Bento Baby: My First American Bento

I have a new obsession! While perusing cookbooks on Amazon, I stumbled across a book entitled Just Bento, by Makiko Ihto and the associated blogs: Just Bento and Just Hungry. I am a sucker for cover art, and this cookbook mesmerized me: cute, color-coordinated, and veggieful! So, of course, I bought it immediately.

The purchase is indicative of more than just my impulsive spending habits, however. A quick glance at the product description and Ihto's blogs reminded me of a few important things:

1. I have a stash of under-utilized Japanese ingredients residing in my pantry,
2. I have terrible lunch-packing habits ,
3. It would be fun to make nutritional lunches every day, and
4. Veggie Horizons is seriously lacking in lunch recipes (probably because of #2)

So, I've decided to jump on the bento bandwagon and make it happen!

But First, What is Bento?

According to Ihto, bento is simply a meal served in a box. There is a long and storied tradition of bento in Japan, but I think that I should let the experts tell you about the history and philosophy of bento-making, rather than trying to appropriate a tradition that I may not fully understand. 

So, with a nod to my cultural limitations, it seems that most anything can be a bento box, or go inside of a bento box. Personally, bento-making appeals to me because the process places an emphasis on utilizing a variety of textures, colors, and techniques to make a highly nutritious and attractive lunch. The concept of constructing a satisfying meal while incorporating many different vegetables is enticing to me, since I rarely eat an honest lunch as it is. Furthermore, one has to fit all of one's lunch into a relatively small container (See this article to help you determine what size of bento box is right for you), helping to control portion size. What could be healthier (physically and psychologically) than a vegetable-based lunch that's compact enough to fit comfortably into your purse? Nothing.

Photo courtesy of: A Basic Bento in 20 Minutes - JustBento.Com

Besides, making bento looks so darn fun!

Note: Ihto discusses at length something called "Charaben" or "Cute Bento," which are elaborately decorative bentos made by competitive Moms and Bento Artists. Though I am certainly in love with such culinary craftiness, I highly doubt that I will have time to make anything like this before work in the morning.

My First Bento

Well, here it is! I know it's not as cute or exciting as the bento on Just Bento. Also, the components are not Japanese at all. However, I think this bento box respects the principles of bento-making pretty well. My first attempt features three kinds of vegetables, a serving of whole grain, and a serving of protein, though it omits the cornerstone of the Japanese Bento (rice).

The two teir bento box I got on Amazon.com for $7.00!!!

A very American but delicious bento combination!

Contents:

1/2 Cup Chopped Baby Carrots

2 Tablespoons Smuckers All-Natural Peanut Butter

1 Whole Wheat English Muffin (click for recipe)

1/2 Cup Raw Cauliflower

1/2 Cup Sautéed Swiss Chard with Garlic

Though I suspect that getting into the habit of bento-making might be easier if I start off by using ingredients and combinations with which I'm already familiar, I'm hoping to make Japanese Rice Balls (onigiri) sometime this week, and then try out an authentic Japanese bento combination!