Bento Boxes are Trending and You Need One

A bento box, single portion meal container, comes from Japanese culture. So why is it gaining popularity in the United States? The main reasons are convenience, control, and artful presentation in meal preparation. In fact, "Bento" is a Japanese term that directly translates to "convenient" or "convenience." Continue reading to learn why you should get a bento box for your lunches. 

Why do you need a bento box?

Mindful Eating

A bento box creates a smart way to manage meals and proportions. This is because the bento box is a single portion meal container with multiple different sized compartments. Each compartment layout makes it easy to organize each food type without mixing them.

Therefore, the lunch container naturally encourages a balanced meal for healthy eating when food is placed in the container according to nutrition. A traditional bento typically consists of three foods: rice, meat, and vegetables. But of course, it can be different to each person if you want to go the untraditional route. For example, if you are packing a bento box for a child, you may want to include sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, and a snack instead. There are many great examples online of what can be packed and especially through TikTok videos. 

Visually Appealing

We eat with our eyes first! Bento boxes can be an attractive way to catch the eyes of picky eaters or kids. By having the food in their own compartments, it can help the picky eater feel at ease since the different foods don't touch, like they would in other containers. The separation creates an appetizing presentation because the food is separated based on colors, shapes, textures, and more. Plus, bento boxes come in fun colors and designs like this personalized name construction truck design from 28 Collective. 

Meal Prepping

Bento boxes can make meal prepping easy as it is easier to bring meals on the go, to work, or to school. Effective use of space and creative presentation are important. Cut the food into different sizes and shapes to ensure the compartments are fitting each item. Separate the dry food from the wet food by using the compartments.

If you're putting in foods that require refrigeration, make sure that you have a refrigerator to store the food, as most bento boxes do not have a space for an ice pack to be inserted. You may be able to fit your bento box into a lunchbox, where you can place the ice pack. Traditional bento boxes are made to be eaten within a few hours without heating up or refrigeration. 

It’s hard to resist how convenient, organized, and appetizing bento boxes are! Bento boxes make packing lunch simple and since they’re reusable, you can skip the waste of paper bags and plastic sandwich bags. It’s a win for you and the planet!