Red Rice & Grilled Chicken - 230 calorie bento

I have been trying different types of rice - attempting to stay a bit away from the white variety. I had been looking for Red Rice and I finally found it. I quite like it, hubbie is still thinking about it!

Bento Content:

• Red Rice with Peppers (100)


• Grilled Rosemary Chicken (94)


• Asparagus (36)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Roasted Veggies - 230 calorie bento

I had a lot of different bits of vegetables taking a lot of 'real estate' in the fridge, so I gathered them up and roasted them all. Now I have to go veggie shopping again. I made enough of the vegetable concoction for dinner, bento lunches for two and maybe a snack.

Bento Content:

• Roasted Potatoes (53)


• Roasted Vegetable Medley (60)


• Champagne Grapes (33)


• Mini Pitas (84)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Veggie Frittatta - 195 calorie bento

This was a very easy frittatta to make - I made two individual ones - one for me and one for hubbie. They fit quite well in these kiddie panda boxes - quite snug! The frittatta has red onion, green bell pepper, grape tomatoes and eggs, of course! I used oil spray so the mixture wouldn't stick to the individual pie pans. I then stuck them in the oven until the egg was set. Very easy, very yummy.

Bento Content:

• Veggie Frittatta (154)


• Sea Salt & Pepper Rice Crisps (38)


• Sliced Baby Zucchini (2)


• Condiments (1)

Total Bento: 195 calories

Carrot & Zuchinni 'Spaghetti' - 164 calorie bento

When I was little my parents always said "don't play with your food". Funny, since for a while my parents made their living in the food business - restaurants and such. I vividly remember my Dad once making a pizza and sending the dough flying into the air - I would call that 'playing with food' - wouldn't you? hahaha

So, now that I'm a grown-up (or trying to be), it is oficially my turn to play -responsibly- with my food- hence the Bento making! This bento is definitely a fun one - I made some vegetable fake-out spaghetti. I used a spiralizer and had tons of fun - I am easily amused!

Bento Content:

• Carrot and Zuchinni 'Spaghetti' (15)


• Sausage and Roasted Red Bell Pepper (75)


• Goat Cheese Medallion (70)


• Celery (4)

Total Bento: 164 calories

Fruit and Cheese - 122 calorie Bento

It is summer - and boy, is it hot out here! I like having coolish things for snack or lunch during the very hot weather we have been having around my neck of the woods. So, this is one of them. Plus, very easy to put together and get those vitamins in!

Bento content:

• Red Currants (16)


• Blueberries (20)


• Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge (35)


• Cherries (18)


• Champagne Grapes (33)

Total Bento: 122 calories

Pinwheels - 346 calorie bento

There is something strange going on with blogger - my Bento Partakers no longer appear on the blog! It seems that this might be a known issue - I'm trying to investigate what is going on. I haven't taken you guys out - I'm trying to get you back! :)

Anyhow, this is a bento I made with pinwheels - one of my favorite ways of packing up yummy things to eat!

• Pinwheels (whole wheat rollup, egg salad, minced roasted peppers) (314)


• Grape Tomatoes (12)


• Blueberries (346)


• Tabasco Sauce (0)
  

Total Bento: 346 calories

Seared Tuna - 184 calorie Bento

I found a couple of Bird's Eye Steam Fresh rice side dishes that are a calorie bargain - plus quite low on Sodium and Fat content. Check them out in the freezer section of your supermarket - quite tasty and great when in a hurry and don't have the time to make the rice from scratch.

This one also contains Peppered Seared Tuna. I basically bought a chunk of fresh tuna and sprayed it with oil spray (to get rid of the stick-to-the-pan syndrome) and seared it on all sides. I then sprinkled a plate with ground pepper and salt, then pressed the tuna onto the mixture and then sliced it. It took me less then 10 minutes to make this. When I packed the bento, I added frozen grapes to help keep the tuna cold until I ate it.

Bento Content:

• Seared Peppered Tuna (78)
• Steam Fresh - Bird's Eye - Brown & Wild rice with Corn, Carrots & Peas (48)
• Steamed Carrots, Broccoli Rabe, Zuchinni & Cauliflower (20)
• Frozen Grapes (36)

Total Bento: 182 calories

Kabocha Squash & Egg & Cheese - 187 calorie Bento

This bento was very creamy - I love Kabocha Squash no matter how it is cooked. I have made up quite a few ways of cooking it, but this time I just steamed it. I used a japanese contraption to mold the egg. You just take a hot hard boiled egg, stick it in the mold, close it tight and stick it under cold running water for a few minutes. And there you go - a 'fish' egg. Hubbie just rolled his eyes when he saw the molded egg. Guys don't get it, do they? :)

Bento Content:

• Steamed Kabocha Squash (40)
• Hard Boiled Egg 'Fish' (77)
• Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges (70)

Total Bento: 187 calories

Salmon & Potato Croquettes - 164 calorie Bento

I had about 1 1/2 cups of mashed potatoes so I decided to make quickie croquettes. Just combined a canned of wild alaskan salmon (water drained), made mini balls, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs and baked in the oven. Nothing fancy, very quick and not fried. I was very happy with the results and they fit very nicely into my bento for lunch.

Bento Content:

• Salmon & Potato Croquette "balls" (140)
• Cucumber/Tomato/Shredded Romaine Salad (11)
• Cherries (13)

Total Bento: 164 calories

Baby Bokchoy Two Ways - 153 calorie Bento

I had a bagful of Baby Bok Choy and I didn't want to have it turn on me - they are delicate things that in my experience turn easily. So, I made up the whole bag. Not that it amounts to much anyway, it wilts to almost nothing, but oh-s0-yummy. I decided to chop of the bottoms off (they look like little green roses). I made a stir fry with the leaves and I steamed the bottoms with celery and lemon pepper seasoning. Hubbie stamped his approval - yay!

Bento Content:

• Teriyaki Glazed & Broiled Pearl Onions (25)
• Stirfry w/Morningstar Crumbles + Yellow/Red Bell Pepper Strips + Baby Bok Choy (118)
• Steamed Baby Bok Choy 'bottoms' & Celery (10)

Total Bento: 153 calories

Quail Egg & Tomato Skewers - 199 calorie Bento

I had a few quail eggs and was wondering what I could pack with them - why not skewers? I looked in my bento-stuff bin for picks or skewers and settled for the wooden ones. I have to say that the tiny eggs held up pretty well - I thought they would fall apart, but they didn't!

Bento Content:

• Quail Egg & Grape Tomato Skewers (64)
• Red Pepper Strips (9)
• English Cucumber Strips (3)
• Trader Joe's Sea Sa;t & Pepper Crisps (63)
• Catalina Dressing - Light (60)

Total Bento - 199 calories

Skewers and Creamed Spinach - 230 calorie Bento

I love creamed spinach but I avoid it like the plague. It is usually high in calories, but I found a pre-made one that comes in the microwave steamer bags that is not too 'calorific'. The container I used is great for bentos that have something liquidy. It has a separate lid for the center part and another lid covering the whole thing. I'm guessing it was meant for dips and crudites, maybe? I'm not complaining, specially since I found it in the $1 store! Yay!

Bento Content:

• Grilled chicken patty & Black Olive skewers (167)


• Creamed Spinach (50)


• Shredded Lettuce & Shredded Carrot (13)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Red Quinoa & Grilled Tofu - 300 calorie Bento

These were leftovers from last night's dinner. I wanted to try something different and decided to grill some Tofu and try out some Red Quinoa I found at Trader Joe's.

I am not a really big fan of Tofu, but I am always on the look out for variety, so I marinated the Tofu and grilled it. It turned out very well and way easy to cook. The red quinoa I made in the rice cooker. I rinsed it out very well before I cooked it and once cooked I mixed it in with fresh minced parsley. I liked it, but hubbie didn't really like the parsley in it. Oh well...can't win 'em all!

Bento Content:

• Red Quinoa (170)
• Grilled Tofu (75)
• Spicy Peas (35)
• Grape Tomatoes (20)

Total Bento: 300 calories

Salade Niçoise - 229 calorie bento

I am always on the watch for small things that can fit in a bento box. This past week I was lucky enough to find quail eggs and teeny tiny potatoes - I inmediately thought Salade Niçoise! I made a batch for dinner and separated some for my lunch bento. Hubbie loves salads and this one was a big hit. I love this composed salad - it is very filling!

Bento Content:

• Teeny Tiny Potatoes (boiled whole - they were soooo creamy!) (35)
• Quail Eggs - hard boiled (56)
• Grape Tomatoes (12)
• Carrots (18)
• Light Tuna packed in water (60)
• Romaine Lettuce (8)
• Steamed Haricot Vert (15)
• Black Olives (25)

Total Bento: 229 calories

Black Bean Pinwheels - 370 calorie Bento

Pinwheels are the most versatile portable lunch ever. Best of all, you can fill it with whatever you want. I confess I use up a lot of leftovers for them. I've made sweet ones and I've made savory ones - you name it! The trick to keep them from unrolling on you is to spread something semi-wet and preferably a bit thick and sticky, like soft cheese, mayo - you get the picture. Today I used Black Bean spread.

Bento Content:

• Black Bean Spread with Minced Cilantro and Jalapeno peppers Pinwheels (189)
• Grape Tomatoes (21)
• Lite Cheddar Cheese (80)
• Baby Carrots - chopped (15)
• Kellog's crackers (65)

Total Bento: 370 calories