Bento Tip no. 1

A good bento box packs in little tastes of everything including occasional treats like bacon, cheese and dessert. It is all about creatively presenting a fresh, well-balanced meal that's a delight to make and eat.

Bento Tip no. 2

When assembling a bento box, aim for a 4:3:2:1 ratio of food groups:

4  parts vegetables
3  parts meat/protein
2  parts grain
1  part fuit, dessert or condiment

Bento Tip no. 3

Pack foods with flavors that might run or stick together with a divider. Separate wet foods from dry using a nested or altogether separate container such as a silicone cupcake form. Sauces and dressings go in their own bottles (usually with a lid or cap).

Bento Tip no. 4

Bentos should not require refrigeration or heating. Make sure that all  hot food packed in the Obento is cool before putting on the lid otherwise steam will form and the food might spoil.
 

Bento Tip no. 5

Keep all those trimmings when making cut-outs from  vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots. You can chop them into little pieces and mix them with rice and ham for a colorful fried rice to go into your Obento.

Bento Tip no. 6

Making your bento look full and attractive can be accomplished with a few simple additions of garnishes. Use whatever fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables you have to fill the gaps and this will help add  a pop of color to your bento.

Bento Tip no. 7

Straws of different sizes can be used to cut cheese and egg  for facial featuers (eyes, cheeks) and center of  flowers. They can be bent into ovals, triangles or cut to make scalloped edges for detailing fish-shaped cheese.

Bento Tip no. 8

Instead of using food color, you can dye eggs by using soy sauce to produce the color brown, curry powder mixed with water for yellow, water used for cooking beets for pink.