Bento (Japanese style) packed, vegan meals

[cedarblue]

that mash looks good - how d'you make that then - is it on your blog?

[jamboxrock]

that mash looks good - how d'you make that then - is it on your blog?

Yep yep Cedar, it's on my blog. It's from Gillian McKeith's You Are What You Eat but I went ahead and typed it up with my additions since I figured other people probably don't have the book.

Catching up on my lunches...

I took this one on Thursday but it sat in the fridge till Friday cause we went out to lunch. Wheat wrap w/ hummus, grilled eggplant & zucchini, lettuce, tomato & pickle, cucumbers w/ tahini dip, kiwi.



today: beanie weenies, veggies w/ ranch, dried apricots



tomorrow: veggie dog w/ ketchup & mustard, pasta salad, cauliflower & green pepper, dried cherries down in the depths

[Gorilla]

mmmmmmmm i'm so hungry now!

[RubyDuby]

those bento boxes are bigger than i imagined looking at the veg dog in there... hmm.

everything looks great jambox.

[Sarah_]

oh my god, look at that pasta salad.

[Roxy]

As soon as I start finding more time, I'm going to start bentoing again. Your lunches are an inspiration, jambox

[jamboxrock]

Yes, Roxy, join me!

from 11-19: orange tofu w/ broccoli, brown rice w/ extra sauce, cauliflower, kiwi & blueberries

[jamboxrock]

those bento boxes are bigger than i imagined looking at the veg dog in there... hmm.

everything looks great jambox.

Ruby, they do hold quite a bit of food. That's why I try to be sure to balance my lunches with low-cal stuff like raw veggies or fruit. That way it's not too much for me.

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow, a very lunchbox-y lunch: better than cream cheese & pumpkin butter sandwich on wheat, banana, celery & carrot, candy cane jo jos (!)

[Sarah_]

Cream cheese and pumpkin butter...is that salty or sweet?

[jamboxrock]

Cream cheese and pumpkin butter...is that salty or sweet?

It was mostly sweet. The pumpkin butter I bought was ridiculously sweet though, so the cream cheese kind of helped to round it out. I got the idea from looking at the laptop lunchbox group on flickr. I think from now on it'll be more of a breakfast thing.

tomorrow: sweet potato-three bean chili, corn bread, wilted arugula & a clementine

[Sarah_]

OMG jambox your lunches always look amazingggggggg

[cedarblue]

num num!

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: more sweet potato chili, cornbread stuffing w/ gravy, red bell pepper & celery, pumpkin pie brownie

[jamboxrock]

today: veggie burger on ezekiel bun w/ ketchup, mustard & pickles, stir-fried broccoli, garlicky grilled potatoes, a clementine (I put the bun top on after the picture)



tomorrow: cajun spiced tofu, mini wheat bagel w/ apricot jam, roasted brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries, grapes

[cedarblue]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmm

[Lifeonmars]

Your lunches look lovely.

[jamboxrock]

Thursday's looked a lot like Wednesday's...

cajun spiced tofu sandwich on wheat w/ tartar sauce, sweet potato fries, roasted brussels, grapes

[jamboxrock]

today: snobby joes (lentils), ezekiel bread, marinated mushrooms, boiled cabbage, peanut butter cup & snickerdoodle



tomorrow: fajitas - veggies, spanish rice, refried beans, salsa, guac, I put whole grain tortillas on top before closing the lid, and a white chocolate macadamia cookie

[BlackCats]

Those fajitas look amazing.

[jamboxrock]

today: quesadillas w/ refried beans & fajita veggies, spanish rice, celery, and I also took two clementines

[BlackCats]

I want Mexican! I need to do some research and find out where I can get vegan Mexican food round here. I keep reading that you have to be careful with them adding lard to dishes. When I make it at home it doesn't taste as good as I remember it tasting from a restaurant.

[jamboxrock]

BlackCats, you do have to be careful with Mexican food. A lot of places use lard for their refried beans (it's authentic), and if not that then they use chicken broth for the rice and/or beans. In the states at least, I've found that most places have wised up and made the rice and beans vegetarian. Whether it's for health or financial reasons or so that they can have vegetarian offerings I don't know, but going to a place and asking never hurts. Any restaurant worth anything will be able to tell you for sure if it's veggie or not.

[bradders]

I've got to get me some of these boxes to be sure

[jamboxrock]

Yes! Get one and join in.

tomorrow: fettuccine w/ marinara, meatlessballs on top of a bit more pasta, braised celery, two cookies over a piece of fudge

[jamboxrock]

two days ago: chard enchiladas w/ pinto beans & nacho teese, brown rice w/ tomatoes & corn, avocado, candy cane jo jo's



yesterday: fried rice & quinoa w/ veggies, edamame, persimmon, prunes

[cedarblue]

it all looks wonderful, where do you find the time erin? most of it is dinner left overs i guess?

now i have a part time job, i am going to get one of these even though i only eat there one day a week.


where in the uk do peeps get theres from? i can't remember the site - i want one with the little boxes to go inside.

[veganf]

those bento boxes are bigger than i imagined looking at the veg dog in there... hmm.

everything looks great jambox.

Laptop Lunch boxes are much bigger than a standard bento, yet I hear Americans here complaining all the time how small they are, even for the kids. Goes to show what portion-control issues we have going on. Of course it depends a lot how efficiently you pack the food too.

[jamboxrock]

Agreed, they hold a good amount of food. I think I'd starve if I used a regular bento! As I've said before, I try to balance things out and keep the calories in check by including raw veggies and fruit as often as possible.

Cedar, I do use dinner leftovers most of the time filling in any gaps with other things from the fridge or pantry. I pretty much cook just for me, so there are always leftovers. And I pack it the night before, there's no way I'd have time in the mornings.

If it's a laptop lunchbox you want, it looks like you can get them here in the UK.

[cedarblue]

ah that's the one - thanks erin.

[jamboxrock]

today: layered nacho dip (refried beans, black bean/corn salsa, nacho teese, jalapenos), blue corn-sesame chips, carrots, clementine



tomorrow: toasted sandwich (multigrain bread, spinach, tofurkey, cream cheese, cranberry relish, red onion, pickles), celery, carrot, goddess dressing, dried apricot bar on the side

[fondducoeur]

My first bento boxes:



lemony roasted potatoes, baked italian tofu, mango slices, chocolate covered espresso beans



pita with sprouts, raw cauliflower, hummus for the pita and cauliflower, cashew cookie larabar

[cedarblue]

very nice fondducoeur!!

[RubyDuby]

Laptop Lunch boxes are much bigger than a standard bento, yet I hear Americans here complaining all the time how small they are, even for the kids. Goes to show what portion-control issues we have going on. Of course it depends a lot how efficiently you pack the food too.

um, it's not just americans.

[Cattmogg]

Roxy. i want the cute lunch box thingy you have...........Not to mention whats in it.

[jamboxrock]

um, it's not just americans.

VeganF is an American (who happens to make very nice bentos), so she's allowed to say that

Fondducoeur, very nice! Welcome to the club.

I only took two this week, still getting into the swing of things after the holidays.

Monday: fried quinoa & veggies, grilled bok choy, avocado w/ lemon juice, truffles (didn't eat the avocado, it was too stringy)



Friday: pizza, salad w/ shredded carrot & shiitake sesame dressing

[jamboxrock]

yesterday: ww penne w/ butternut squash & raddichio, raw kale salad w/ oranges, pecans for the salad, piece of dark chocolate, cherries



today: potato leek soup, smoky broiled tempeh, steamed brussels sprouts, pretzels, cherries



tomorrow: TJ's soy nuggets w/ ketchup, carrot & celery sticks, pretzels, cherries

[Roxy]

The bentos are looking great! I'm still bentoing every day too, it's just that I haven't been taking photos, because they look rather boring really

[RubyDuby]

VeganF is an American (who happens to make very nice bentos), so she's allowed to say that

sorry, american bashing is getting to be a huge pet peeve of mine on here, from americans or not. I've only seen ppl from uk complain about the size... prolly bc that's whose mostly on here.

yummy looking bentos as usual.

i really need to get one.

[bradders]

I'm British and they do look a little small to me too (using oreos in some for scale)

[jamboxrock]

Haha, Oreos are a good indicator. I think they're the perfect size as long as you don't stuff them full of bad for you food. Then it would definitely be too much. I also bring a morning and afternoon snack to work with me, and it's the right amount to get me through the day.

[BlackCats]

I thought the bento boxes from the Japan place in London looked very small (but then I eat a lot.) If I just used the boxes for my main meal like pasta or rice I think it would be okay but I probably would bring pieces of fruit and other stuff to fill me up. Saying that I have a small lunch-box type box and it fits more than you would think just by looking at it.

Anyway the boxes all look fab guys, I don't usually post any comments but I do always look at the food and it looks great.

[fondducoeur]

Lunches from this week:

seitan ghoulash, grapes, blueberry yogurt (made with coconut milk)

tempeh/avocado/sprouts/asparagus sushi rolls, raw asparagus pieces, inari, tempeh strips marinated in soy sauce, edamame, soy sauce for the rolls, sesame candy


ppj,grapes, tomatoey chickpea salad, slice of mocha cheesecake


spinach and chickpea curry, kiwi slices, raw trek mix, chocolate covered espresso beans

[RubyDuby]

wow. esp the japanesey box!

[fondducoeur]

Thanks! I have surprised myself with how much fun I have making these

[pavotrouge]

I especially love the sushi box, fondducoeur, and the fact you can buy green asparagus!

[herbwormwood]

Awesome, I love looking at all these pictures.

[straylight1]

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

[bryzee86]

I've only ever seen green asparagus....

I've seen canned white asparagus, but that's just plain weird.

[vegcurry]

Oh ... so many lovely photographs, and JBR you make some amazing bento's. I've missed posting on this thread. I'm going to have to dig out my bento box and get back to it.