How to Pack Lunch in a Bento Box for Adults
One of the fastest, easiest, healthiest ways to save $5 to $10 a day is to pack your lunch. But, let's face it, normal sack lunches can be a little unappetizing. And the pre-made options on the market are pricey and not always all that great for you. Fortunately, a Japanese-inspired bento lunchbox is perfect for healthy lunch options. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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If you don't already have a bento box, your first step will be to buy one. They are available in stainless steel and colorful plastic versions. They may have multiple tiers and they will definitely have small individual portion containers to keep foods separated.
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Bento boxes are designed for traditional Japanese lunches -- rice, soup, vegetables and entree. You don't have to stick with this formula, but you will want to make sure each container will hold what you want it to hold. (For instance, put liquids in the soup container.)
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Pack your Bento box with lots of variety and plenty of fresh veggies -- that's the great thing about having separate containers for your food -- you can stuff it full of variety and it'll all stay fresh and tasty. Variety is one of the best ways to add some sophistication to your lunch and take it beyond the typical sack lunch.
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Always wash your bento box by hand. Sure, this takes a tiny bit longer than using the dishwasher, but most bento boxes are very easy to clean. Then, once it's washed, pack it up again for tomorrow's lunch.
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Tips & Warnings
Bento box lunches are great for the environment, too. Instead of throwing out a paper sack each day, you can reuse the bento box indefinitely.
References
- Photo Credit Eising/Photodisc/Getty Images
