(food) Lunch tomorrow

[vg_ford]

I thought I'd share what I've been eating for lunch lately - I'm sure some of you have heard me talking about bentos. I'm uploading them (when I make them) to bentolunch, which is a fabulous comm and has some amazing lunches. Mine are pretty utilitarian, but they're yummy.

Tomorrow, I have homemade minestrone soup in another container, and an apple blossom that's packed in its own container, so I only have one container:




I have, starting from the upper left, a small container of pomegranate seeds, two grape tomatoes, two slices of bread in plastic wrap, 5 more grape tomatoes, four goat cheese balls rolled in mint and sesame seeds and cucumbers. It's not a lot of food, but it's really filling.

So now you know what I mean when I say bento! :) If I do any really cool ones, I'll post them, but I don't want to use up everyone's bandwith. Unless people want me to keep posting them, that is.

Comments

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

i have to say no, I still dont understand Bento? is it like special food? Vegetarian? Brand names? What?

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

Bento is basically just a box lunch, with much of the priority lying in presentation (making pictures and shapes with the food, bright colors, etc.). Japanese shops sell pretty boxes for this purpose, liners, egg molds, cutters so you can turn your veggies into hearts and flowers, etc.

The small size of bento boxes are also popular, as they help control portion amounts.

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

Ah. okay. i think... Must be the American in me. While I understand it now. I still dont get it! LOL.

All i can think of is what a waste of time and food (the idea of cutting shapes is very wasteful I would think) . I barely have time to just slop it all in a cooler bag let alone make sure is pretty!

I feel happy when I can get a microwave in a timely manner.. LOL but then I work Govt... so my employers arent that bright.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

That's another awesome part of bento -most of it can be eaten at room temperature, which means no worrying about a microwave! But yeah, some of the charabens are wicked fussy and far beyond me. I just take food I'm already eating and putting them into the box.

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

I went and looked at some of those pictures at that site and nearly keeled over laughing! OMG. Im happy when My Ziplock containers dont open!

Sadly I tend to be on the like hot food for my dinner line of thought. I am very dissappointed the nights I end up with just a sandwich. I would be very unsatisfied with a Bento in it supposed to be portions and amounts and types like you describe at my job, but then Im supposed to and sometimes doing heavy labor.

Wouldnt the people who bring sushi need to refrigerate? Now that would be nice excepting I would have to make it! LOL

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

I have ice packs that keep mine cold at my desk. :)

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

It IS time consuming, which is why I fall in and out of doing it myself.

In ideal bento romanticism, the stay-at-home spouse is making it for their working spouse and children. The time it takes is supposed to be tantamount to caring about them (getting up early to prepare them an awesome lunch while they're out). (Not making a value judgment on this household model, just saying that's the basis). In reality, particularly to those trying to emulate it in western culture, we're all working adults, and it's a lot more extra work.

I find a well-made bento to be more uplifting to me (and my SO) in the middle of the day than leftovers slopped into a microwaveable container, but it's oftentimes hard for me to get the energy to remember that when I could sleep in or play video games a little longer :D

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I find most of the charabans (character bentos) and really fussy bentos that are posted on bentolunch seem to be by moms making them for kids.

I don't always have time for that, but I love looking at them, and definitely seeing my little box there for lunch and knowing how much good food is in it definitely raising my spirits.

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

Romanticism is the perfect word for.

Its quite interesting I do have to say. I personally dont think I would get an uplift from it, but i can see where some people might.

Learn something new every day.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Like shadawyn said, it's the Japanese word (it's actually obento, I believe) for box lunch. The priority is on the mixing of colors of food - I read somewhere that your lunch should have five colors in it - basically, 5 different types of food, and it should have 3 parts grain, 2 parts vegetable, 1 part fruit and 1 part protein. I use whatever I have around for my bentos, and tend to mix and match my cultures.

The best part is the built-in portion control, for me.

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

thanks to both for the info. I have to say I am now very amused with the whole idea of it.

Much past something I could ever want to deal with. Kudos to you! LOL

[mela-lyn.livejournal.com]

You know, those would be awesome Weight Watcher meals... you should email them. :) It's a great concept for portions, getting the right food types, and trying to go for variety. I may have to look into those more. Thanks for the info!! :)

[mela-lyn.livejournal.com]

That. Looks. SOOOOOOOOOO. Good. Wow.

Can you post the recipe for the cheese balls please?

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can get it - these are left-over from Brian's birthday.

[mela-lyn.livejournal.com]

Ah... but thanks if you can! :) Goat cheese isn't supposed to be so bad points-wise on Weight Watchers, I think. :) I hope! Those look yummeh!

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

They are wicked yummy. I'll email her tonight and get the recipe.

[mela-lyn.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Thanks!