How to Pack Your Perfect Lunchbox

Packing your own food for school or work can be a joy. Lunchboxes bring comfort and nutrition with your favourite homemade flavours, and can help you save up from eating out. For many Asians, it’s also integral to familial bonding and a show of love and care – the Japanese Bento is an umami example.

General Lunchbox Tips

1. Choose a box with compartments to pack and separate different foods.
2. Choose a heat-resistant box for easy storage and reheat, or a heat-retaining box for fresh-cooked foods.
3. Keep gravy and sauces to a minimum and pack them separately to avoid soggy food.
4. Pack the food from large to small, from mains to sides.   
5. Pack the food tightly so they don’t spill when you move with your lunchbox, and your meal stays lovingly arranged when you’re ready to eat.

What Makes the Perfect Lunchbox?

Asian mums typically have a simple, universal rule to make a lunchbox: recreate mini versions of their homecooked meals. This means packing three general categories of food.

Protein

The main dish of every meal is the protein. Meat, fish, egg or tofu are perfect for your lunchbox. For meats and fish, choose easy-to-eat cuts such as fillet, mince, bites or slices. With Asian recipes, simple cooking methods can give your lunchbox proteins a delicious boost! Here are some yummies for you to try:

Karaage Chicken

Deep-fried to golden perfection with a crispy crunch and tender savoury taste in every bite, the Japanese Karaage fried chicken is an all-time Bento lunchbox darling. Easy to cook, finger-licking yummy to munch!

Mirin Glazed Salmon

Salmon fillet packs a lot of goodness and appetizing taste. A great choice for your lunchbox with this Japanese recipe that imbues the salmon with a rich mirin and soy sauce marinade. Savour the umami-ness!

Meat & Tofu Patties

Mashed tofu adds a soft touch to this Korean pork mince patty, with diced shrooms and carrots for extra goodness, and a blend of savoury-sweet flavours. An easy, satiating lunchbox protein. Whip it up with our authentic Wanja Jeon recipe!

Tamagoyaki Omelette

This Japanese specialty turns the humble omelette into a folded savoury egg ‘nugget’. Flavoured with soy sauce, sake, mirin and Japanese mayo. Easy to pack in your lunchbox and a tasty, wholesome bite. Come watch Chef Kinsan show you how to make it!

Veggies

Lunchbox proteins are best paired and balanced with vegetables, which gives you fibre, vitamins and minerals, help maintain your gut health, as well as giving more texture and flavour to your meals. And, when it comes to veggie sides, Korean Banchan has a plethora of goodies for your lunchbox! Here are 3 to get you started.

Spicy Cucumber Salad

Cucumber brings a cooling, juicy munch to your lunchbox. Crunchy goodness on its own, but with this Korean recipe, you can also spice it up for an exciting chilli oomph in just 10 minutes!

Korean Spinach Banchan

Tender, smooth and easy to chew, this Korean boiled spinach banchan flavours the spinach with appetising sweet-savoury flavours, a spicy Gochujang touch and a sesame aroma. Make it fresh for your lunchbox!

Korean Steamed Eggplant

High heat softens eggplant into a cosy, chewy texture and lets the eggplant soak up the flavours you give it. This Korean steamed eggplant makes it deeply savoury with a piquant spicy touch. Try it with our recipe!

 

Carbs

Carbs are the powerhouse that makes your meals filling. Rice and noodles are the staple carbs of Asian cuisines, the 3rd must-have food category in lunchboxes.

Rice

Cooked white rice is the most common, as it has a pleasant texture, subtle aroma and can take on any flavours you pack in your lunchbox. Want a bit more flavour in your rice? Come check out the 6 easy ways you can enrich and enliven your rice! Or turn your rice into the Japanese Onigiri rice ball with our authentic recipes!

Noodles

Noodles are great for your lunchbox carb as well. Just a simple soak and boil is enough to cook them, and they can easily pair with almost any of your protein and veggie flavours. You can also give them a base flavour with a pinch of salt or a dash of soy sauce and sesame oil. Come check out the many noodle types you can savour!

More Meal Prepping Goodness

Want more home-cooked goodness but feel you’re short of time? Meal prepping is the perfect way to enjoy a full week of your home-cooked foods, for lunchboxes and easy, satisfying dinners. Come learn more about it with our handy guide for your meal preps!