Deconstructing The Bento Box (2024)

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Bento Box Lunch Ideas - For Work or School - Downshiftology

For packed lunch envy (office or school), look no further than the Japanese bento box. These boxes have become common sight in western countries, especially in large cosmopolitan cities like London and are readily found in many high-street chains. The word ‘bento’ translates to convenience, which is the main reason they were devised. We recommend assembling one yourself as it can be a creative, healthy and therapeutic endeavour. Bento boxes are not so much food as they are a way of life and a work of art in Japan, with lots of thought put in, making eating a well-rounded sensory experience, both visually and taste-wise.

History

The history of bento boxes dates as long back as the Kamakura period (1185–1333), when cooked and dried rice called hoshi-ii was carried to work. (Hoshi-ii came in a small bag and had to be cooked with hot water). The traditional lacquered wooden boxes we are familiar with today were produced in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600), and bento would be eaten during a hanami or a tea party.

Following an export boom in World War I, the bento came to reflect a student’s social status — how wealthy one’s family was, was assessed based on the packed bento a student would carry to school. This drove a social movement to abolish it and after World War II, the bento culture gradually declined and was replaced by uniform food provided for all students and teachers.

Through the years, the box has evolved from bamboo leaves, woven bamboo woven boxes and the expensive lacquered wood and metal boxes, and eventually to disposable and cost-effective polystyrene packages around the 1980’s. A transition that came about with the advent of the microwave and widespread expansion of convenience stores.

Proportion

(Image via https://www.justonecookbook.com/how-to-make-bento/)

The golden ratio for constructing your bento box is 4:3:2:1, this consists of 4 parts rice, 3 parts protein, 2 parts vegetable and 1 part pickle. However, this ratio can easily be adjusted accordingly to your dietary and lifestyle requirements.

The Break-down

Colour is a good indicator of how you can construct your bento box. Be sure to have varied colours which doubles as a handy cheat of making sure your body is getting in the right nutrients and everything looking pretty. When in doubt, remember to #EatTheRainbow! 🍭

(Image via @kosho_kitchen)

Here are some suggestions for toppings, following the ratio above:

If you are following a Paleo, Keto or low carb diet, simply swap the traditional ratio around to focus on ingredients that suit your respective diet instead. Sectioning your food up is a great visual cue to make sure you are getting all your essential nutrients.

(Image via: https://nomnompaleo.com/paleolunchboxes)

Not a big lunch eater? Try bite-sized fruit, nut, seed or raw vegetable snack boxes that you can graze on throughout the day. Grazing on healthy bites help prevent your hands from reaching out for unwholesome cravings. Who needs crisps anyway when you have a neat box of celery and carrot sticks or cherries and blueberries right next to you.

(Image via: https://pinterest.com/)

Packing

(Image via @ocharinko)

These pretty boxes do involve quite a fair bit of practice. If not packed tightly or in the correct format, you may run the risk of your ingredients toppling the moment you lift the lid off. To avoid a messy lunch experience, be sure to tightly pack the rice first. Followed by bulkier items that have a solid shape like your proteins or vegetable. The smaller items come in third, as they can be arranged into any open spaces. Finally, top with garnishes. If some food have lots of sauce, place the saucy food at the bottom and put rice or gains on its top to avoid messy presentation.

Popular types of Bento

Kyaraben

(Image via @littlemissbento)

Kyaraben, or charaben, a word combining character + bento, is a style of elaborately arranged bento which features food decorated to look like people, anime or cartoon characters, animals and plants. You can up your game by using an edible food pen to draw more intricate details like faces and bring your creations to life. These are very popular especially in the age of social media, with children and adults alike. We reckon they also make a handy tactic to get kids to eat their veggies.

(Image via @naomiiii61)

Ekiben

Another form of the bento is Ekiben (railway boxed meals) which was created around 1885, and still exists today. They provide convenience and comfort for hungry travellers and sold on trains and train stations in Japan.

(Image: Wikipedia)

(Image: www.jrailpass.com)

Try

Hungry for a modern, vegan — and cosmopolitan — take on the bento? This Vegan Bento Bowl by The Little Plantation is a powerhouse of nutrients with avocado, red cabbage, smoked tofu, brown rice and fruity inclusions with pear and pomegranate seeds. Not to mention, it looks pretty delicious.

Need more packed food inspiration? View our *Shopping List recommendations for picnic-friendly food to enjoy under the sun!

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