Healthy and Balanced Include protein and carbohydrates in every bento box. Always add vegetables. Keep total calorie count down. Add in fruits as desserts as they contain a lot of sugar in addition to those good vitamins.
Keep Bento Simple Stick to a maximum of four to five different items per box.
Bento is Tasty Bento has to taste good so that the one eating it looks forward to consuming it. Make sure the food remains tasty even when cold or at room temperature.
Fun, Colourful and Attractive We eat with our eyes as well as our mouths and stomachs. A bento box should look colourful and appetizing. However, you should only spend about ten minutes in decorating it. Keep in mind that a well-balanced, colourful bento can be beautiful on its own without any additional frills.
Use Natural Ingredients Stay away from read-made, processed food. But if you need to, stick to those that have lesser additives.
Plan Ahead Planning ahead of time prevents you from peering thru' the fridge and the cupboards, wondering what to cook. You don't have to this everyday, probably once a week.
Grocery Shopping Look for food that requires little or no cooking and fits nicely in a small box. For example, very thinly sliced meat, bite-sized cheese, single-serving crackers, small bread rolls, tiny yogurt packs, baby vegetables, etc.
Keep Cost Down Bringing bento from home is always healthier and cheaper than eating out. To save even more, stick to econimal cuts of fish and meat.
Safety and Hygienic Make sure utensils and containers used have been properly washed. Avoid touching the food too much with your hands, especially in hot weather. If you are making decorations, try to use chopsticks, tweezers or any other utensils to arrange the food if possible.
Don't Replicate Japanese Bentos Bentos are very popular in Japan, but it's not necessary to include Japanese dishes. A homemade bento is appealing because it is healthy, attractive and delicious, made with care and attention.
Prepare as much as possible beforehand Cutting vegetables, slicing meat, washing and drying greens - all these will cut down on the bento-making time in the morning.
Don't overreach A bento is a meal not a craft project. It is not necessary for bento to look cute and look like anime characters. Concentrate on assembling tasty, nutritious food, the frills are just extra.
Fruits are perfect desserts If you don't have time to make desserts, fruits are the best alternatives. They are sweet and healthy, and makes a perfect, easy dessert.
Cool down cooked food Condensation formed in a closed container provides the best environment for bacteria. Make sure food has completely cooled down before putting on the lid.
Use ice pack if needed Some food like raw vegetables and salads that use mayonnaise, need to be kept cold, especially in hot weather. Some food also taste better if it's cold.
Food that cannot be included
Raw fish. For example, sashimi and raw fish sushi. Undercooked meat like beef. Undercooked tofu. Moist, uncooked tofu spoils easily. Half-cooked eggs. For example, soft boiled eggs and runny poached eggs. Homemade mayo (because it does not contain additives) unless kept cold.