Whether you're looking for something healthy to eat instead of a greasy cheeseburger, or you just don't want to spend the gas driving somewhere for lunch everyd ay, a Bento box may be just the thing for you! The Bento box concept evolved from the need to have food on hand and easily transported while still remaining healthy and wholesome. Along the way it developed into something of an art, with modern day Bentos being decorated with cute little creations and carefully placed splashes of color.
But who has the time to put all that work into something you're just going to eat? Well, Bento boxes aren't just to look at that. There are a number of reasons why you'd want to go through the process.
1. It's Healthy! And I don't just mean that you have to pack healthy food - chances are, you already will. Bentos are all about small portions, but a lot of them. Vegetables and fruits are just so easy to pack under these circumstances. I started eating more vegetables and fruits right off the bat when I started my Bento box diet, just by seeing how yummy they looking in other people's Bentos!
2. As mentioned, small portions! Even if you opt to bring a cheeseburger or left over piece of pizza, it will be in smaller portions. Most Bentos are already divided into small compartments, which just reinforces the thought. It's portion control without even really trying!
3. It's not as hard as it sounds! I know that I had a hard enough time trying to find something to go with my basic sandwich for lunch everyday before I packed Bentos. So how was I going to find 5-10 little things? Trust me, you'd be amazed at what you can find! It's a little overwhelming when you're looking for 2-3 big things. But when you just need little pieces of food here and there, its 100 percent easier.
4. Start a routine! Like any good college student, I'm a master of procrastination. I wake up 10 minutes before I'm supposed to leave each morning and run out the door in a total mess. So how would I ever have time to pack a Bento? Believe it or not, I easily got into the routine of packing a Bento the night before. It was actually something I looked forward to each night, and was a nice relaxing activity before going to bed. Making Bentos really turns into a hobby, rather than a job.
5. Feel Accomplished! You'd be amazed how good you can feel after looking at your finished creation. Likewise, once you open it up the next day you get that feeling all over again! In fact, there's a number of online communities designed just for people to take pictures of their finished Bentos and share them with other enthusiasts.
6. Look Forward to Lunch! I always can't wait to get to lunch just because I know what's waiting for me. No lunch is ever the same, and that's always a nice, refreshing feeling.
7. Don't be tempted by fast food! It may sound crazy, but you'll rarely (if at all) even crave that cheeseburger and French fries. Whenever I used to pack lunches they rarely got eaten. After all, there was some great fast food right down the road and it always looked so much better! Once you start packing Bentos, that food won't even smell good!
8. Learn new recipes! There are so many communities and blogs online filled with people just as excited to share their recipes as you are to use them. Each day you'll have a new food to try!
The Bento Box diet is definitely the best diet I've ever put myself on. In fact, I have a hard time even calling it a diet! It truly revolutionizes the way you look at lunch, while making you and your wallet a bit healthier!
