Top Ten Bento Box Ideas

Bento boxes are the equivalent of a packed lunch — but elevated to an art form. The boxes themselves come in all shapes and sizes, some with compartments or little lidded containers to hold a variety of foods. Bento boxes can be utilitarian or incredibly creative and fun.

In the Miso Cozy Mysteries series, Mei not only eats plenty of bento boxes but sells them in her tea shop. She inherited a collection of beautiful antique bento boxes from a deceased friend, and displays them on the shelves alongside her teas.

In general, a bento lunch will have at least three components, but most likely more: noodles or rice, a protein, vegetables, pickles, something sweet. The variety is staggering. And a well-prepared bento conveys love through food. What could be better?

Here are my top ten bento box ideas to get you started:

1. Leftovers — The best way to start! Last night's beef stew goes in the box, add fresh carrots, a wedge of cheese, some crackers, and a cookie. Done.
2. Onigiri (Rice Balls) — A Japanese staple. Rice balls stuffed with cooked tuna, salmon, or pickled plum. Get an onigiri mold and keep the nori on the side — wrap right before eating so it stays crispy.
3. Themed egg molds — Hard-boil eggs, peel them while still warm, and press into shaped molds. Stars, cars, bunnies — the options are endless.
4. Sliced proteins — Cold chicken, sliced deli meat, baked tofu, or hard-boiled eggs with a soy dipping sauce.
5. Cut vegetables — Carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery. Or go Japanese with seaweed salad, cooked lotus root, or bamboo shoots.
6. Veggie sushi — Sushi rice, nori, avocado, cucumber, and carrots. Roll it at home with plastic wrap. It's easier than it looks.
7. Cold fried noodles — Make soy-sauce fried noodles or ramen-style noodles the night before. They taste great cold and hold up beautifully.
8. Mini sandwiches — Cut your favorite sandwiches small — diagonally or with a large cookie cutter for a fun shape.
9. A small dessert — A couple of cookies, a small piece of mochi, or a few pieces of seasonal fruit.
10. Create a theme — This is where it gets really fun. Hello Kitty, Totoro, cherry blossoms, ninja — pick your passion and build a themed bento around it. Look online for inspiration and you'll go down a very happy rabbit hole.

If you're wary of making your own, a local Japanese restaurant will often have bento lunch specials. Try one and let it inspire you!