Bento for school: simple ideas for a varied Japanese-style snack and lunch
Looking for inspiration for a school snack or lunch? Bento offers a practical way to combine rice, vegetables, egg, tofu or meat into one colorful box. Check out easy ideas for the whole week and tips on what to prepare in advance.
Simple ideas for a varied snack or lunch that you can combine to your taste and prepare most of the evening before.
What exactly is a bento?
Bento is a Japanese way of packing food for consumption outside the home. Instead of one large meal, the box often contains several smaller portions – such as rice, meat or tofu, egg, vegetables, fruit or a small side dish.
In Japan, bento is prepared for school and work, sold in shops and train stations, and there are also much more festive versions. But you don't need complicated rules or perfectly arranged rice figures for everyday school bento.
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Food in a box
The individual parts are prepared in a way that they can be conveniently transported and eaten without further cooking.
It doesn't have to be the same every day.
You can combine the same base with other vegetables, eggs, tofu, meat, or a small side dish.
You don't have to make pandas out of rice
Creative kyaraben can be fun, but for a regular school day, simple and practical folding is enough.
How to pack a school bento
Instead of looking for a new recipe every day, you can memorize the four basic parts and alternate the individual ingredients.
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Base
The most typical choice is Japanese short-grain or sushi rice. It holds its shape well and can also be used to make onigiri. You can sometimes replace it with noodles or another side dish.
The richer part
Chicken, tofu, egg, tamagoyaki, fish or edamame. Practical are dishes that can be prepared in advance and are easy to carry around.
Vegetables and fruits
Cucumber, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, edamame, or pieces of fruit will add extra flavor, texture, and color.
Something extra
Nori, sesame, pickles, rice crackers, or a small treat can transform an entire bento without any additional cooking.
5 simple bento box ideas
You don't have to buy five completely different sets of ingredients. Rice, vegetables, eggs, nori, or edamame can be repeated in different combinations throughout the week.
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Onigiri bento
Rice triangles or balls are a practical alternative to classic pastries.
- 2 smaller onigiri
- tamagoyaki or egg
- cucumber and carrot
- fruit
Chicken teriyaki
A good option if you have leftover chicken from dinner.
- rice
- chicken teriyaki
- cucumber or carrot
- edamame
- sesame
Tamagoyaki bento
Japanese rolled omelet is cut into smaller pieces and is a classic component of homemade bento.
- rice
- tamagoyaki
- edamame
- cucumber or carrot
- fruit
Tofu bento
You can prepare the roasted or baked tofu the day before and just add the other ingredients in the morning.
- rice
- seasoned tofu
- edamame
- carrot and cucumber
- sesame
No-cook bento
For a day when you don't want to prepare another separate meal, a combination of smaller, ready-made ingredients will do.
- rice crackers
- nori
- vegetables
- fruit
- edamame or egg
- small treat
What you can prepare in the evening
A bento doesn't have to mean another morning of cooking. The easiest way is to prepare some of the ingredients with dinner and just assemble the box in the morning.
Prepare in advance
- cook rice or another side dish
- prepare chicken or tofu
- cook edamame
- to prepare tamagoyaki
- wash vegetables
- divide snacks into smaller portions
Just put it together in the morning
If you prepared rice, meat, or vegetables for dinner in the evening, you can save the appropriate portion for the next day.
In the morning, you can add fresh fruit, vegetables, nori or a small side dish and you don't have to prepare a separate meal from scratch.
Practically pack sauces and individual parts
When it comes to bento, it's not just what you put in it that matters, but also how you wrap the individual parts.
Put soy sauce, teriyaki, or dressing in a small, tightly sealed container, especially if the box does not have its own separate compartment.
Do not place rice crackers or nori directly next to very moist foods if you want to preserve their texture.
Unless you have confirmed that the container is reliably sealed, it is safer to carry loose liquids separately.
Dressing box LID soup 50ml/80ml/100ml
Dressing box for sauce 50ml / 14773
Bento box Black & Red 27.5 x 21.5 x 6 cm 6036005
Also think about cooling
Meat, fish, eggs, tofu and other foods that are normally kept refrigerated are not suitable for long periods of time in a heated school bag.
If a refrigerator is not available at school, use a suitable thermal insulation package and a cooling pad for such a lunch. Store pre-prepared foods according to their requirements and manufacturer's instructions.
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