Bento (Japanese style) packed, vegan meals

[Roxy]

those cherries look gigantic!

Yes, they are quite big. They're lovely and juicy and the best part is that they're locally grown! :)

I love cherries too Astrid. :D


Here's tomorrow's bento. It's quite similar to today's.

All organic fruit & veg:

Pasta salad - wholewheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, Yves veggie "beef", Goddess dressing.

Pecan fruit crisps.

Cherries.

2 squares of dark chocolate and a bunch of orange flavoured raisins (Thanks Gorilla!!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2691135601_425a05307d.jpg

[Astrid]

Orange flavoured raisins? Wow. :D

[jamboxrock]

bulgur pilaf, strawberry jalapeno corn muffin, herbed tofu, carrots & broccoli w/ tamari, eb & dill, kiwi

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/jamboxrock/lunches/7-22-08.jpg

[Tigerlily]

How do you all find the time and effort to make nice looking lunches?

I thought since I'm working, I'll be making nice bentos every day and taking pics. But I just can't find the time or energy. I come at 11pm, sleep until 10am, and then I'm so lazy and tired in the mornings, I just don't want to make a nice lunch. :(

[Roxy]

I usually put mine together right after dinner. If I don't do it then I find I can't be bothered to do it later on. Mornings are definitely out. I don't do mornings very well.

[speedylemons]

I could see me making a bento for the next day if i made it the night before. ... great tip!


How many of you out there prepare a bento for your significant other [as well as yourself]? Just curious..

[Roxy]

Here's my bento for tomorrow:

Salad: red leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, red, yellow, orange & purple tomatoes, grapes, purple peppers, avocado, topped with cashew pieces.

Nutted rice pilaf and little container of mango-cashew thai viniagrette for the salad.

Pecan fruit crisps.

Organic apricot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2718620623_4d74b9fa3e.jpg

[cedarblue]

mmmmm looking tasty there roxy! - and the bento :D

[speedylemons]

Roxy your bentos always look amazing. Seriously. :D

Purple tomatoes?!?! Purple peppers?!? I'm jealous. That salad looks and sounds delicious!! :eek:

[Roxy]

Thanks Cedar and Ashley :)

I found the purple peppers and tomatoes at the market yesterday. Here's what the tomatoes are:

http://www.newportavemarket.com/Foodieopia/177036.aspx

The link says they are reddy brown tomato. Mine are more a purpley brown. Very nice flavour though and lovely in a salad.

[Roxy]

Tomorrow's bento:

Monday August 4th, 08

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2730292961_30b0bf890b.jpg

Salad - Red leaf lettuce, head lettuce, orange tomato, purple pepper, cucumber, cashews.

Lime-coconut-ginger dressing for the salad, green grapes and a square of maple espresso chocolate.

Moong bean dahl (with basmati rice underneath) topped with cilantro.

Vegan chocolate banana cake (cut to fit).





[FYI: The first part of the thread is here:: Japanese style packed lunches (Vegan Bento). (http://www.veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18057) Korn]

[applepie]

Roxy, this bento looks even more mouthwatering than usual! 2 questions:
1) What brand is that chocolate?
2) Is that cake homemade? If so, where can I find the recipe? I want to have some right now! :D

[Roxy]

Thanks applepie!

The chocolate brand is Turkey Hill (It's a Canadian Brand). http://www.turkeyhill.ca/

The chocolate banana cake is a vegan cake made by the bakery at the store I work at. They're on sale this week, so I grabbed one the other night :)

[Roxy]

Here's tomorrow's bento:

Salad - head lettuce, romaine lettuce, avocado, roma tomato, green grapes, raddish, cucumber.

Peanutty tempeh Penne (made by moi)

Raspberry & toasted pecan salad dressing and 4 pieces of dried kiwi.

Vegan chocolate banana cake.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2752253388_ce6c5db2d0.jpg

[cedarblue]

mmm that dahl and penne look really tasty!

[Roxy]

Thanks :)

[jamboxrock]

The penne does look really tasty, the whole lunch does!

[speedylemons]

DRIED KIWI?!?!?!?! I've never seen such a thing. Did you dry it yourself? :eek:

[Roxy]

Thanks jambox :)

Hey ashley - no I didn't dry it myself - but you've just given me an idea! :) I bought it at the market....they had all sorts of dried fruits and a decent price. Next time I'm going to get some of the dried mango as well.

[Roxy]

Here's tomorrow's bento:

Salad - cucumber, roma tomato, yello pepper, red onion, lime-coconut-ginger dressing.

Peanutty tempeh penne.

2 prune plums and dried kiwi.

Vegan chocolate banana cake.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2183/2758084174_afa4cab040.jpg

[threeheadedpuppy]

wow roxy your lunch looks awesome! I bet you're the envy of the office!

[Roxy]

:D Thanks! I work in a natural foods grocery store and buying lunch every day is super expensive, so that's the main reason I bought the laptop lunchbox.

At least once a week, someone comes up to me while I'm eating my lunch and tells me that I eat such healthy lunches, and that they love my cute little lunchbox :D

[pavotrouge]

roxy, penne+peanut+tempeh sounds like a great idea, did you make it yourself?

[pavotrouge]

this week in bento (well, three out of two):

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c3XDLaL_Wiw/SKgy6AZvZXI/AAAAAAAAAfk/4PFnXOXNZkw/s320/DSCI0037.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c3XDLaL_Wiw/SKgxS74oSzI/AAAAAAAAAfc/jKIwpHyAuZc/s320/DSCI0033.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c3XDLaL_Wiw/SKgwGaUp_XI/AAAAAAAAAfU/mYrceQ_hDOY/s320/DSCI0028.JPG

recipes + more on the blog as always.

[threeheadedpuppy]

I'm not sure these count as bento, cause I don't have a fancy box, but here are some of the creations I've taken to work over the last month, usually when I know its gonna be a long day in the office.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2682589994_c6c7b8059c.jpg
Quinoa Pilaf
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2681792299_2b774cfc7f.jpg
Curry
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2726458816_b5f2eec951.jpg
Curry with fried tempeh
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2771209397_7e819e9424.jpg
Sandwiches and sweet grape risotto

いただきます！