NIPPON
BENTO just bento cookbook : every have lunches
CONTENT
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What is bento?
に
Maki's Top 10 Bento Rules
ろ く
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What is bento? べ んと は 何 で す か？
What is bento? べ んと は 何 で す か？
Bento (written 弁当), or obento (お弁当) to use the honorific term, is the Japanese word for a meal served in a box. Beyond that basic definition though, just about anything goes as to what kind of box or container is used, as well as what is put inside that box
Maki's Top 10 Bento Rules
マ キ のトップ 1 0 弁 当 ほうそく。
1
ă „ ă Ą
My bentos have to be reasonably healthy and balanced.
make sure to include protein and carbohydrates in every bento box. I always add vegetables. Besides being nutritious, they are so colorful! In my bentos vegetables are not an afterthought—they take a starring role alongside the other main ingredients. I sometimes add fruit as a dessert, though occasionally I treat myself to a small brownie or something.
に
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Keep it simple. I don’t have the time to spend making multiple items for my bentos, unless it’s for a party or something. I stick to a maximum of four or five different items per box for everyday bentos; many of my bentos contain three items or less.
さ ん
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Make sure the bento is tasty.
Any bento I make has to taste so good that I’m drooling in anticipation of opening my box at lunchtime. I never pack something just because it’s supposed to be healthy. I also make sure that the food I put in tastes good even when cold or at room temperature. Sometimes I carry along an ice pack, but they do add extra weight, so most of my bentos are meant to be eaten at room temperature.
よ ん
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Make the bento, fun, colorful and attractive ,but don’t fuss too much. We eat with our eyes as well as our mouths and stomachs. A bento box should look colorful and appetizing. I have a general rule of keeping bento decorating time — the time needed for the addition of things like cutely cut vegetables or decorated rice balls — to a maximum of ten minutes per bento for everyday bentos. Usually it takes me no more than five minutes to add a fun, decorative element.
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5
Use seasonal, locally grown, natural ingredients whenever possible. I try to make use of seasonal produce as much as possible. I also try to stay away from pre-made, processed foods. Most of my bentos are made with fresh, natural ingredients - organic and untreated fruits and vegetables, ethically raised meat and poultry, and so on. When I do use processed foods such as canned beans or processed meats, I try to stick to ones that have a minimum of additives.
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Pay attention to safety and hygiene.
When packing food that may have to sit at room temperature for some time before being eaten, it’s crucial to follow proper, safe, bento-packing practices. Try to handle the food with your bare hands as little as possible - use chopsticks and other utensils to arrange your food, or consider using those disposable gloves that commercial food preparers use. Don’t lick your fingers while you’re arranging your cute little bento-scapes! In warm weather or for food that might spoil easily, be sure to use an ice pack.
な な
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Plan ahead.
The biggest time waster in the morning is peering through the refrigerator and the cupboards, wondering what to make! I try to spend a few minutes every week planning out my bentos. I may not stick to the plan all the time, but it’s so helpful to have some idea of what to pack beforehand. My Weekly Bento Planner and Weekly Meal Planner forms may help.
は ち
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Stock up on homemade and store-bought staples.
Staples are items that have been fully or half-cooked in advance and that can be packed into a bento box with little or no additional cooking. I try to keep at least a few such items stocked in my freezer, refrigerator, or pantry. Most of my bento staples are homemade—I usually make them when I’m cooking dinner, or when I have some time on the weekends.
き ゅ う
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Keep costs down.
Bringing a bento from home saves a lot of money over buying lunch from a fast food place or eating out. It s also a great way of using up leftovers which otherwise might go to waste. To help me save even more money, I try to stick to economical cuts of meat and fish, and vegetables that are in season.
10
じ ゅ う
Keep coDon’t try to replicate Japanese bentos made in Japan, at least not all the time.sts down.
For my everyday bentos, I alternate traditional, authentic tasting Japanese-style bentos that have been adapted to use ingredients that are widely available, with bentos that combine various non-Japanese dishes and flavors.
日べ ん 本 と
ただ弁当料理本：すべてのは、ランチを持っている