Help me pack bento / lunches

[vigilant20]

Ok, this is actually for myself, but I thought this would be the best category :) I love packing bentos for myself, and am making a commitment to eat more raw in the new year. I'd like to pack raw bentos for my work lunches, but I'm drawing a blank at what to put in them.

Does anyone here pack bentos? What do you put in your brown bag lunches?

[HolyGuacamole]

Tee hee, we are bento fans.
We like to make nori rolls, and cut up veggies & pate/dip/whatever, and cut up fruit.
Pretty simple, but eating out of a bento box makes it ever so much more fun!

[michigan roman]

requesting enlightenment as to the description of a bento :p

* if that sentence even made any sense :D

[HolyGuacamole]

Now you have me looking at bento pictures, vigilant!
Here's a cute, simple one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17779288@N02/2409335000

michigan_roman, bento is just basically a little Japanese-style packed lunch. Bento boxes are cute little compartmentalized lunch boxes. There is a whole art to bento too, it's very creative, and sometimes involves molded rice balls colored and decorated to look like different kawaii (essentially meaning cute) Japanese characters and foods cut into cute shapes.
http://images.google.com/images?q=bento&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bento

[michigan roman]

so its kinda like playing with play - doh :D



http://www.flickr.com/photos/uvince/81919999/sizes/l/ ..

[spicyfull]

I guess there's a reason I have not heard of them, so they are just a container for a Child's food. Thanks for Sharing something New with Me.

[HolyGuacamole]

Yes, it is playful and it is child-like, and there ain't nothin' wrong with that!

[PamRaw]

Actually, bento boxes have caught on with children in this country but adults use them, too. I've found it nearly impossible to find a larger, adult sized bento box here, though. Has anyone had any luck with that?

[Indybreeze]

Here is a link to a site that sells an american version of a bento. I have two of them for my kids. If you do not eat a large amount of food it could be used for an adult. If you purchase the kit, it comes with a zippered bag to put it in, and a water bottle which fits in the bag too. They are expensive IMO but we have had ours for 3 years and they still look good. I have even laundered the bag.


http://www.laptoplunches.com/

[Lady Green Jeans]

The Japanese rest. I used to frequent served all their meals in a good size bento tray. Before raw I still pondered if they could be used for my lunches as they were really impressive. Will now have to look for one to shake up the presentation once in awhile. It is said that we dine with our eyes before we even begin enjoying food on our palate.

[HolyGuacamole]

Eee, I just saw your raw bento stream on Flickr, vigilant20! *claps*