Just Bento

The Guy is back, with a hearty yet fairly low-calorie warm bento. continue reading...

The Guy (also known as Max) and I have a shared resolution this year: We Must Lose Weight And Get Fitter Or Else. He has high blood pressure, I have high or disturbingly fluctuating blood sugar. But we both have this basic problem, that we love to eat good food. And, especially during the day, we need our tummies comfortably filled or we get cranky.

One solution to this problem: soup for lunch! continue reading...

The Guy comes up with a manly meat-and-potatoes bento with not a rice grain in sight. continue reading...

A little deep fried meat-and-mushroom roll up to add some uh, meat to your bento. continue reading...

The guy steps it up with a riff on an Okinawan speciality, taco rice. continue reading...

It’s hard to believe that I have never posted this really basic basic, but looking though my archives I have not. So here it is, a ‘taco meat’ mix that I make all the time in some quantity, freezing in portions. It can be used in tacos of course, as well as a sort of Western-tasting soboro to top rice. I try to get as many vegetables as I can into it. This most recent batch was made by The Guy by the way, proving that it’s quite fuss-free…provided your Guy (or Girl, whichever designation fits the non-cooking partner in your household) doesn’t mind chopping vegetables, or else can use a food processor. continue reading...

A twist on an old favorite, the mini-burger, with crunchy bean sprouts added for texture - and to lower the calorie count too. continue reading...

Bento contents:

• Meatballs with lettuce in tomato sauce - 5 meatballs plus sauce, 270 calories
• Zucchini and white bean pods sautéed in olive oil, 100 calories
• 1/2 cup (120ml) brown rice with zakkokumai mix, 120 calories

Total calories (approx): 490 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes to pack in the morning

Type: Not really Japanese, made from stash and leftovers continue reading...