Real Bento

Book excerpt: A collection of family-friendly, easy and inexpensive recipes used and honed over many years by Japanese mom Kanae Inoue. Real Bento is packed with the time-saving tricks that allow you to make bento box lunches each morning in just 10 minutes, using ingredients and recipes that will satisfy the whole family! The recipes are presented by flavor type and key ingredient, so it's easy for parents to find dishes their kids will love. In Real Bento, Inoue presents 200 recipes, divided into "main dishes" and "sides" for 22 completed bento boxes. The colorful photos and step-by-step instructions make this an incredibly practical and easy-to-use resource for busy households! In her recipes, Inoue places great emphasis on healthy, fresh and colorful foods that look and taste great when presented together. Her recipes include Japanese favorites and original recipes like: Teriyaki Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers Ginger Salmon Broccoli and Pasta Salad Beef and Egg Stir Fry Inoue got hooked on bento fifteen years ago, when she began making daily bento box lunches for her husband and herself to take to work, and later for their three children to take to school. She sees bento box lunches as a way of saving money and getting her family to eat fresher, healthier meals. This beginning bento book is a perfect tool for getting lunches packed and a family out the door on a busy morning!