Homemade lunch takeaway: 5 rules for the preparation bento

Bento (Jap. Bento 弁 当) - Japanese term for single serve packaged food. Traditionally bento includes rice, fish or meat, and one or more of chopped raw or pickled vegetables in a box with a lid. The boxes may be of various shapes and a method of manufacturing - by simple manufacturing methods of mass Production of containers to the piece-work, from rare wood, lacquered, is a true work art.

And if simply, it is the food, which is beautifully laid out and packed in a beautiful box, which is very convenient to take with you. Like all Japanese, this is a very peculiar region, not afraid of the word art, as some bento look as if it were a work of art. In Japan, they are sold in stores and ready-packed. And every housewife considers it his duty to learn to make bento.

But bento can be not only a tradition. The West, as always, takes the best and most interesting from the East, and Asia, and a little alters in their own way. We can also add yourself to work as a lunch or children in our bento school, in which instead of rice and fish will be pancakes with cottage cheese or chicken Kiev. Anyway, from what you decide to make their own lunch, most importantly, to match 5 main rules bento. Than it can be useful to us? Well, firstly, because the food looks beautiful, and thus more appetizing. Secondly, in one such bento you will naturally pack a few delicious and healthy meals, instead of one. And, thirdly, it is a good idea for children's treats on holidays or trips to picnics with the big companies.

Some bento look like this:

© photo

In the same post, we will focus on a simple and very tasty options. For example, like these:

Thus, the 5 basic rules of drawing up a bento every day:

• Food should be delicious. The simplest and one of the most important rules.
• Healthy reasonable and nutritious. You can eat sweets and other dzhankfud at any time of the day, but dinner should be delicious, useful and nutritious, because it is - our fuel until the end of the day. This is the second important rule!
• Neat and appetizing in appearance. One of the fundamental principles of bento, as well as all Japanese cuisine - the appearance of food is important, as well as its taste.
• Simple and quick to prepare. Because you and that too much time is spent on everything else. Even those who love to cook, daily hours at the stove, and the production of culinary delights takes too much time and effort. And the process is not a joy, and the result. Therefore, to highlight creativity itself one day, and for days, leave the simplicity and functionality. Compose your meals simple, healthy and tasty ingredients.
• Food should not be expensive. Preparation of lunches at home - a great way to save money. Because even if you think that the cost of a business lunch well, very cheap, it may be a good option several times. But even the cheapest set meal at the end of the month will cost you a pretty penny round. And I said that it is much more useful to any business lunch?

And another rule bento - all that you packed up, should be eaten within a few hours. That is, if you brought a lunch, you must eat it at lunch, not at 16:00 at tea. So you have to prepare your own lunch of such products which either do not spoil at room temperature, or they can be eaten cold, and from this common dish does not lose its taste.

Picnic perfect:

• Proteins that are delicious and safe at room temperature. Hard-boiled egg, fried or cooked chicken meat delicacies (ham, ham, etc.)
• Steamed, chilled or raw vegetables, which do not fade (carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.).
• Carbohydrates that are delicious and safe at room temperature. It can be a bread made and well packed rice or other grains. Pasta with sauces or ingredients not on the basis of mayonnaise.
• Dry products. Nuts, dried fruits, seeds, crackers or bread.
• Canned foods. For example, jam or pickles.

If you collect yourself lunch to work, you can easily take with them in separate containers that even need to be eaten cold. For example, a tuna salad or vegetable salad. And yet, as we are not in Japan and observe all rules do not, you can take with you and what you can warm up. Of course, if you have a microwave at work. Soup can be brought separately, and the second a beautifully packaged in a container.

How to make a bento every day?

To begin, make a list of your favorite foods and products that you would like to eat every day. Then divide the list by 5 columns: proteins, carbohydrates, combination products, vegetables, fruits and sweets. And write to each of the speakers at least 3-4 meals or individual products in each category.

After that make up their dinner from the selected products for a few days in advance. The final touch - choose a comfortable and roomy box for their meals. In addition to the standard forms you can use small silicone molds for cakes for one dish did not mix with the rest. For example, there can be put cacık or hummus, or something else that you do not want to mix with the main course.

examples bento

bento №1

Assemble sandwiches with your favorite ingredients and add in a box of fresh vegetables!

bento №2

Ingredients: cooked ham, cheese, grapes, prosciutto, whole wheat bread and mix of greens.

bento №3

Cabbage with the baked potatoes, carnations and a piece of hard cheese in the form of an angel. And it is better not to extinguish cabbage faster and take brussels sprouts (so convenient), cut in half and coat with olive oil. Put it on a baking sheet and bake send or under the grill. As a result, it is a more delicious, it is less fuss, it is well kept in the fridge and is delicious even cold. How to bake potatoes, I think, you know. Cheese is also not necessarily so dodge, but if you like - you can use any aluminum cookie cutters.

bento №4

Boiled rice, asparagus, peas, eggs, salted salmon and tomatoes. The asparagus can add a few drops of vinegar to taste.

bento №5

This boxed lunch broccoli pieces (in boiling salt water for two or three minutes), fried dumplings (original fried ravioli), fennel (can be replaced by any other favorite vegetable or root) and meat meatballs. I think that just fried pieces of meat or poultry will also work.

Links to other recipes.

Good appetite!