Atkins Bentos

[killerbombshell]

I've been reading up on Bento boxes the past couple of weeks as a great tool to get excited and creatives about lunches as well as a good tool for portion control and preparation. I'm at work three days a week and in school for two more during lunchtime and I'd love to have a great, filling meal to look forward to.

From Wikipedia:

Bentō is a single-portion takeout meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. While bento are readily available at convenience stores and bento shops (弁当屋, bentō-ya) throughout Japan, it is still considered an essential skill of a Japanese housewife to be able to prepare an appealing boxed lunch.

Bento can be very elaborate, aesthetically pleasing cuisine arrangements. Often the food is arranged in such a way as to resemble other objects: dolls, flowers, leaves, and so forth.

I'm looking for any suggestions anyone might have about small foods that might work non-refrigerated in Bentos. Fresh veggies, pieces of cheese and pepperoni are already slated on my list as well as larger portions of pre-prepared chicken breast, chicken or tuna salad or meatballs. All nature of suggestions for all rungs! I'll post pictures of the bentos I make tonight (I'd like to do at least 2 at a time) and maybe set a trend.

[not2late]

Re: Atkins Bentos

There's a non-lettuce Salad thread further down this page. Those salads are good keepers and travellers. Lettuce salads wilt if they are dressed ahead of time. So you'll need to carry the dressing in a separate container. Fruit salads depending on your OWL and Pre-Maintenance.

Other things include cubes or chunks of meat with a dipping sauce or two.

Frittattas travel well too. I've brought them along for boxed lunches and they actually taste better at room temperature than they do hot or cold. Hard-boiled eggs also travel well.

SAndwiches: Induction and early OWL use the Atkins REvolution Rolls recipe, then for the rest of the Diet, use phase appropriate ingredients.

This is what I use for my lunches: http://www.lifesolutionsplus.com/fit...-go-p-405.html

Or I use a food storage container, depending on how much food and type of food I bring.

[astrogirl]

Re: Atkins Bentos

JAPANESE CUCUMBER SALAD

This light, refreshing salad is a perfect
accompaniment to grilled or roasted meats. Try to
purchase English, a.k.a., seedless cucumbers, instead
of regular ones. Though not actually seedless, the seeds are
smaller and the flesh firmer.

1 English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon granular sugar substitute

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; toss until
combined.

------
This stuff is taaasty.

I'd like to keep up with this thread as we have a few Bento boxes.

[not2late]

Re: Atkins Bentos

But almost any dish can be used for a Bento box: chicken or salmon pate on vegetable holders (endive leaves, hollowed radishes or cherry tomatoes), smoked salmon handrolls (cut nori sheets into squares and wrap in plastic, then have all the 'sushi' fillings/condiments in your lunch kit), fajita type stuff, a plowman's lunch (cheese, egg, pickles and a bread substitute), etc.

[Miss Phode]

Re: Atkins Bentos

I do have a really nice insulated Nissan bento lunch box. I used it when I was doing the whole vegan/macrobiotic cooking thing, but since I've gone on to eat meat, I didn't know what to do with it and it's collecting dust. I used to put miso soup in one compartment, steamed veggies in another, a cold salad in another and hot grains in the other. It has 4 compartments, each compartment keeps hot food hot and cold food cold. You can pack hot and cold together and each one keeps it's temperature until lunch time.

[not2late]

Re: Atkins Bentos

That's interesting, Phode. I'm always looking at different containers because I take day-trips on weekends and I'm too cheap to pay outrageous tourist prices for my meals (like 8 dollars for a bowl of lettuce!)

[Miss Phode]

Re: Atkins Bentos

I have to see if I can find one like mine online.

[Miss Phode]

Re: Atkins Bentos

This is what I have.


Thermos Nissan JLN1400X Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Lunch Tote

Features: Dual Cup

TherMax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention Unbreakable stainless steel interior and exterior Cool to the touch with hot foods Convenient carrying strap Non-slip, scrath resistant base Hot 12 more...

http://www.nextag.com/Thermos-Nissan...64/prices-html

[killerbombshell]

Re: Atkins Bentos

Wowwww, that's really intense! It puts my $7 plastic box with bunnies on the top I bought from the store to shame.

[Miss Phode]

Re: Atkins Bentos

Well, mine isn't technically a "bento" but it's the same idea. I found them on clearance for 20 bucks, so I bought 6, and gave 5 away as gifts.