Yes, I am way behind. So far behind, I haven’t started uploading my bento lunches yet. Well, this first post will get me caught up by covering over a week’s worth of lunches. These posts should also answer two questions:

  1. What does a vegan eat for lunch?
  2. What is a bento box?

First, let’s review the concept of a bento box. In short, it’s a portioned, varied lunch box format native to Japan. I got started thinking about the concept from the Vegan Lunch Box blog which showed the fun aspect of it for kids. So I figured it would be fun for me and my husband as well. Little did I know the adult male mind gets easily confused if confronted with too many components at once. So I’m still working on making his lunches fun yet more ‘accessible’.

Without further delay, here are the past 6 lunches from most recent to oldest. Hope they’ll provide ideas for your own bento lunch.

Bento Lunches April 25, 2008
The only home made items in this day’s bentos are the noodles with Thai Peanut Sauce. I made these a while back and froze them in bento-sized portions using silicon muffin cups (a great idea per the fabulous Lunch In A Box blog). This was the last of the frozen leftovers. I’ll have to look up the recipe and post when I find it. The vegan dolmathes are pre-packaged from Whole Foods. Hubby loves them and just can’t get enough.

My Bento

  • Salad of edamame and sliced carrots, seasoned with Sesame Furikake
  • Noodles With Thai Peanut Sauce, Broccoli And Carrots, topped with peas to keep from sticking to the lid
  • Peanut butter filled dates (saw this idea on someone else’s blog but can’t remember where, please speak up and I’ll link to you)
  • Vegan dolmathes
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Banana and kiwi for breakfast
  • Sliver of chocolate
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target

Hubby’s Bento

  • Salad of edamame and sliced carrots, seasoned with Sesame Furikake
  • Noodles With Thai Peanut Sauce, Broccoli And Carrots, topped with peas to keep from sticking to the lid
  • Peanut butter filled dates (saw this idea on someone else’s blog but can’t remember where, please speak up and I’ll link to you)
  • Vegan dolmathes
  • Container: 2-tiered Monkey Bento box from Ichiban Kan

Bento Lunches April 24, 2008
I sliced the zuccs and carrots on my new veggie slicer from Ichiban Kan and it sure works fast!! It ate through the veggies in no time at all. Thank god for the knuckle guard. The Whiney Artichoke Penne is easy as sin.

My Bento

  • Salad of chopped spinach, sliced zucchini and carrots
  • Bottle of Spicy Kumquat Dressing
  • Whiney Artichoke Penne with store bought vegan meat balls
  • Peanut butter filled dates (saw this idea on someone else’s blog but can’t remember where, please speak up and I’ll link to you)
  • Steamed Asparagus
  • Half an Orange
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target

Bento Lunches April 10, 2008

My Bento

  • Two Onigiri Stuffed With Vegan Meatballs
  • Ginger Sesame Veggies: Carrots, Zucchini And Sugar Snap Peas
  • Steamed Asparagus
  • Slices Of Orange
  • Seasoned Tofu
  • 1 Cherry Tomato and cashews for fillers
  • Thai Peanut Sauce in the mini Tupperware container
  • Fat-free blueberry muffin
  • Chocolate Nut-Raisin Bombs
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target

Hubby’s Bento

  • 2 Cherry Tomato And Seasoned Tofu Kabobs
  • 1 Large Onigiri With No Stuffing, Just Furikake
  • Several Spears Steamed Asparagus
  • Ginger Sesame Veggies: Carrots, Zucchini And Sugar Snap Peas
  • Thai Peanut Sauce
  • Fat-free blueberry muffin
  • Chocolate Nut-Raisin Bombs
  • Container: square Tupperware Modular Mate

Bento Lunches April 9, 2008

My Bento

  • Easy Potato Salad
  • Steamed Asparagus
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Seasoned Tofu
  • Rice Balls With Soy Syrup
  • Half An Orange
  • Fat-free blueberry muffin
  • Ginger Soy Sauce In Bottle
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target

Hubby’s Bento

  • Easy Potato Salad
  • Steamed Asparagus And Sugar Snap Peas
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • TVP burrito in plastic wrap
  • Salad Of Chopped Baby Romaine, Green Peppers And Cheese (Hubby Not Vegan)
  • Orange Slices
  • Fat-free blueberry muffin
  • Ginger Soy Sauce In Bottle
  • Soy sour cream Yellow Bear Container
  • Container: square Tupperware Modular Mate

Bento Lunches April 8, 2008
My Bento

  • Easy Potato Salad
  • Steamed Asparagus And Sugar Snap Peas
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Seasoned Tofu
  • Rice Balls With Soy Syrup
  • Half An Orange
  • Chocolate Nut-Raisin Bombs
  • Ginger Soy Sauce In Bottle
  • Sesame Furikake In Yellow Bear Container
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target

Hubby’s Bento

  • Easy Potato Salad
  • Steamed Asparagus And Sugar Snap Peas
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Seasoned Tofu
  • Chickpeas, Tomato And Garlic Salad
  • Half An Orange And Apple Slices
  • Chocolate Nut-Raisin Bombs
  • Ginger Soy Sauce In Bottle
  • Sesame Furikake In Blue Berry Container
  • Container: square Tupperware Modular Mate

Bento Lunches April 7, 2008
My Bento

  • Noodles With Thai Peanut Sauce, Broccoli And Carrots
  • Orange Slices
  • My own Moroccan Concoction
  • Soy Meatballs
  • Daifuku, Store Bought
  • Ginger Soy Sauce In Bottle
  • Peanut Dipping Sauce In Blue Strawberry Container
  • Container: 5.8 cup Sterilite Ultra-Seal from Target