Bento (Japanese style) packed, vegan meals

[jamboxrock]

Fondducoeur, those look great! I'd like the seitan ghoulash and the mocha cheesecake to be in my lunches!

last Thursday: black bean & tofu enchilada from a frozen meal, carrot & celery sticks, sample jar of cashew butter, cherries



today: roasted potatoes, creamy chard, grilled mushrooms, pear

[pavotrouge]

OMG you've got cherries?! In January? Crazy!

[pavotrouge]

btw, I have a bento routine again!


Rice, pickled ginger, hoisin-fried tofu, mixed salad. Hoisin sauce is my new love. It's like BBQ sauce, only Asian!


tagine with mixed veggies, ugly apple cobbler from Joy of Vegan Baking (though it's me that made it ugly), homemade tomato bread


bulgur with carrots and parsley, crack olives from the Turkish grocery, artichoke hearts, cocktail tomatoes, tiny veggie box banana


Two stages of pho. I had a bowl in the morning and one at work in the afternoon. Rice noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, Thai basil and bok choy. I packed the broth in a separate (un-sexy) container.



TVP-based Thai massaman (muslim) curry, a kiwi fruit, cocktail tomatoes and nuts.

[clementine]

wow, i'm getting so many great lunch ideas. did you guys buy those bento boxes from a store or online? i want one!

[pavotrouge]

all online... I've got Japanese stores nearby, but bentos (small ones) cost about $ 50 each there.

[Roxy]

Cherries! Yum!

[jamboxrock]

Yes, my first cherries of the year! Although to be honest I don't remember where they were from. Chile maybe? I try not to buy fruit from so far away but I couldn't help myself.

[pavotrouge]

we don't get any imported cherries at all; I'll have to wait until August.

[wendy]

It all looks great.

[fondducoeur]

Mmm, blueberry coconut milk yoghurt! Did you buy it or make it (and if you made it, recipe please!)

Its pretty tasty, but no, I didn't make it. Its So Delicious brand (they have some that are soy based which I don't like, and some that say made with coconut milk that are dairy and soy free that I am a big fan of). I have tried blueberry and mango so far, and both were good.

[fondducoeur]

Here are my bentos from this week:

"seitanic" jambalaya, mango slices, celery, side of vegan ranch


tofu salad, pita, grapes, stroopwaffle cookie


jambalaya, mango coconut milk yoghurt, grapes, celery, and ranch

[Kitteh]

All the bentos are looking great! I wish I had that much variety during the week so I could bento, but I just have salad everyday!

[straylight1]

Its pretty tasty, but no, I didn't make it. Its So Delicious brand (they have some that are soy based which I don't like, and some that say made with coconut milk that are dairy and soy free that I am a big fan of). I have tried blueberry and mango so far, and both were good.

Curses! I've seen the So Delicious coconut milk yoghurts on so many food blogs, but they don't have them in the UK Ah well, all the more reason to move to the US after I've finished my degree (seriously, I would go just to get my hands on PB&Co's Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter )

Thanks anyway!

[jamboxrock]

I'm way behind!

last Thursday (I think): roasted veggie tofu quiche, raw collard & carrot ribbons, pretzels, gherkins, piece of dark chocolate



yesterday: white bean & leek cassoulet, steamed kale w/ nut. yeast, a pear



tomorrow: chickpea-fennel "tuna" sandwich on sprouted multigrain toast w/ lettuce, broccoli & celery, goddess dressing, piece of dark mint chocolate, kiwi & banana

[fondducoeur]

Jambox that chickpea fennel sandwhich looks really good!

I'm only going to post two from this week, because the other ones were basically variations of the same food

shepard's pie, container of gravy, Jamaican ugli fruit slices, raw trek mix, dark chocolate covered banana slices



In case you have never seen an ugli fruit (I hadn't until I came upon this one), here it is



scrambled tofu, pita, orange slices, raisins, sesame candy sticks

[pusskins]

OK, just a quick q! I got one of these lunchboxes the other day. I see that in some of the pics, people have put sauce or 'loose stuff' in boxes other than the one with the lid. Does this not then spill all over the place inside the lunchbox once you put it in your bag? Like in post #129 with the goddess dressing? Or post #108 with the yoghurt and the ghoulash?

[vava]

the lid closes onto the containers so dry stuff like nuts or raisins stay in place but if you have anything wet like a dressing it can leak into the other containers if you have it in an open one. I had dried cranberries with vinegar - they were actually quite nice... You need to put wet stuff in the ones with the tops on - seems to be ok in those even tho the fit on mine doesnt seem to be exceptional. I suppose the lid on the container squashes the tops as well.

[vegcurry]

re: keeping stuff dry and separate.
If they need it, I use cling film on some of the containers that don't have lids. Cling film it on, then wrap a rubber band around it to be totally sure it won't mix.

[pusskins]

Of course. I'll try that. Thank you!

[squigaletta]

is an ugli fruit a pomello? any one know? did it taste like lilt?!

[vava]

An ugli fruit (pronounced as ugly) is a Jamaican tangelo, a citrus fruit created by hybridizing a grapefruit (or pomelo according to some sources) and a tangerine. Its species is Citrus reticulata x Citrus paradisi.

wiki

[squigaletta]

thank you wiki! and thank you vava!!!

[cedarblue]

Jambox that chickpea fennel sandwhich looks really good!

thats just what i was thinking - recipe please erin? it doesn't seem to be on your site yet......

[jamboxrock]

OK, just a quick q! I got one of these lunchboxes the other day. I see that in some of the pics, people have put sauce or 'loose stuff' in boxes other than the one with the lid. Does this not then spill all over the place inside the lunchbox once you put it in your bag? Like in post #129 with the goddess dressing? Or post #108 with the yoghurt and the ghoulash?

Pusskins, I carry mine flat to work with me, so that's why you'll see dressings in mine with no lid. If it's going vertically into a bag you'll definitely want to use the lidded containers.

thats just what i was thinking - recipe please erin? it doesn't seem to be on your site yet......

I just made the chickpea "tuna" salad from Vegan Deli and added a bunch of chopped fennel fronds. Oh, and I added nori strips too, that's what the dark spots are. I like this recipe in particular because it doesn't call for vegan mayo. If anybody wants the exact recipe let me know and I'll type it up when I'm at home.

[fondducoeur]

is an ugli fruit a pomello? any one know? did it taste like lilt?!

I'm not sure I've ever had a pomello, but I think it just tasted like an orange that was on the tart side. It was good though.

[pusskins]

Pusskins, I carry mine flat to work with me, so that's why you'll see dressings in mine with no lid. If it's going vertically into a bag you'll definitely want to use the lidded containers.

Right-ho. I won't be able to do that as yet! (am currently on crutches) Thank you for the confirmation I was wondering if I was 'missing' something!

[vegcurry]

My new bento box gets it's first outing



Left: Noodles, raw tomato, raw mango, two mini felafel.
Right: Thai style stir fried tofu and vegetables with green salad.
In the piggy bottles: soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce.

[squigaletta]

aww those piggy bottles are super cute

[cedarblue]

yep - the whole thing looks super cute!! - and yummy....


it is only missing one thing...

[vegcurry]

@ cedarblue

... ??
... ahhh, nuts in with the fork by any chance?

[Stig]

I'm so hungry now, all these lunches look so good

[vava]

veg curry - that box is hoooje!

[Lifeonmars]

Vegcurry I love your bento box. Especially the pigs!

[cedarblue]

@ cedarblue

... ??
... ahhh, nuts in with the fork by any chance?

well i was going to say apricots - you should remember - it was you who coined it don't forget!

[jamboxrock]

Cute bento, vegcurry!

Monday: mustard & leek potato salad, veggies, hummus, chex mix



Tuesday: cheesy rice & broccoli casserole, raw beet salad over leaf lettuce, vanilla soy yogurt w/ blueberries, pretzels, piece of dark mint chocolate



Wednesday: polenta w/ beet greens, tofurkey italian sausages w/ caramelized onion & radicchio, baby carrots w/ hummus, grapes



yesterday: cheesy rice & broccoli casserole, raw beet salad over leaf lettuce, mustard & leek potato salad, baby carrots, grapes

[vegcurry]

veg curry - that box is hoooje!

It only looks big in the photo. I did think it wouldn't be large enough for the gutbucket that I am but I was surprised to find that it is large enough for lunch.

well i was going to say apricots - you should remember - it was you who coined it don't forget!

True enough, and I also used to include nuts in with the fork too. Now you've made want to go and eat dried apricots.

[squigaletta]

I just bought my first bento, will post my first bento lunch tomorrow!

[vegcurry]

^ Yaaay!
looking forward to seeing lots of good munching photos

[jamboxrock]

Monday: lettuce salad w/ sesame shiitake dressing and sunflower seeds, curried noodle/veggie/edamame stirfry, salted papaya candy



yesterday: roasted veggie tofu quiche, ww bread, steamed brussels, an orange



tomorrow: green curry, brown basmati rice, vanilla soy yogurt w/ kiwi

[pavotrouge]

mmmh the quiche looks fab!

doesn't the kiwi turn the yoghurt sour? I thought it did, or maybe it's only with real dairy...

[squigaletta]

leeks, savoy cabbage with nutritional yeats and soy sauce topped with wakame
5 spice tofu,
1/2 dried peach, 1/2 dried pear

[cedarblue]

cute squiggy!

[jamboxrock]

mmmh the quiche looks fab!

doesn't the kiwi turn the yoghurt sour? I thought it did, or maybe it's only with real dairy...

I hope not! Didn't think about that. I'll find out at lunch today and report back.

Squigaletta, that looks nice!

[jamboxrock]

Verdict: Kiwi does not sour soy yogurt. At least not that I could tell.

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: clean-out-the-fridge stew, multigrain everything crackers, steamed brussels sprouts, pistachios, an apple & raisins

[jamboxrock]

yesterday: white pizza on ww crust w/ basil & tofu ricotta, salad (leaf lettuce, spinach, shredded carrot, tahini dressing), prunes & dried apricots



today: arugula & raddichio salad w/ roasted radish & apple, soya bleu cheese, red onion, dried cranberries, pisatchios & balsamic vinaigrette, gf corn muffin, vanilla soy yogurt w/ blueberries

[cedarblue]

that last one is one of your best yet, erin!

marvellous selection of tastes!

[jamboxrock]

Thanks Cedar! I thought it was really pretty too. Until I mixed it all together in salad form. Then it just tasted good.

[fondducoeur]

black bean chili, 7 layer dip, tortilla chips, raisins, choc. covered espresso beans




tomato chickpea salad, dill pickle cashews, pbj sandwhich, mango slices, choc. covered banana slices




butternut squash risotto, pecan sticky bun granola, raw mixed nuts with raisins, kiwi slices, dried pomegranate fruit strip




south of the border couscous salad, pecan sticky bun granola with raisins, orange slices, 1/2 an avocado with salt and lime juice, dried pomegranate fruit strip



pbj, dried apricot slices, raw cauliflower with tahini sauce, raw mixed nuts with raisins



edamame 3-bean salad, thai peanut tofu, orange slices, raw mixed nuts with raisins, dried pomegranate strip




curried udon noodle stir fry, orange slices, raisins, dark chocolate almond bark with dried blueberries

[jamboxrock]

Nice, fondducoeur! That all looks good, but I am particularly intrigued by the dill pickle cashews. They sound awesome.

today: ww wrap (arugula, radicchio, tahini dressing, red onion, soy bleu cheese, dried cranberries, pistachios), two carrots, roasted radishes & apples, snapea crisps, pb cookies



The wrap was amazing. I could've eaten another one easily.