Ode to the Obento!

As I once again sit at my desk on a Monday and make silent oaths in my head to "not drink so much next weekend," "only eat pizza once a week," and "definitely run more than once this week," I am inspired by the Bento lunch craze that has become increasingly popular in America...

I had heard the word "Bento" in reference to a lunchbox, but wasn't quite sure what it entailed...basically, it is defined thusly: a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bentō consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more vegetable, usually in a box-shaped container, (wikipedia.com). Obento, in Japanese, means "boxed meal," and is an art-form. Japanese mothers spend a lot of time making the perfect obento--a balance of color, taste, and texture.

The New York Times recently did a story on Bentos, Bento Boxes Win Lunch Fans. Bentos can be cute, but don't have to be, and are great for help with portion control. Here are some super-beautiful and creative Bentos...maybe when I have kids I'll attempt one of these...

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Until then, maybe I can try making one more like this:

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And here are a few Bento accessories that I would love to have:

2-tier Bento box
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Mini-animal soy sauce bottles
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Bento divider cups

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I'm going to experiment with Bentos soon...I'll post the prototypes.

If you've ever tried making Bentos or if you're inspired, please let me know and post pictures. Here are some Bento-inspired blogs:

Adventures in Bentomaking
Lunch in a Box
Leggo My Obento

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