your s or a loved one’s lunch. If your child doesn’t finish their lunch, try bento boxes. All you have to do is pair food items with each other in terms of flavour and nutrition. Traditional Japanese bento boxes were designed to be healthy so let’s keep it that way. Add a little treat compartment to keep things interesting. Lastly, play close attention to the presentation of your bento box.
