Just Bento

This is the top page for bentos that are made completely (or mostly) in a rice cooker.

Here’s the great bento idea of the week from the bento community - cucumber ribbons from MJ! continue reading...

Here’s a easy and pretty bento decorating idea from around the bento community - decorated muffins by Emily. continue reading...

This is the start page for the Bento Idea Of The Week posts, where we highlight neat bentos and bento-box ideas from the JustBento community.

You’ve browsed the bento blogs and flickr bento groups, and while you know that any appropriate box can be used for bentos, you’re hankering after a ‘real’ bento box. But bento boxes aren’t that cheap, especially if you’re ordering by mail. How do you know you’re getting a box that’s the right size for you?

You may have read what bento box sizes are considered appropriate for kids, women, men and so on. But that’s advice given for traditional-style Japanese bento meals, where about half of the capacity or more is taken up by tightly packed rice. If you’ll only be toting Japanese style lunches those recommendations are fine, but if you plan to mix it up with salad bentos, sandwich bentos and more, then the box-capacity recommendations may not apply to you.

So how can you really tell, before you spend the money for a bento box, if it’s the right size for your specific needs? continue reading...

In this section, you’ll find all the news, updates and so on about the Just Bento Cookbook, published by Kodansha USA. It is available worldwide. (Skip ahead to store list.)

It is now available for preorder on Amazon.com. continue reading...

So you are planning a trip to Japan. You want to stock up on bento boxes and accessories. Where should you go? There are stores to cater to many needs and budgets.

Note that this guide is biased towards the Tokyo metropolitan area, but the general principles apply to other areas of the country. continue reading...

This health-conscious guest post is by Debra of the fabulous hapa bento. We are entering the heavy duty feasting season now, so now is a good a time as ever to use nutritional bentos to keep yourself going!

The classic bento box with its proportioned rice, protein and vegetable combination is a balance of taste, harmony of flavors, and prepared to keep spoilage to a minimum. Another dimension of this classic lunch is nutrition. The rice provides carbohydrates, and carbs are arguably the most important source of energy. The protein keeps your muscles in repair, vegetables offer crucial vitamins that nourish your organs, and lastly but just as vital, some fats. More about the value of fats a little later. A bento box lunch is designed to offer sustenance.

But what if you need more? What if you are an active person and need to turn it up a notch? Well, a nutritionally dense bento box may be your answer. continue reading...