Bento contents:

• 1 1/2 cups (370ml) sweet potato rice (300 cal)
• Braised spicy daikon radish and carrot (50 cal)
• Japanese-style omelette (tamagoyaki) with green onions (120 cal)
• Stewed dried shiitake mushrooms (5 cal)
• Broccoli florets with wasabi sauce (5 cal)

Total calories (approx): 480 cal (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes total (20 the night before, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese, no meat (egg)

Bento contents:

• 2 small pita breads (or use one regular size) (150cal)
• 3 black bean vegan burgers (150cal)
• Fruit salad containing 1/2 small apple and 1/2 small pear (120cal)
• 1 container low-fat yogurt (60 cal)
• Mixed salad - lettuce, carrots, red pepper, tomato (20 cal)
• 1 tablespoon homemade preserves (about 50 cal)
• Tzatziki salt

Total calories (approx): 550 cal (how calories are calculated)

Type: Sort of Middle-Eastern, bread based

Bento contents:

• Vegan mushroom rice, with 1 cup white rice (190 calories)
• Black bean mini burgers with tomato sauce (250 calories)
• Instant radish pickles (5 calories)
• Blanched spinach (20 calories)

Total calories (approx.) 465 calories (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes total (20 the night before, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese vegan

Bento contents:

• 4 shiso onigiri with 1 1/2 cups brown rice (330 calories)
• 2 'large' hard boiled eggs (160 calories)
• Mixed steamed vegetables (about 40 calories)

Total calories (approx): 530 calories

Time needed: 15-20 minutes

Type: Japanese picnic/hiking bento

(click image to see larger version)

Bento contents:

• Shirataki noodles, 1/2 to 1 pack (5-10 calories or so!)
• Firm tofu, 1/2 block (about 90-100g) (100 calories)
• Kochujang (Korean red bean paste) based marinade (10 calories)
• Vegetables of your choice - green onions, garlic chives, ginger, garlic, peppers, cabbage, spinach, etc, with sesame oil (150 calories approx.)
• A small apple (50 calories)

Total calories (approx.) for the noodles only: 270 calories; including the apple: 320 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 20 minutes

Type: Asian-fusion with mainly Korean flavors

Bento Contents:

• Brown rice (1 cup, 220 calories)
• Chicken and vegetable stir-fry (250 calories)
• Glazed baby carrots (50 calories)

Total calories (approx.): 520 calories (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 15-20 minutes

Type: Japanese

Bento contents:

• Brown rice (1 cup, 220 calories)
• Atsuage tofu (deep fried tofu) with green onions and oyster sauce
  (250 calories)
• Quail egg (30 calories)
• Blanched carrots and green beans (40 calories)
• Black sesame seeds (5 calories)

Total calories (approx): 545 calories (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 20 minutes

Type: Japanese